Crafting the perfect escape across Malawi & Beyond
Crafted Africa
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- African Travel & Tourism Association
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
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Email Jutta | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I would say that this tour operator listens to his customers and makes sure things run smoothly.
To you and your team, thank you for a fabulous Central Africa experience! For me and my son, it had just the right mix of reviving old memories and making new ones. Your leadership and understanding made it work. Tapiwa's attention to detail, Chifundo's way with numbers - and last, not least, our driver/guide Francis Thandwe's good-humored skill and patience made everything run smoothly. The accommodations were all great. We felt quite lucky to have Cloe guide us through some early insecurities at Msandile in Luangwa Valley, so thanks to her as well. The guide-drivers Isaac, Chifundo, and Liwonde were a delight. They pointed out plants, birds, reptiles, small mammals, antelopes, constellations in the night sky - and, of course, also the big game; and they were full of information on animal behavior and mating habits. For me, these drives in the three game parks were truly liberating for the soul. Thanks to you, my son Hans and I learned a lot, had great fun, and have hardly begun to digest all our impressions and recollections.
CA
Email Fritz and Claire | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic 3 week trip to Malawi!
My wife and I couldn't have been happier with our trip to Malawi. Our itinerary and accommodations were recommended by the staff of Crafted Africa, and couldn't have been better. From getting off the airplane after a long journey from Canada to stepping on to our homeward flight 3 weeks later we were welcomed and taken care of...even spoiled. The people of Malawi were warm and welcoming and we always felt safe. Our driver and guide Eddie was fantastic. He was a careful driver as well as being very informative about the culture and history of Malawi. He was always there to handle any curveballs that came our way and did his best to fulfill any requests we had. We had some trepidation about travelling in the rainy (emerald) season but the advantages of uncrowded accommodations, cooler temperatures, and green vistas made up for the occasional shower.
High lites include Huntington House, Mvuu Lodge, Blue Zebra Lodge, Mumbo Island, Zomba, and Majete, and of course the people of Malawi.
I definitely would recommend Crafted Africa to guide you to this wonderful and friendly country of Malawi. WE wish we were still there!
Email Jamie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great family trip!
A well organised and enjoyable safari for 2 families. A good price point for what is provided.
Email Grania | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A wonderful experience beautifully curated by Crafted Africa
Our UK-based expert - Helen Kirby of African Leap Safaris - helped us design our month-long trip to Malawi and Zambia, drawing on the expertise of Mike and his team in Lilongwe.
We were delighted with the choice of lodges and the great variety of experiences in a very well chosen route from game lodge; to tea plantation; to forest plateau; to a second game lodge; to Cape Maclear on the edge of Lake Malawi; to Mumbo Island; to a game reserve in Zambia and back to our starting point in Lilongwe with a day to explore the capital.
As an indication of the thought behind our itinerary, we can’t answer when friends say what was the highlight of the trip - because each of the places we stayed was so different and so fascinating that each one was a highlight!
From the start of the planning process, the Crafted Africa team was so quick to respond to questions and to make suggestions that ae felt in very safe hands.
Once we arrived in Lilongwe, we were looked after very well by Lawrence before we flew the following day to Blantyre where we were met by Mathias, our driver and guide.
We immediately felt comfortable with Mathias, who drove with great skill and guided us through the local history and culture as we drove around the country.
Malawi is a beautiful country and we felt privileged to have the chance to learn so much from Mathias.
The quality of the accommodation and food was exceptional and we were looked after at each lodge with great courtesy and good humour - and all praised Mike and his team for the way they are encouraging tourists to explore Malawi in a sustainable way that brings income to local communities and helps the country’s efforts to protect its wonderful wildlife.
All in all, the quality of our experience was worth every penny.
Crafted Africa rightly deserves its reputation as the best tour operator in Malawi.
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Email Ross | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Smooth booking process, but miss on value for money with properties booked
Crafted’s team worked with us through several iterations to design a trip that we thought matched our requirements. Their team from reservations to finance to the driver they arranged for us was kind, efficient, and customer-oriented.
Ultimately, however, our experience staying in the lodges Crafted advised and had assured us were top-quality didn’t meet expectations. There was a complete misalignment in terms of value for money. I recognize the experience at the lodge ultimately falls on the management of that lodge, but we felt like Crafted either didn’t adequately calibrate expectations or hadn’t recently visited the properties as they had assured us the properties we booked were of highest quality and that our trip represented very good value. I think what made all of this most disappointing is we opted to pay ~15% more to book with Crafted than a competing tour operator whose properties were likely of higher quality and included a private air transfer instead of one of the long drives we had.
BE
Email Carine Vercaempt | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfectly planned and executed trip with several waw moments
What a great trip, with plenty of variation, great locations and lodges, great service and a lot of waw moments. Emmanuel our guide and ‘safety first’ driver played an important role in making this happen. Overall strongly recommendable
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Email Miranda | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing Tour Company!
I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about Crafted Africa. They made our Malawian family vacation absolutely wonderful and relaxing and perfect. I lived in Malawi 30 years ago as a young volunteer, and this summer I returned with my husband and two sons to share the beauty of the country with them. I thought about doing a self-drive tour to save money ... but I am SO glad I decided to let Crafted Africa do the bookings and arrange for the car and driver. Our driver, Eddie, was just such a great guide and driver and person that I can't imagine having done the trip without him. He was so helpful and friendly and generous and knowledgable. He knew all about the country and the flora and fauna. He elevated our entire experience from the moment he picked us up at the airport. Our flight had arrived late and our luggage was delayed, so when we left the airport we were tired. He was there to greet us warmly with a beautiful clean vehicle filled with snacks and treats and bottles of South African wine. He made us feel instantly relaxed and safe and cared for. Our entire trip went flawlessly. Everything was beautifully arranged and Eddie was like our fixer, helping us with any issue or question or request. He knew which roads were closed due to maintenance or flooding, he was always prepared with suggestions to help us have the perfect vacation experience, he knew lots of people around the country - including police officers as road stops - that always helped us to avoid any hassles or issues. My whole family was SO SAD we couldn't bring him with us to Tanzania for the second half of our holiday. I had thought that our time in Malawi would be harder than our time in Tanzania - because it's less of a popular tourist destination - but it was the other way around. I am SO glad that Crafted Africa helped me with the trip arrangements. Sure it cost a bit more than doing it myself, but it was SO worth it! I can't recommend them, and Eddie, highly enough!!!!
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Email Elana Samad | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Courteous, professional, helpful and very responsive.
We had an amazing Safari experience in Malawi through Crafted Africa. Tiwonge, the representative who facilitated our trip was very responsive, efficient and friendly. Everything went smoothly and we would definitely recommend this company to anyone planning a Safari in Malawi or any other country they service. The lodge we stayed in was beautiful and the staff extremely warm and responsive to our every need. The food was delicious and accommodations excellent.
IT
Email Micaela | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They organised and excellent trip, leaving us carefree! Accurate, reliable, caring.
Our experience has been relaxing, carefree and fantastic!
We booked this trip at the very last minute, only thanks to Mike and crafted Africa everything has been possible.
Mike gave us great advices on planning the trip, he kindly accommodates our wishes and needs and he promptly handled a change of plans the day before arrival.
Last minute reservations in the best resorts (amazing services, rooms and food), private transfers, by plain, car and boat, everything has been thought out in detail.
We enjoyed a wonderful carefree holiday, because everything has been organised in details by Mike.
Thank you!
With their organizing and the marvelous guide - felt like Morgan Freeman exploring the world
I found this place after some searching, and I chose by their polite, prompt and efficient e-mail communication. And as advertised, they just went all distance to make my trip a life enhancing experience. The whole organization was perfect on paper as well as practice, with flexibilty, efficienct and smiles, fair prices too if you want. I landed in Malawi tired and anxious - went out of the airport to the heat of Lilingwe, carrying my stuff - and melted - not from the heat but from the smile of my guide. From there on, through incredible experiences, some much to personal to describe - Dzakanyama, Liwonde (Safari), Zomba, Lake Malawi and Dedza, with winderful Mattias Kawaye and other great local guides everywhere - my gratitude is immense. If you watched Morgan Freeman's TV series where he explore's God all over the world anfd other things, I felt like a movie star and an ordinary, humbled person in the same time - my Guides and the people of Malawi let me close and I learned so much, enjoyed, and though some things were tough (as an authentic journey should be) I always felt safe. Truly got the experience of the Warm heart of Afroca - Malawi. A personal note here - advised to bring cash (Dollars, Euro, Pounds or local Kwache) to give as a token of appreciation to everyone who assists you. And please be generous, think in terms of how you would give in your own country - you can make a difference just by being their and showing your gratitude - and being generous with tipping helps.