Ker & Downey® Africa staff
Ker & Downey Africa
- Located In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- APTA, SATSA, CTT & Safe Travels
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $500 to $950 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Kathy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most AMAZING vacation ever!!!
My husband and I are seasoned travelers so trust me when I say that this is the BEST vacation we've ever had! Thank you Ker & Downey and specifically, Sarah and Pippa, for putting this all together and exceeding our very high expectations! They did an outstanding job of listening to our wishes, promptly responding to our many, many questions, and offering outstanding suggestions that fit our time and budget constraints. Sarah and Pippa know Africa and the companies in operation there. You can trust their expertise. And, they did this all with a charming attitude eager to make this the vacation of our dreams. My only regret is not visiting Capetown and meeting them in person. I guess we have to save this for our next visit.
US
Email Steve and Dory | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Trip of a Lifetime
Our planned 30th wedding anniversary trip to Africa was not simple. We wanted to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro and follow that with a safari that included viewing the Great Migration. Ker-Downey delivered it ALL! From the detailed planning to the actual trip itself, Emma Perrin brought everything together. We were met at every stop by friendly and well informed drivers. They arranged excellent outfitters (Summits Africa) for our Kilimanjaro climb. Our accomodations at Arusha Coffee Lodge, Lake Dulati, Gibbs Farm (not to be missed!), Lemala Kuria Hills, and Elewana Sand River were spectacular, as were the game drives at each location. We saw many discount safari drives where people were crammed into converted mini vans with pop-up roofs and drivers that rely entirely on radio communication to locate wildlife. In contrast, our game drives were in open-sided, converted Toyota 4 Runners that could drive up the side of a cliff if need be and driven by guides that know where the wildlife is without someone telling them. The food at each location was excellent and varied. The bush breakfasts each morning during our game drives were just wonderful. Don't skip the opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti or Masai Mara Preserves. Each location went out of their way to arrange a surprise to commemorate our anniversary. Finally, at Emma's urging we flew to Zanzibar and spent three nights at the Zuri Zanzibar Resort. Emma was right. The perfect way to round out our dream vacation. Even though we spent 25 days in Africa, we barely scratched the surface. My wife and I consider ourselves addicted to Africa and are already planning a return.
US
Email Marianne | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely amazing from start to finish.
We could not have been happier with our trip, the guides, and the three Safaris we were on. Each reserve had its own unique style of
accommodating my daughter and I and two of our friends from Seattle joined us in Johannesburg to begin our journey. We were met the moment we arrived until we left on our plane after 17 of the most amazing days of our lives. The food, the people, the animals and a beautiful country. I would return tomorrow if given the chance.
our first stary for 3 nights was at Hlosi lodge below Port Elizabeth in the eastern cape. Two safaris a day, excellent food and a luxury tent with our tub facing a large window where wart hogs and others enjoyed a water break.
Second part was Elephant Plains in Sabi Sands, part of Krueger National Park. There are no fences and the animals come and go out of the reserve and into the park. Within 20 minutes Darren and Derrick, our guide and tracker found a leopard and her cub, it was my daughters birthday and her dream to see big cats. Ker & Downey delivered in every way with planning our trip.
Last stay was Simbavati River Lodge where large cats, lions walked through our compound and the elephants came within 10 feet of our porch to roll in the mud and teach their babies how to eat and drink.
We ended our trip in Victoria Falls, a must see if you are going to South Africa.
Thank you for reading, there really aren't enough words to describe this trip.
US
Email Stuart | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Phenomenal African Safari Adventure!
Sarah and Pippa were excellent! Great suggestions for everything and both were very flexible with us. It took us a while and many iterations to finalize our time in Africa. It was awesome! The whole experience was perfect. The four of us agreed this was our best vacation ever! Thank you, Sarah and Pippa!
US
Email Dragos M. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Experience for a First Time Trip to Africa
Sarah and Pippa at Ker & Downey really took care of everything. It first started with understanding our previous experiences and level of comfort about traveling in Africa (incidentally, we've been on every continent, except Africa). They also wanted to understand what was important for us to experience and if we had any particular needs. I have to admit that I did have a panic moment when I had to wire a large sum of money to a company in Africa that I have only interacted via internet. Alas, everything was fine. As for the experience itself, Botswana was amazing and everything went smoothly. And, while there was a small glitch in Zimbabwe, it was great to know that Sarah was just a text away.
All in all, it was an amazing experience and Ker & Downey can take a lot of the credit for it.
US
Email Linda Mazurek | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfect safari arranged by Ker & Downey Africa
We have just returned from a spectacular three week safari in Tanzania and Kenya arranged by Emma Perrin at Ker & Downey Africa. I have been to East Africa a dozen times, and this sarari was the best ever. Emma crafted the perfect trip tailored to our specific desires. I am a nature photographer, and Emma maximized our wildlife viewing and made sure that my camera equipment was accomodated on all our light aircraft transfers. Her attention to detail was simply amazing, and all arrangements were executed perfectly during the entire three week safari. She answered all questions we had and kept in constant communication with us, from the time we first began arrangements until after we returned home. The accomodations and tented camps Emma recommended were steller. I lost a small sunglasses case somewhere along the way, and Emma miraculously had it delivered to me by our transfer driver at the end of the safari. The safari was so wonderful that we are booking the same itinerary for next year with 12 friends. After this experience, I am a Ker & Downey customer for all future travel to Africa and I highly recommend them to all my friends. Friends of mine have already booked a trip to South Africa in November with Emma and have thanked me for recommending Ker & Downey because they are so happy with the trip Emma has arranged for them and for her outstanding service. If you are planning Africa travel, you can't be in better hands than arranging your trip through Ker & Downey Africa.
US
Email Silvia Bilacchi | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Family safari
From the very first emails until the end of our trip we had full support from K&D
IE
Email Pamela & Marcus Magnier | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Totally professional and organised with great communication and flexibility when necessary.
We put together a programme with the family for a big anniversary with 6 of us travelling and Ker & Downey were successful in their quote for lots of reasons.
They delivered on every front. The Rufigi River Camp and the Ruaha River Camp in Tanzania were just as we expected and their service was superb. The Gold Hotel on Zanzibar was perfect to chill in following nearly a week on safari. All our transfers which they pre- organised were on time and very professional and helpful. The paperwork with all the contact details and timings for the complete trip was also very useful to have in case of delays along the trip. I could not recommend this company more highly.
IE
Email Marcus and family | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Speedy response and provided exactly what we were looking for, in fact exceeded expectations
Coming from Ireland we were a bit hesitant to use an agent so far away and who we knew nothing about. But the service, the choices and the value on offer won us over. We decided to avoid the busier camps in the north of Tanzania and went for 3 days in Selous and Ruaha in the Rufiji and Ruaha river camps. Both reasonably small riverside camps and could not recommend them highly enough. A little more freedom in Rufiji to wander and a little less driving to find game. Having said that we saw everything you could want to see. Two very different venues and well worth doing both. We finished at the Gold resort in Zanzibar which is simply superb, on the beach and five
star spoiling.
A holiday of a lifetime made even more pleasurable by all involved
CA
Email Karla Ross | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magical trip of a lifetime
The team of Ker and Downey Africa,Rene,Judy and especially Zeena and Kayleigh made the planning of a trip to South Africa which seemed so daunting so seamless and easy! They held our hands at every turn creating for us the most incredible trip of a lifetime. The trip ran seamless never a hiccup! We were treated like royalty wherever we went,each hotel more magnificent then the next each tour more awesome then the next. Ker and Downey Africa created the most memorable holiday we have ever taken. They even managed a private tour with Christo Brand,Nelson Mandela's prison guard, which was priceless. Ker and Downey introduced us to Shamwari game reserve as we wanted to avoid taking malaria pills on our trip. We had never heard of this reserve before and it turned out to be the most idyllic setting and lodge to do a safari! Zeena throughout the trip was our guardian angel,in constant contact with us making sure our trip was going wonderfully. There was never a driver late, a tour guide late nor a flight delayed. Thank you Ker and Downey Africa,Zeena and Kayleigh for making our dreams a reality,the trip was the most incredible trip. You led the way showing how kind the people of South Africa are!! The only company to use for your next South Africa Luxadventure is Ker and Downey Africa!!
