Golden Africa
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2005)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, HATAB, BOGA & House of Beyond
- Tour Types:
- Mid-range & luxury tours that, when possible, use accommodations owned and operated by them
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $690 to $2,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Teresa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A thoroughly outstanding, experienced and friendly guide Company
We have just returned from a memorable and special time in Botswana where our stay with Golden Africa has been a stand out experience. Starting with the fine tuned logistics of our pick up, no small details had been missed.
The truly memorable drives with our experienced guides, Rob and Moa made it feel like not just a holiday but a true learning experience. Their own passion for the wildlife and their respect for their surroundings was evident and made the whole experience more valued and special.
The camp team were a true credit to the team ethos of the whole stay, they were so welcoming, friendly and supportive of us as guests by contributing so positively and happily to our stay. We truly were spoilt with their attentiveness to detail, from picnics, through to an end of day welcome home and providing an excellent end of day dining experience, with sublime food and excellent wine choices. A truly professional and happy team camp, and it showed through their wish for their guests to quite simply have a thoroughly enjoyable and comfortable stay.
The most wonderful memories from dawn to dusk were made possible by people who are both passionate, and more importantly care for the wildlife, their environs and their guests, who pass through and pause but for a moment in time, to delight in the natural wonders, which were truly brought to life by the experience we had the absolute delight in sharing with Rob, Moa and the camp team at Golden Africa.
US
Email Bill | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best Safari operation imaginable
My family had a most extraordinarily positive experience with Golden Africa Safaris on our safari to Botswana. Our group consisted of Grandparents, Adult children and Grandchildren ages 7 through 16. Every aspect of the safari was planned and executed to perfection by the management and staff of Golden Africa Safaris. The pre-safari communications were all excellent and prompt and helped us plan such things as the itinerary, desires for viewing on game drives, dietary issues all the way down to what things we should bring for clothes for the safari. We had chosen a tented safari rather than game lodges or hotels in our desire to be closer to the game as well as experience Botswana in such a setting. This proved to be an excellent choice for us. The game drives were exceptional. Moa and Option, our guides, were so educational and enjoyable that all ages remained excited and engaged throughout the game drives. They were extremely respectful of and knowledgeable about the wildlife. The safari vehicles were extremely comfortable, and the vehicles had refreshments and an abundance of charging ports for the electronics we brought for photography. The animal activity in the vicinity of the tents at night was wonderful. The staff did such a wonderful job of taking care of us and giving us a once in a lifetime experience, at extremely high quality, and all from a mobile kitchen and support trucks. Time spent with the staff and getting to know them was a true highlight. During the planning of the safari my wife and I had decided to renew our vows on the occasion of our 50th wedding anniversary. The owners Charlotte and Rob and guide Moa did all of the planning. They scouted out a wonderful site at a hippo pool for a traditional type of Botswana wedding ceremony which was spectacular. Charlotte, Rob and the entire staff made this happen in a most memorable way.
This wonderful safari with Golden Africa Safaris far exceeded our expectations from the first day of planning through our final day with them. This was a tremendously professional company who took great pride in having anticipated all of our wants and needs to have a perfect safari. Our whole family is extremely thankful for all of their expertise and planning that made this a perfect and memorable safari. We are planning a new safari and will most definitely go with Golden Africa Safaris again.
Email Dominic | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional yet personal - a quality operator with great attention to detail. Highly recommended.
Our guide was kind, professional, knowledgeable, interesting and great company. Even when there was a kill in our campsite he was calm and thinking about our safety. He was superb.
Campsite set up was first class and the food was excellent – it was incredible what was done by the team with the set up.
We will always remember our week with Golden Africa it was completely fantastic.
BE
Email Isabelle and Eddy Geenen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari was fab! Rob and Frank were like old friends, how lucky can you be with 2! wonderful guides!
We booked our Botswana-trip through a Belgian travel agent, that works together with Rob Barber and his Golden Africa Safaris. From the moment we had expressed our wishes and vision, we immediately felt that our journey was planned just accordingly. With very fluent conversation through almost amicable e-mails, we were fully confident when we arrived in Kasane, that it was going to be a wonderful holiday. Yet, we were still overwhelmed, as everything ran so smoothly: flights, transfers, accomodations with always a hearty welcome, serving and quality of food. Moreover really everbody was so kind ! Nothing, really nothing to grumble about, we felt spoilt as we have never been before.
After Chobe and Okavango River, we arrived at the mobile Khwai camp (set up only the day before!) We were welcomed by Rob and Frank (the other guide) and a staff of 9, who were all friendly and caring. Chef D.H. worked magic in his field kitchen, not just cooking, but also baking cookies, scones and cakes – even a birthday cake for my wife :-) :-):-) .No wonder we were totally at ease in the silence of the evenings, soon talking and joking like old friends. In the mean time the frogs in the river next to us were making a racket…
The 4WD – drives were at the same time exciting, interesting ánd great fun; a leopard, a family of 5 lions with 3 cubs devouring a lechwe – catch, a giant herd of 400 buffalo trekking, 30 something elephants passing by our tents to cross the river, but also a hamerkop swallowing a frog after picking it to death. And birds, birds, birds of course ! Frank started every morning saying: “ Let’s see what nature has got to offer us today ! “ which translated his ánd our spirit perfectly. He’s a master in finding wildlife, mostly driving with one hand, while giving interesting and funny details of all this beauty, his love for baboons, the odd Green Elephant Syndrome, and his unknown knowledge of Spanish….;-). Rob was a relaxed and considerate observer, cracking a joke now and then, and clearly enjoying just being amid the wildlife with some nature buffs. All this topped off with a daily sundowner (or 2), admiring the unforgettable African sunset.
Thank you Rob, and everybody at Golden Africa, for taking such good care of us. Thanks to you lot, our safari was like a wonderful dream, better than a second honeymoon. Any marks to be given, we’ll go for 6 stars on all items. We’ll be back !!
A dream come true
Golden Africa Safaris is simply a secret I can no longer keep to myself.
From planning the Safari right through to the final goodbye, Charlotte & Rob made it all seemingly effortless and ensured our Safari was indeed a dream come true.
On the drive from Maun we already saw wild dogs and so much other wildlife that we arrived a trifle late for sundowners. The fire had been lit and after following Covid protocols meticulously but not intrusively, we were shown to our very comfortable and beautifully appointed tents.
What the chef manages to conjure up in a field kitchen cannot be achieved by many competent chefs with all modern machinery and gadgets. The spinach roulade was a particular highlight!
Every day we were woken with a jug of warm water and fresh coffee to spur us on, and then taken on a long game drive.
What was so special is that there are no real set times but when a sighting was good, we would just stay out longer. Once we even downed our plates mid-dinner to follow the call of nearby lions.
Midday allows for some quiet time (there even is a hammock) and after some light refreshment we were off again for more wildlife. Although the Delta was more flooded than normal, Rob found always new areas to explore and discover. The only animal he was not able to conjure up was a leopard but I’m so glad there is a good reason for returning to what can only described as a magical experience.
If you want to come up close and personal with nature and wildlife in a wonderfully sustainable way, Golden Africa Safari is the outfitter you should go to.
Thank you Charlotte & Rob and your whole team!
US
Email Robin & Matt | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip of a lifetime, wedding of our dreams, and memories that will last forever!
What can we say - Charlotte and Rob pulled off the impossible - an unforgettable intimate wedding for 5 people in the beautiful Botswana bush and an 11-day safari that went off without a hitch. Charlotte was with us every step of the way through a legal ceremony in Maun and a ceremonial wedding in gorgeous Khwai surrounded by wildlife - we even had a few unexpected (but very welcome) animal visitors. Charlotte organized decor, cake, a wonderful photographer, an entrance to remember, music, and many thoughtful surprises for us along the way. We couldn't be happier with the experience or more grateful for Charlotte's efforts!
On top of the wedding, Charlotte organized the most incredible 11-day safari for our group through a great mix of lodges and mobile camps. Rob was a highly-skilled, knowledgeable, and entertaining guide - the best in the business. We were thrilled to see a huge variety of wildlife and some rare and exciting sightings including 2-week old leopard cubs, feasting lion cubs, and a huge pack of wild dogs hunting. Charlotte and Rob's mobile safari gear is unbelievable, their team are lovely, and the food was incredible. We felt so well taken care of from the moment we landed to the moment we (regretfully) had to leave.
We couldn't recommend Golden Africa more highly! We can't wait to join them again for our next trip.
Email David Dugan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fortnight of sensational wildlife encounters, exquisite food and well organised mobile safaris
Rob at Golden Africa safaris selected a brilliant combination of permanent camps and mobile safari camps our trip (for six people). These included Linyanti Bush Camp, Gomito Plains and Meno a Kwena. Each had their own unique charm and habitat. For the mobile safari Rob took us to Khwai and Moremi. The whole journey was superbly organised with small aircraft taking us from one airstrip to the next. The standard of service on the mobile safari was exceptional. Rob's crew were attentive, good fun and eager to help in any way. The food and wine were excellent, the cook performed miracles in the camp kitchen. The camp included a chill-out area with canopy and sofas, a bar tent and a dining area with linen table cloths. Each of the tents had en-suite showers and flush toilets, really comfortable beds (with hot water bottles magically inserted while we sat round the camp fire before retiring.) This was unlike any camping experience I'd had before. Rob's newly re-furbished safari Land-Cruiser was very comfortable - there were no middle seats - lots of places to store water bottles, binoculars and cameras - and recharging points... Everything was well thought through - right down to the furry-lined ponchos for the chilly early mornings. But what made the safari truly outstanding was Rob's stories and deep knowledge of the wildlife. Every day was memorable - an unforgettable experience - that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone considering going on safari in Botswana.
Email Janet Reid | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable fortnight in Botswana closer to nature than I have ever been
We were a family group of 6 adults. The whole holiday was planned with our requests and needs in mind. Every lodge that we stayed in was of a very high standard, but the highlight for me was the set up of the mobile safari camps. I loved everything about them from the exceptionally friendly staff who genuinely seemed to love what they were doing and got on very well together, the superb food cooked in what must be pretty challenging conditions, the very comfortable tents with real beds, hot water bottles and flushing toilets, the 'chill out tent' where we could relax and write up the day's doings or just watch the world go by, the night times round the log fires under the stars, to the exceptional way we were looked after by Rob during the day. From the hard boiled eggs and nibbles on the makeshift table on the front of our jeep after our early morning porridge to the sundowners which took account of all our individual tastes (mostly gin and tonic!) we relished every moment. Rob's knowledge and tracking skills were amazing and we saw so much, and learned a lot. We saw everything that we'd hoped for - lions (very close to our tent demolishing a warthog!) elephants wandering through the camp and on one occasion approaching near to us in the jeep - keep calm is the motto (!), innumerable birds which kept my bird loving sister in seventh heaven, and the variety of terrain from the Okavango to the Kalahari with fascinating glimpses in between from our little flights from runways often shared with zebra! We loved every minute and would go back like a shot, and would recommend anyone to travel with Golden Africa. You definitely won't be disappointed.
Email Lucy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable fortnight in a remarkable country
A trip of a lifetime is an overused expression but this absolutely was. Having thought this would be my one experience of an African safari, the problem now is I want to come back!
Our trip was for two weeks . Rob and Charlotte arranged the perfect mix of lodges and two three days mobile safari. The advance information was brilliant, just enough to raise the excitement levels and anticipation and we were not disappointed with the reality. The lodges were lovely and the mobile safari was definitely the highlight.
Every day for the whole fortnight saw us seeing something new. An animal round every corner ( some more difficult to access than others) with the occasional elephant providing siesta entertainment by wondering past the camp as we lounged on the extra "chill out" area tent. Besides the animals there was the most incredible number of birds all reliable identified making our wildlife books almost redundant for everything except reliving the days exploits!
The safari team were remarkable, the tents put up and set out so that we had all the pluses of camping but none of the discomforts. Miles from nowhere, really in the middle of the bush but with all the home comforts. En suite showers and loos were great but above all the food and wine was absolutely superb and would compete with any static restaurant or hotel. What's more the team were lovely and couldn't have been more welcoming.
I really hope I will be back.
US
Email Marilynn | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Pleasant Surprise
I use the word "surprise" in the heading because our group of nine were originally scheduled to stay in a permanent tent camp, but due to unforeseen circumstances we were switched to a mobile tent camp at the last minute. As details emerged as to what that entailed, our group was not sure if the last three days of our time in Botswana would result in a positive experience. As soon as we entered the camp site for the first time any fears we had were dispelled by the lovely setting of the camp and the gracious greeting we received from Rob, the owner of Golden Africa, and his staff. Over the next three days we grew to love the experience of being closer to nature--hearing the hippos at night, laughing at the monkeys in the trees, and waking up to the sweet tweeting of the large variety of birds.
We were absolutely amazed at the delicious food that was prepared from a simple kitchen and open fire pit. We lacked for only a few comforts of home and actually enjoyed being disconnected from the world via social media, etc. Experiencing the animals of Botswana was all the entertainment we needed.
Rob and his staff, whom have been with him for many years, have perfected the mobile camping experience. An experience we will cherish forever.
