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 $1,217 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 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.
Email Kayla | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional organisation of the absolute best Safari experience!
Safari.com offered exceptional customer service and went out of their way to help customise an itinerary that met every one of our requirements. Our experience covered a very diverse range of activities and afforded us with the opportunity to see the big 5 on Safari, as well as hike the incredible Drakensberg Mountains and swim on the edge of Victoria Falls. Through Safari.com our traveling arrangements were made effortless and the accommodation choices were top of the range. From start to finish I could not fault this company and their amazing travel specialists/consultants. Could not recommend them more highly. For the best African safari experience you can’t go past Safari.com
Excellent Experience with Driver / Guide and Customer Service
Lana was highly responsive in making our original arrangements then in adapting after flights were canceled and delayed by RwandAir. Robert was the best driver and guide we’ve ever had — always on time looking out for us with knowledge of details, safety, and attention to luxury service. The gorilla trekking and One and Only Gorilla’s Nest lodge exceeded all expectations.
Very responsive
Pascal took great care of us and answered our many questions so quickly! Sometimes at all hours of the day and night. We were very pleased with his high level of service and had no issues with any of the details he set up - game lodge, transfers, flight reservations.
Email Toni | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing trip
Had the absolute best time, Darren and Clarisha were the best everything was so easy and communication was excellent.
SG
Email JAIN RAJAN JAGDISH | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Competent, Knowledgeable and Efficient
It was a wonderful experience for me to go through SAFARI.com The services provided by Lynn Bowers was simply remarkable.
Email Charuta | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Africa Experience
We booked our trip to Victoria Falls ( Zimbabwe) ,Kruger National Park and Cape Town (South Africa) with Safari .com and our trip was this past month.
We were fortunate to have agent Sara Van Coillie plan our whole trip.Sara is an amazing,knowledgeable and patient advisor.,who assisted with all bookings and even helped us make changes to our trip dates due to some unforeseen circumstances.She drafted the perfect itinerary while providing us with options.
We also had the opportunity to meet her in CapeTown
From the lodges to the day trips to airport pickup and drop offs…everything was meticulously planned .
All the staff and guides at both the lodges we stayed at were warm and the hospitality was exceptional.
We felt completely safe and well taken care of throughout our trip!
Sara even made it a point to have the lodges do something special for my husband’s 50 th birthday
We highly recommend Safari .com and especially travel agent Sara!… it was absolutely worth it…Africa now has our heart and we had the experience of a lifetime!
Email Frankie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely incredible!
From when we first reached out to Sara our safari journey was incredible. Sara found us the best deal that suited us and gave us lots of options to choose from. The entire process was absolutely seamless and stress free. Our time at the two lodges was absolutely incredible and everyone we met was fabulous.
How close you are able to get to the animals is phenomenal and the food, service and cleanliness of the lodges was unreal.
We will definitely be booking again, thank you x
Email Jeremy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Service, Constant Communication Execution, and a Truly Unforgettable Rwanda Experience
When planning a trip as significant—and expensive—as my Rwanda adventure, I did what most travelers would do: I comparison shopped. I contacted multiple companies, researched lodging options, compared itineraries, and carefully evaluated prices and recommendations.
What set Safari.com apart was not just the itinerary they proposed, but their professionalism, responsiveness, and consistency. Other companies initially responded but then became difficult to reach, failed to follow up, or simply stopped communicating. Safari.com was different. From my very first inquiry until the day I returned home, they were always available by email or WhatsApp. Every question was answered. Every concern was addressed. Every detail was handled.
That level of communication gave me confidence to move forward, and they earned that confidence every step of the way. Their recommendations were thoughtful and reasonably priced, and I never felt pressured into spending more than necessary.
Once I arrived in Rwanda, everything unfolded exactly as promised. Transfers were on time, accommodations were as described, permits were secured, and every logistical detail was seamlessly arranged. It is rare in travel for a company to deliver precisely what they sell, but Safari.com did exactly that.
The experiences themselves were extraordinary. Gorilla trekking and spending time with the golden monkeys were true bucket-list moments, and my safari in Akagera National Park exceeded every expectation. These are memories I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
The greatest asset of all, however, was my guide, Zidane. He was knowledgeable, professional, dependable, and genuinely invested in making sure I had an exceptional experience. By the end of the trip, he felt less like a guide and more like a friend.
Was it an inexpensive trip? No. But it was worth every dollar. When you are investing in a once-in-a-lifetime experience, reliability matters. Communication matters. Trust matters. Safari.com delivered on all three.
I recommend them without hesitation and would happily use them again.
