Safari.com
Safari.com
- Office In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2000)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $77 to $1,223 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
Email Caitlyn | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely knowledgeable about the Masai Mara and the animals, super funny as well
Absolutely incredible. The team were super helpful with everything ! Easy to get ahold of, worth every penny for this experience. The food and staff were amazing, we all say once in a life time experience but I’ll definitely be back.
Email Virginia | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Anja Meyer's attention to detail for our Safari meant there were no problems encountered.
Elephant Plains Game Park
Safari.com offered a number of Game Parks to chose from. I chose Elephant Plains in Sabi Sands for our three night adventure. The cost was comparable to all other parks in the area. Using WhatsApp for communication meant answers were quick and easy. Nothing was left to chance. Having done a safari back in 2014, I felt this park and Safari.com offered value for money.
We were picked up at the airport and driven to the park, then at the end of our stay we were transferred back to the airport, safe and sound.
We did have an incident on our way back to the airport. A group of villagers had set up a number of blockades in their village. Our driver handled the situation professionally and courteously and with a police escort we were soon on our way.
The accommodation, meals and service at Elephant Plains was five star. We were very fortunate to see all of the big five in our few days. Our guide and tracker went out of their way to satisfy our requests. Leopards one day, rhinos another, lions every day, buffalo herds most days, elephants by the score, zebras and giraffes plus the occassional hippo. Our stay was magical.
If you are considering a Safari now or in the future, I would certainly suggest using Anja from Safari.com to organise your trip.
Africa has a way of getting in and staying there even when you have returned home. We will be back.
Email Carolina Maria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
“A professional and well-organised tour operator that made our Rwanda experience truly memorable.”
I had a wonderful experience booking my Rwanda safari through Safari.com. Anja was incredibly helpful, professional and attentive throughout the entire process. She was always responsive, knowledgeable and made sure all the details of our trip were well organised.
She made the planning process easy and stress-free, and I really appreciated her personalised assistance and attention to detail. The Rwanda itinerary was beautifully arranged, and the overall experience was very special.
I would definitely recommend Safari.com, and especially Anja, to anyone planning a safari. Her support made a real difference to our trip.
Email Peter | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great provider of safari packages
Safari.com helped us create the best possible safari withing our budgget and time constrains.
The lodge, Leopard Hill was awesome and the connections from Johannesburg back and forth to Leopard Hill worked out perfectly.
Safari.com provided options, information and support through out the process.
Email Matthew | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredibly helpful and easy to communicate with 🙂
Safari.com and Kate and Clarisha in particular were incredibly helpful throughout our booking process and to ensure they found something for our group that would match our requirements. Both were very good at communicating and responding very quickly to any questions we had leading up to our trip. The Safari itself was fantastic and we really appreciate the work they put into finding somewhere for us. Could not have asked for more. Would recommend Safari.com to anyone looking to book a Safari in the near future.
Email Lara | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible at her job, warm and friendly as a person, and an absolute pleasure to have access to
Our experience was nothing short of fantastic. Zene was so quick with coordinating any changes, adjustments, additions and pickups, and helped every step of the way from planning through the time we got home. She was very communicative and easy to contact throughout the whole experience, and her suggestions on activities were spot on.
The value of everything we did on our trip was amazing. The quality of food we received (and the AMOUNT of food we received), the service from everyone was so friendly and willing to go above and beyond, everyone was on time every time, the whole trip was made easy because of this team. We felt so special and wanted to be friends with everyone we met along the way.
The safari/game drives were absolutely beautiful. The guides+trackers are so knowledgeable and are passionate about what they do, which makes it more exciting to ask questions and learn more. Seeing all the animals up close was a dream come true. We were very lucky that we saw 4 out of 5 of the Big Five, but we also saw SO many other African animals that were just as magical to witness. Please visit with an open mind, because spotting certain types of animals is not guaranteed. We also did a midday hike with our guide to show us the "small 5" and learned about bugs, tracks, plants, bones, and poop! Also, the snacks they provide while out in the bush weren't just peanuts or cheap chips, they provided caviar, meatballs, dried fruit, muffins, granola, cocktails and beer! Ngala is a very special place.
Additionally, we definitely learned why Cape Town is voted one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We loved exploring all the capes, learning about the history and culture. We did a full day city tour that included seeing seal island, explored Table Mountain, went to the aquarium, and did a half day wine country tour. And all the restaurants we went to were delicious with friendly staff. Truly, what we got for what we paid was absolutely worth it. Not just because of the exchange rate, but because of the people. We tried to schedule shark diving, but learned its similar to hot air balloon planning-not guaranteed to work out. The wether we had the entire trip was stunning, but the waves were too rough. So if anyone is looking to book that activity, just know it might not work out.
I could not recommend Safari.com any more :) All we did was ask, and they coordinated. Easy as that. We had the best honeymoon ever.
Email Federico | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Personalized excellent service
It was not cheap, but the level of service, luxury of accommodation and quality of the safaris was of the charts.
Email Steve | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Abbas is an absolutely lovely guy. Efficient and Informative.
Safari.com were excellent. I'm a classic over-organiser and Clarisha coped really well with my borderline OCD. She was helpful and always ready to put my mind at ease. We were asking a lot....to be able to learn a bit about Rwanda as well as visit its main wildlife features (Chimps and Gorillas) that are a fair distance apart, but they put together a quick 5 day offering that satisfied our needs.
From the moment we stepped off the plane, we were identified and then helped seamlessly through customs, immigration, etc and onto meet the gem of the trip. Abbas. What a guy.....from the moment we got in the car, nothing was too much bother, everything was easy and nothing could be stressed about. His charming, easy going, nature was one of the things that made this trip so amazing.
Our accommodations were all beautiful, although I'm not sure that Eagles view is the greatest option for an in and out type of one-nighter. It's a very small casual place. This is by no means a criticism of them.....Just that it wasn't maybe suitable for this particular purpose.
The Da Vinci Lodge in Kinigi was brilliant. Free boot cleaning and foot massages after trekking, brilliant service (Thanks Alice and Rene) and a beautiful, spacious room.
But the accommodation highlight was probably Munazi Eco lodge in Nyungwe. What a stunning place, and SO well run. It would have been great to be able to spend another night or two there. Food was amazing and the staff, led by Ghislaine, were phenomenal.
I cannot thank you guys enough.....it was exactly what we wanted and the experience of getting into that jungle with Gorillas will stay with us for the rest of our lives. 100/100.
Thank you
Email Mark | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Sara was INCREDIBLE!!!
5 Stars FOR SURE! Where do I even begin? This is by far the longest review we have ever written!
I have to tell you, we had an absolutely INCREDIBLE time on our two-plus-week South African safari!
Before booking, we contacted six different safari companies. One company never even responded. Another took almost a week just to send us information. Four others replied promptly, and after doing a lot of research, two companies clearly stood out above the rest. We spoke with both and told them we were looking for the very best value. They each put together their best offers, and Safari.com's itinerary was not only the better value, but after speaking with Sara Van Coillie, we knew we had found the right person to help us plan this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Sara was incredibly patient, extremely knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in creating the perfect trip for us. She took the time to learn exactly what we were looking for, answered every question we had, and then put together several itinerary options for us to compare. Sara lives in Cape Town and has spent many years creating incredible African vacations for families from around the world. One thing that really gave us confidence was knowing that she has personally visited many of the lodges and safari destinations she recommends. Her firsthand knowledge was invaluable, and it showed throughout the entire planning process.
After reading countless outstanding five-star reviews, we felt confident choosing Safari.com. One thing we really appreciated was Sara's honesty. We told her we didn't need five-star luxury accommodations—we simply wanted clean, comfortable, quality places to stay. Every lodge exceeded our expectations. Literally, every time we sent Sara a message the response was nearly immediate! If it was outside of her work hours I would positively hear back the following day!
The amount of planning that went into this trip was simply amazing. We had several domestic flights that saved us countless hours of driving between destinations. Whenever we traveled by vehicle, our drivers were excellent. They weren't just drivers—they were friendly, knowledgeable guides who shared fascinating information about South Africa, its people, and its wildlife, making every transfer enjoyable.
Every lodge we stayed at was unique and memorable. We typically spent two or three nights at each location, which gave us enough time to truly experience each area without ever feeling rushed. Some lodges were luxurious while others were more rustic, but every single one was outstanding. The food was exceptional everywhere we stayed, and the hospitality was second to none. The staff at every lodge made us feel genuinely welcome and went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed.
One of our favorite camps didn't even have a fence, allowing wildlife to roam freely through the property. At first, this made my wife a little nervous, but by the end of our stay it had become one of her favorite places. When we first arrived, an elephant was drinking from the swimming pool. The next day, another elephant casually wandered over while children were swimming nearby. It peacefully drank from the pool for several minutes before slowly walking away. Another morning, we watched three elephants drinking from a pond while we enjoyed breakfast. Those are memories we'll never forget.
Then there was the wildlife.
It was simply breathtaking.
We saw the Big Five within our first two days, and somehow the sightings just kept getting better.
I guess it can be a little difficult, even a bit gruesome at times, to watch predators prey on other animals. But that's nature, and it's exactly how God designed these magnificent, beautiful creatures and the incredible ecosystems in which they live. Witnessing it firsthand gave us an even greater appreciation for the balance and wonder of creation.
Some of the unforgettable experiences included:
Watching two cheetahs hunt a waterbuck. The waterbuck escaped into the middle of a pond while the cheetahs patiently waited along the shoreline. We eventually had to leave, but another guide later told us the waterbuck won the battle of patience. The cheetahs finally gave up—they simply didn't want to get their paws wet.
Watching a large pride of lions - males, females, and cubs - feast on a massive Cape buffalo.
Seeing three lionesses strategically hunt an enormous herd of buffalo. They circled, charged, retreated, and tried every angle while the buffalo repeatedly stood their ground and charged back. It felt like watching a live National Geographic documentary.
Getting within ten feet of giraffes, including mothers with adorable babies that were less than one-third the height of the adults.
Watching two male giraffes "necking" as they battled for dominance.
Seeing a massive herd of elephants playing, splashing, and rolling in a giant mud bath.
Having a spotted hyena casually walk within two feet of our safari vehicle.
Watching several lions stroll right beside our vehicle as if we were not even there.
Seeing countless rhinos, many of them incredibly close.
Watching hippos both in the water during the day and wandering around after dark.
Getting amazing close-up views of baboons and vervet monkeys.
Taking two walking safaris gave us an entirely different appreciation for the African bush.
Watching countless herds of impalas sprinting and leaping across the savanna.
Seeing countless "dazzles" of zebras. We learned that a group of zebras is actually called a dazzle thanks to our wonderful guides.
Following fresh animal tracks with our guides as they searched for wildlife.
Hearing lions growl during the day and roar at night.
Listening to jackals call to one another as predators moved through the area.
Seeing an unbelievable variety of colorful birds, many from just a few feet away.
Experiencing spectacular African sunrises and sunsets that looked almost too beautiful to be real.
Our safari guides were phenomenal. Each had a different personality and style, but every one of them was passionate, incredibly knowledgeable, and determined to give us the best experience possible. Their ability to spot wildlife was absolutely unbelievable. They routinely found animals that the rest of us would have driven right past.
By the end of the trip, my wife and I had taken nearly 7,000 photos! We have so many incredible pictures. Every single day brought new adventures and unforgettable memories.
Without question, this was the vacation of a lifetime.Anyone considering an African safari and wondering who should plan it, I cannot recommend Safari.com and Sara Van Coillie highly enough. They handled every detail flawlessly, allowing us to simply relax and enjoy each moment.
Five stars honestly isn't enough in our opinion. There is a reason Safari.com has earned a 4.9-star rating across thousands of reviews. After experiencing this trip ourselves, we completely understand why.
Thank you, Sara, and Safari.com, for giving us memories that will last the rest of our lives.
There are so many places we would like to see in this world, however if we ever return, we will definitely use Safari.com again and will absolutely want to work with Sara!!!
Email Richard from UK | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience
A great tour operator, helpful, follow up quickly and anticipate your needs. A great example of why you shouldn't just book a holiday on Google.
