African Jacana staff crusing to the Cheif's Island
African Jacana Safari Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- Botswana Guides Association
- Tour Types:
- Budget tours with set start dates and a fixed itinerary
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Eva Herzer | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
13 days of being eye to eye with Bostwana’s wildlife thanks to a most incredible guide
My family’s experience with Afticanjacana Safari company way exceeded our expectations. We spent two weeks living in the midst of elephants, lions, hippos, zebras, antelopes, leopards and the most incredible birds. Gideon, our guide with 30 years of experience, by often following their tracks, lead us to within just a few meters of these magnificent wild creatures. The first time we came eye to eye with a lioness who approached our open Jeep with her cubs we all felt rather scared. But we soon realized that Gideon, with his extensive knowledge and ability to read the body language of these animals, knew exactly when it was safe to be in close proximity and when it was better to keep our distance. To be so close to these beautiful animals was simply breathtaking! Imagine watching a family of leopards feasting on an antelope it had hung high in a tree fork, or observing a group of 30 elephants walk by your camp site, gently and quietly! While we were initially a little apprehensive about camping in the wild, we learned from Gideon, who has 30 years of experience, how to be completely safe in the wilderness. And speaking of camping: We were not roughing it. Our tents were equipped with cots, mattresses, pillows and sheets and our own private bathrooms in the back. We even had our own portable sinks which were filled in the early morning with hot water (yes heated on the fire pit) and warm showers in the afternoon. The food was delicious and included fresh bread baked daily in a pot on the fire. Lastly, Gideon and the two staff members who accompanied us were lovely engaging people who were very fun to be with and who allowed us to gain some insight into their culture.
Africanjacana, which is very reasonably priced, is one of very few Safari companies that are locally owned (most are operated by South Africans or Europeans) and that is very environmentally conscious. They leave no trace behind. By booking directly with them, and not through a travel agency, we saved a lot of money. This trip was truly exceptional. I cannot recommend Africanjacana highly enough.
DE
Email Julia | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A trip of a lifetime with the most experienced Guides
African Jacana Safari Tours is citizen-owned safari company started by Gideon Kamutati, one of the most experienced Guides in Northern Botswana. Gideon and his Sales & Reservations Manager Gally helped me to organise the tour for our group (8 persons) very professionally. They promptly replied back on every email, provided me with a helpful informations about the safari, guided us very smoothly with incredible efficiency and patience through the decision making process. Their itinerary fulfilled all our needs for a very competitive price. Upon arrival, Gideon and Gally were expecting us at the airport and we started our incredibly memorable 14-days mobile Safari trip. The tour exceeded all our expectations. Everything was organised perfectly. Pickups and transfers were on time. We spent 3 days on a lonely island in the Okavango Delta with boat cruises in the traditional mokoro boats. We visited Moremi, Savuti and Chobe –very diverse and amazing areas in Botswana. The beautiful landscape and the amount of wildlife we saw in each place were just amazing. We spent our days with game drives and breathtaking encounters with wild animals. The huge value of an experienced professional guide is. that he will bring you at the right time to the right place. By reading their tracks, Gideon guided us very close to the predators, elephants and hippos. We felt entirely safe, because he knew their habits so well. Gideon shared his tremendous knowledge, deep understanding and respect of the nature with us. We learned a lot about wildlife and the ecologic system and about the people of Botswana. When we returned from our game drive in the afternoon to our beautiful campsites, we were welcomed by Daddy, our camp manager and our chef Wilson with coffee and tea. Our tents were clean, spacious and very comfortable. We enjoyed the luxury of a private bathroom in the back of our tent, foldable beds and mattresses, sheets and pillows, warm water and the freshly baked bread in the morning. Wilsons meals were delicous. It was a real pleasure to spend our time with Wilson, Daddy and Gideon, watching „bush TV“ around the campfire, talking, laughing and singing together. It was hard to say goodbye!
We highly recommend African Jacana Safari Tours. These guys are extremely professional, friendly, environmentally-conscious and caring. Support local entrepreneurs in Botswana and have your trip of a lifetime!
Email Natalie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Honestly amazing!
We have just returned after doing a 10 night wild safari trip with Gideon and his team. We visited Morami, Kwarhi, Savute and the Xhobe River and it was was all absolutely amazing! Gideon is so knowledgable about the animals and birds, he often detected where the animals where before he saw them, just by watching the behaviour of other wildlife. We really wanted to see the wild dog and hoped that we just might catch a glimpse as they are very rare- Gideon managed to track down a pack of 22 including their pups and they had just done a kill! He got us up close and personal but always making sure we were safe whilst respecting the animals too, we saw female lions protecting their young from a male lion and the list goes in and on! A special mention too to Wilson, our chef - he cooked us wholesome tasty food and always with a smile on his face. The memories we made will stay with us forever- this was our 4th African safari but by far the best- thank you Gideon and his team- you are the best!
Email Sian Edwards | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Knowledgable, experienced, great value for money
Gideon has a wealth of experience having been a guide for 37 years for various large safari companies.
Him and his team organised a first class 2 day, 1 night mobile safari for us at very short notice and at a really great price.
We slept in tents with comfortable beds. They also had a shower and latrine out the back which was attached to the tent - to prevent any encounters with animals overnight!
We ate delicious food cooked by Wilson and Lee over the fire and slept to the sounds of hyena's, hippos and lions.
Gideon and Daddy (second guide on our trip) did not stop during our drives to ensure we saw as much as possible. They both had so much knowledge to share with us and it was a pleasure to learn more about the bush.
We also organised a day mokoro trip through Gideon. The delta is unbelievably peaceful and beautiful at the same time as being full of large, and scary animals, such as hippos and crocs. It was an amazing way to experience the delta.
ES
Email Pascale, Toni and Aitana | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was just EXCELLENT! Gideon, the guide, THE EXPERT!, He detected even the most difficult animals!
The whole team was wonderful! Professional, caring, warm and joyful. We became a little family in only four days...we miss you. Our hearts are still with you! Your advises helped us through the rest of our trip!
IN
Email Arsh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
"Excellent Safari Experience at its best"
Our fantastic trip with African Jacana Safari Tours team for 12 days November April 2018, Moremi, Okavango Delta, Khwai, Savuti Chobe & Vic-falls. Jack of all trades “Lucky”, thank you very much for the great camping experience you made possible for us. From the first email to the last time at the airport everything was well organized. Our thanks also goes out to the Chef, whos‘ delicious food we had the pleasure to enjoy as well, the „good spirit“ of the camp. It was my daughter s belated birthday and Lucky suggested that the chef take the elephant waste and decorate it into a cake with candles on top, after dinner we sang a song for my daughter and the moment she had to cut the cake she realized it was an elephant waste, what a moment!!! We will always remember that.
The Tents were very comfortable and the bathroom facilities were great.
Gideon, you showed and told us so many knowledge and interesting facts about the flora and fauna of Botswana. Inspired by you wildlife journal, for the first time I started to keep a checklist of all animal sightings. What a great idea! You are an excellent guide!
It was in Khwai t when we saw the first leopard. A special sight, for us and our cameras, was the by far most beautiful lion in Africa – what a beauty!
As before, Khwai took our breath away with its beautiful landscapes. A great located camp with Zebras, Wildebeests, Antelopes and Elephants all around us. I will never forget the moment during setting up the camp when an Elephant came by to watch with be just sitting barely 3 meters away – and we got the photo for agreat memory too.
In Savuti we had the luck to see the Savuti pride feasting on their prey, they just made a fresh kill, a buffalo. Thank you for showing us the beautiful group of old baobab trees that is not mentioned in any travel guide!
We were lucky to have been able to take so many great pictures.
Summary: reliable, efficient, very professional, excellent knowledge, delicious meals, very friendly, excellent tents and lots of fun!
We are looking forward to travel with African Jacana Safari Tours in 2019, Great thanks to you Lucky!!
Fantastic, very organised and professional, honest , dedicated. Very experienced. Leading in touris
Amazing communication and extended .
Clear and informed
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Email Robert | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gideon Rocks!
Just spent three days (6 drives) with Gideon in and around the Khwai river - he was a star! He provided outstanding care and put us on all sorts of game.... and he knows his birds, so much so, he's know the page numbers in the birding guides! When confronted with large numbers of other vehicles following lions, leopards or wild dogs, he knew how to avoid the pack of land rovers and anticipate our subjects movements so as to place us in their path. He was very communicative, without be overly so. You couldn't ask for a better guide/tracker.
AT
Email Luise | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Experience
We spent 2 weeks in the wilderness together with the 3 most awesome companions you could wish for on a trip like this. We felt safe at all times, saw all of the big 5, learned alot about the animals and the country of Botswana and felt at home in the bush due to Bens knowledge and openness, Wilsons DELICIOUS food and positivity and Daddies hospitality, and funny character. Any insecurities that we had bevore we started our trip to botswana instantly went away the second we first met Lucky and the crew! There was no doubt that these two weeks were going to be one unforgettable experience. And so it was. Thanks to everyone who made this possible.
AT
Email Silke Buehler-Paschen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This tour was simply fantastic - perfectly planned and realized - and with a wonderful team!
We travelled as a family (parents and 3 teenagers). It was a 15 day tour (starting at Maun, through the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Nxai Pans, Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Khwai Concession, Savuti and Chobe National Park, transfers to Victoria Falls) in August 2018 – our first safari experience – suggested in a similar fashion on the company’s webpage but adapted (very flexibly!) to our own wishes. The communication with Lucky on behalf of the company was extremely friendly and efficient, without complications or misunderstandings. All services offered in the contract were realized to our full satisfaction.
The tour itself was absolutely amazing – exceeding all our expectations! We saw so many different aspects of Botswana’s amazing landscape and wild life and experienced it in various ways (game drives, boat and mokoro trips, scenic flight, bush walk) - unforgettable! The team that accompanied us (Ben, Wilson, Daddy; also Lucky and Gideon joined at some places) was wonderful. Ben is the best safari guide we could have imagined – he has a huge knowledge on so many aspects of the safari animals and nature, and his great experience and patience in searching also for the rare animals made us see essentially all of them!!! Wilson’s cooking over the fire was delicious! The tents and all infrastructure – up to the bucket showers – were nice and convenient. Sitting around the fire in the evenings – taking about God and the world – was exciting and a wonderful experience. The 15 days passed much too quickly; saying good bye was hard as we had all become friends.
VERRY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
