Crafting the perfect escape across Malawi & Beyond
Crafted Africa
- Located 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)
Reviews
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.
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.
Email The RumbelRowes | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Outstanding Trip and Experience from Beginning to End
What we were seeking from our trip to Africa (Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique) was a "trip of a lifetime" that created a diverse suite of lasting memories and experiences for our family of 8. Crafted Africa delivered to an outstanding level on every detail, nuance, and specific requirement from the planning process, through the pre-departure to supporting us through each stage of our 3-week trip. The standard and contrast between the experiences, lodges and choice of countries/locations was unbelievable and clearly demonstrated the passion Mile, Lotte and the Crafted Africa team placed on 'crafting' the whole end to end experience. The standard of the lodges, quality of the experiences, food and the effort that had gone in to minimising the time and stress usually endured in multi-location travel was exceptional.
Trip of a lifetime - Without Question. Created a diverse suite of lasting memories and experiences - Absolutely. One of the best vacation experiences we have ever had - It certainly was!
Thank you, Mike, Lotte and the Crafted Africa Team!! We'll be back.