The Chalo Africa Inc Team
Chalo Africa
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- ATTA & APTA
- Tour Types:
- Custom luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $500 to $1,600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
We have and will spread the word- if anyone needs to do Tanzania- it has to be through Chalo Africa!
The start of the trip had a flap- I think it was a missed pick-up! But nevertheless, the Guide-Driver--Alfred was a complete delight to be with from thereon. He was the Captain of the Ship and pretty much decided everything for us. We were very comfortable with this arrangement , as he also educated us about various topics ranging from culture, economy, education etc in Tanzania. He made our long haul journey seem like nothing!
Then Sopa Lodge tat was arrange for us was also extremely picturesque. Te rooms very aesthetically appointed, excellent service and superb food. The safari the next day with Alfred was yet again a pleasure, the packed lunch, the lovely car and more importantly Alfred was very knowledgable. He supported all the animal attributes and peculiarities with substantiation from books ( which is actually quite informative and impressive ). He was on top of the game; and made us watch lions Mating--not once but 8 times over! We saw Hippos, crocodiles, Rhino from far , Zebras, Wilderbeasts, Hyennas, and many other birds and animals. He made all this so interesting with the amount of information he overloaded us with.
The mud strip running planes were another Wow, and we thoroughly enjoyed the arrangement. Then we went to Serengeti, where I have to say, besides the staff-- O'Reddy and Michelle were the stars! They made every safari superbly interesting. The rooms and the arrangements and the extra mile that Michelle extended for us being on Honeymoon was humbling. We saw lions eating kills, cheetahs, leopards,Giraffes and the park was so humbling, being so close to nature was a once in a lifetime experience. The food in all places was also very appetising!!
We saw 3 migrations in Serengeti, 1 small( with a zebra killing), 1 medium and 1 very large to the effect of 15-20000 Wilderbeasts crossing the Mara River. This was truly the icing on the cake.
Then came Zanzibar, where again the room was extremely good, the food was the by far the best we had in the trip, the only minus was the Air- Conditioning as the unit was much small for the size of the room. We did our own thing, all days - the guided tour was also very nice to Stone Town by Joseph and the driver through the trip was also very helpful( Abdul if I'm correct).
We proceeded to Turkey on our own- which was not a patch on your arrangements. Neha and I would like to thank Chalo Africa and Asilia for their amazing standards of service, organizational abilities and hospitality throughout the trip. We have and will spread the word- that if anyone needs to do Tanzania- it has to be through Chalo Africa!!
IN
We would recommend Chalo Africa for those looking for a unique and responsible wilderness experience
The game safari industry in Kenya caters basically to a western clientele. That's why it was a refreshing change to come across an Indian company like Chalo Africa that caters specifically to Indian needs. More importantly , what made us happy was that we were looking for a more specialized wilderness experience, keeping in mind that we make many visits to sanctuaries and national parks. We liked the fact that they were willing to experiment and help plan a holiday away from a cookie-cutter approach and keeping in mind our desire to get an offbeat wildlife experience. Sangeeta from their team, made several suggestions on what we could do to get off the tourist trail and get a more intimate wildlife experience.
I also like the fact that they tie up with counterparts in Africa who believe in the principle of 'responsible tourism' and take that very seriously. The bushcamp they suggested for us, had no walls constructed, (so we had wild animals coming to sniff our tents at night !) and use of resources like lights and water was restricted to the minimal. We would recommend Chalo Africa for anyone looking for a unique and responsible wilderness experience!
Bahar Dutt is a wildlife conservationist and journalist
Vijay Bedi is a award winning wildlife film maker
IN
Email Akshai | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent Service
We planned a trip to Kenya with Chalo Africa this year. This is our 2nd trip with them, the first was in 2017. They understood our intentions and budget and drew out an amazing itinerary that we are grateful for. The 12-day trip to Kenya was like a trip of a lifetime with a very high value for the money we spent.
Our stays with two different Asilia camps were incredible. The properties were fascinating and every single staff member knew so much about wildlife and birds that even conversations over tea turned super-informative.
We appreciate Smita and her team for efficient communication both before and during the trip. We especially appreciate them for being available for any kind of confusion that came up during our trip.
ID
Email Robert | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Made our Safari Trip Memorable
Smita was very helpful in planning our Safari trip. She takes account the budget we had for this trip and made it possible. The trip was everything we would wanted. Thank You Smita and Team
SA
Email Amani | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely Fantastic!
The team did really well organizing everything! Thank you so much for a well organized trip. New year was well spent in Kenya. I arrived 30th Dec and had a wonderful time.
US
Email Ashley | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very efficient!
We decided to travel to Botswana last minute and found Chalo Africa’s number online. Even though we called late at night, Sangeeta immediately answered the call and started planning our trip. Within a couple of days she sent us options and once we chose one we were on our way. The trip went smoothly and will last us memories for life. We highly recommend this company and next time we plan a trip to Africa we will definitely use Chalo Africa!
IN
Email Haimanti&Debasish | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgeable, Understanding, Reliable, Someone with whom we would happily work with again
Back in June 2023, we had no idea about how a Safari trip should look like and the only thing that we knew for certain that both of us have back issues and hence, can't travel between places by road. None of the group travel operators would accommodate this customization. While looking for a boutique tour operator, I stumbled upon 'Chalo Africa' and Smita's phone number from the internet. I tried my luck, made the call and rest, as they say, is an extremely satisfying experience. She talked with us over the phone, re-assured us that the travel is not strenuous and the hotels that she would chose would ensure that we get the physical comforts as we needed. I confirmed the package but honestly, we tuned our expectations such that we don't feel disappointed.
Now, after the trip, I would like to correct myself and admit that all the hotels that Smita and her team arranged for us just exceeded our expectation in terms of hospitality, care and most importantly, the warmth of the people, be it the manager or the guide or even the askaris would took us to-from the tents. We visited Amboseli (Elarai Camp), Ol Pejeta (Asilia Bush Camp), Mara (Asilia Rekero) and Naboisho (Asilia Camp), in that order. Each one of them were unique in their own ways. In Amboseli we were looking at the Kilimanjaro peak while lying on the bed, in Ol Pejeta we visited the Rhino Sanctuary, in Mara the Hippo hustled beside the tent at night and pooped everywhere and when we thought, we have experienced it all, the camp at Naboisho, just overwhelmed us with it's sheer luxury (not even counting the lions those roam around in that conservancy like street dogs in Bangalore. When you guide says "do you want to see lions?", it is better to challenge him by saying "no we want to drive for an hour without seeing one"). Overall, from the moment the Asilia person picked up from our hotel at Nairobi to the moment they dropped us back there (9 days later) we could totally focus on the nature only and not worry a bit about the logistics including the flights and all. It is a bit on the costlier side, but worth it.
I would like to conclude by saying that this trip has helped 2 people who had no idea of a safari and in not at the best of their health, to overcome their inhibition and fear and we are grateful to the whole of Chalo Africa team for that. Smita said that "you both will fall in love with Africa when you complete this trip" and we can shamelessly agree to that now. We are going back soon.
CA
Email Chelsey | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Last minute, unforgettable adventure!
The Chalo Africa team organized a fantastic, unforgettable experience in the Okavango Delta. They accommodated my unique time constraints and pointed me towards a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Excellent communication and reasonable rates. Would recommend!
HK
Email Leigh | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly, knowledgeable and trustworthy!
This September, we had the most incredible safari experience in Kenya with Chalo Safaris. During our trip, we visited two remarkable destinations – the Maasai Mara and Amboseli National Park. Chalo also helped us to organize drivers and visisits to the Sheldrake Elephants Trust and the Giraffe Feeding station – these are not to be missed. I can honestly say that we were able to switch off completely and enjoy the holiday, as Chalo had everything covered.
It was Governor's Camp and the Mara that truly stole our hearts. The camp not only provided exceptional accommodation but also delivered outstanding service and great food. The attention to detail and the warm hospitality left a lasting impression on us. We will never forget the sound of the elephants wandering through the camp before dinner. Safely tucked away in our tents, you could see the herd out the window passing through and hear their rumbles. It took our breaths away.
While Governor's Camp was our favorite, it was also good to have a mix of experiences by staying at a camp and a lodge. We stayed at Old Tukai in Amboseli and really enjoyed the premises and service. One of the most magical moments of our safari was the opportunity to get up close with the birds and majestic elephants at Amboseli. The sheer beauty and presence of these animals in their natural habitat left us in awe and created memories that will be cherished forever. We turned into bird watchers overnight, getting up close with saddle bill storks and lilac breasted rollers and spoon bills!
A significant factor that contributed to our exceptional safari experience was the expertise and enthusiasm of our guides. Duncan and Moses, our guides at Governor's Camp and Amboseli, respectively, were truly exceptional. Their extensive knowledge of the wildlife, insightful commentary, and their ability to locate and track animals enhanced our safari adventure immensely. We felt safe, informed, and inspired by their passion for the wildlife and the conservation efforts in the region.
Overall, our safari in Kenya was an unforgettable journey filled with breathtaking sights, remarkable experiences, and warm hospitality.
Thank you again Chalo for taking such good care of us and giving us such a great experience.
IN
Email Pavarna Karthikeyan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Meticulous Planner
Malvika and team made sure we had one of the best holidays ever. Their expertise , experience and attention to details made our trip very enjoyable and seamless. The passion with which they work certainly shined through the quality of our holiday.
Chalo Africa made sure we get a life time of indelible memories ♥️