Mr Samuel Mopalo has been working in the tourism
Early Kingfisher Safari
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- BOGA & Botswana Tourism
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $400 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
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Email Kathy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The only way to see Africa's wildlife and enjoy its friendly culture!
As I was excitedly telling a friend I was going on an African Safari in January, a woman overheard me and told me she goes to Africa yearly. She warned me I was making a mistake by going during the rainy season and said I wouldn’t see any wildlife. Her advice couldn’t have been more wrong!
Visiting Botswana Central Kalahari Reserve and the Magkadigkadi Salt Flats with David Shaw (Lead Photographer) and Sam Mopalo (Owner of Early Kingfisher Safari) was filled with incredible wildlife experiences! Sam, an accomplished naturalist who grew up and lives in Botswana, knows the wildlife in this area like the back of his hand. He can spot a lion, leopard, or any African beast from afar with his naked eye. It took the rest of us binoculars and the directions given by Sam and David to find it. The magic was getting close to this wildlife, close enough to photograph it. Sam’s tracking skills are beyond comparable. We were almost the only vehicle following the wildlife for days and never shared a viewing opportunity with anyone else.
David and Sam made a great “tag team.” What one missed or didn’t know, the other did. David, the avid and excellent photographer, ensured we had the best angle for the best shot, although Sam often nailed it before he said a word. And I came away with some remarkable photos, my favorites being those of the lions interacting with one another. I never guessed they could be as affectionate as a house cat!
Sleeping in tents with our every whim taken care of by Sam’s crew kept us close to the action. It was easy to be up early to photograph wildlife while it was still actively enjoying the cool morning light. While we rested in the shade of the sun during the middle of the day, we were back at it until sundown.
It was the best mobile safari camp experience possible. Sleeping in the bush, with everything we needed brought in—lights, food, warm and cold water, and shelter—the night rewarded us with a dark sky filled with stars that looked close enough to touch. The sounds of wildlife rocked us to sleep and gently woke us in the morning.
During the trip, we also spent a few nights in comfortable lodges with excellent food and hospitality. Still, the best food was cooked over an open flame or baked buried with coals underground. Sam’s cooks were the best; their tasty flavors for various grains and vegetables heightened the rest of the meal.
David and Sam’s cheerful, friendly personalities brought the rest of us into the fold, and we all became friends with stories to tell for the rest of our lives.
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Email Tina and Jamie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Suberb!
We spent five days with Sam and were blown away by the depth and breadth of his knowledge of all sorts African wildlife, from termites to lions. His passion for all life and the ecology of (in our case) the Okavango Delta shone through every day. He's a terrific birder as well, and we joked with him about remembering what page in the bird guide each bird appeared. :-) The camp was quite comfortable and we were well looked after. Thanks so much, Sam - all our best to you and your lovely team!
Email valerie Christine | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Brilliantly organised, Sam is often first at viewings due to his extensive tracking skills.
Husband & I only decided at New Year 2025 to do a tour, and March seemed to work for us; went to Botswana Tourism site and found rave reviews about Early Kingfisher Safaris; contacted Sam and received speedy reply and literally a breeze getting a route, price, and time to suit us sorted, so we were all ready to go in three weeks, and flew out of Australia for 7 nights Touch of Okavango camping safari, commenced Maun 11 March. Stunning weather. Experienced travellers for almost 50 years, Sam's Early Kingfisher adventure would rate as one of the very top trips we've ever done around the world. Amazingly, we were the only guests on the tour, but that's Sam's point of difference (that he will go with just 2 guests if necessary!) He's a very safe driver. His Jeeps are maintained very well and are comfortable, with blankets provided for the early morning safari every dawn. We didn't know if the campsites would be within compounds or would be fenced, but they weren't and we had nothing to fear (even when a pride of lions passed behind our tents at Savuti at 3a.m. one night: 8 of them decided our campfire embers provided a bit of warmth and were still there, sleeping, when we got up!). I had mentioned I would prefer a gluten-free meal/bread plan: Chef cooked my own buns/bread for every meal, and his range of menus was always delightful. We had beautifully set tables every night, G & T while we waited for dinner, and housekeeping was immaculate with clothes washed when we went out each morning, then placed, ironed, on our big bed each afternoon. Nothing was too much trouble for Sam and his staff, and we left as friends. Sam pointed out many birds in Moremi and Savuti and everywhere in between, wildflowers in profusion, and of course the only one of the BIG 5 we didn't see was the relocated rhinos. Amazingly we viewed copulating leopards (3 in total) from a very close vantage point, and wild dogs! Not to mention the afternoon when Sam heard a commotion during our rest time, and quickly sang out to us to hop in the jeep because he could hear a pursuit - we arrived in time to just see a zebra being taken down, and sat mesmerised for another 2 hours - again we were the first vehicle on the scene. It was magical.
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Email Don | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
First Class!
We just finished a fantastic tour with Early Kingfisher Safari. They were absolutely excellent. If you travel with them, be prepared to get up and get out early and see loads of wildlife! The beds were excellent, and the camping facilities were very good. The food was fantastic! We had some people with us who could not eat gluten or dairy and the food that was prepared for them was fabulous . Our guide was so much fun to be with and knows so much. He also understands how to position the vehicle for photographers so you get amazing shots. He shared so many wonderful stories and we all learned a lot. We had a lot of fun and I can absolutely recommend them!
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Email Theresa Parker | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A truly life-changing experience!
...is there a 6 star out of 5 rating? :)
We were introduced to Early Kingfisher Safaris via our photography guide, who organized a private family trip for us in April 2025. From the very first introduction to Sam and co-guide Paul at the airport in Kasane (Botswana), we knew we were in the best of hands. Every detail we could have anticipated – and so many others we never would have thought of – were taken care of at an incredibly high level.
The Toyota Land Cruisers used for the daily game drives were incredibly comfortable, easy to get into, with plenty of space for people and gear. They were fitted with flaps and other weather/dust protection that Sam designed himself and that we only needed once on a very dusty road. Blankets were provided for chilly mornings, but rarely used.
Game drives: Sam is an exceptionally well-known resource throughout the Chobe/Khwai/Savuti/Maun areas and an incredible tracker – as is Paul, our co-guide. Their years of study/certification and experience are readily evident. They were generous in showing us tracks, identifying differentiators between lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs…and showing the difference between the front and hind feet of elephants. Through their efforts and expertise, we experienced a “6 leopards before lunch” extravaganza of sightings!! They willingly stopped so we could photograph all kinds of wildlife (lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, impala (and so many other kinds of antelope, huge numbers of birds)) and were generous in their knowledge, identifying random birds, plants, and other items based on our questions. We tasted baobab fruit, wild cucumber and watermelon, and marula fruit – which only deepened our appreciation for Botswana. Early Kingfisher Safaris is an apt description, with morning game drives beginning at ~6:00 AM and afternoon drives at ~4:00 PM; the times are perfectly attuned for fantastic light (for photographers) and peak activity time for most of the animals and birds. We were on the trail before most, and well before groups from the various lodges – at times, we felt we had the entire area to ourselves, which was magical. You’ll look forward to the early start times! And – morning tea at “Sam’s Café” (tea, biscuits, rusks) as a break during the early game drive is an experience not to be missed!!
Camp life: What an epic experience! From being welcomed into camp with song, which brought tears to my eyes, to the incredible kindness of everyone in camp, the experience was one delight after another. The tents were spacious, so wonderfully comfortable, and filled with unexpected touches. Towels were folded into surprise designs each day, we had our own ‘bathroom’ at the back of the tent with a hanging shower, wash basins, and our individual vault privy. Laundry disappeared during the day only to return in the late afternoon, washed and folded and smelling of sunshine (we didn’t anticipate this!). We were woken each morning with warm wash water and greeted each evening with warm water for a shower after our game drives. Bara and BZ, the camp butlers, greeted us upon each return from a game drive with a damp washcloth to clean our face and hands, and were wonderfully gracious during our meals. BZ’s napkin designs each evening were a source of joy and something we all looked forward to…an impala, a cobra – so creative!
Speaking of the meals – wow! Chef PK is a magician in the kitchen, and spoiled us terribly. Her bread was amazing and is greatly missed now that we’ve returned home. Each meal was truly exceptional. And, who would have expected pre-dinner drinks (wine, G&T) around a fragrant fire, recapping the day. The farewell songs and dance at the end of our time in camp was wonderful and somewhat bittersweet knowing we were saying goodbye to our time in Botswana.
If you have the good fortune to experience Botswana with Sam and his team at Early Kingfisher Safaris, you will have a wonderfully life-changing experience and you’ll count yourself incredibly lucky.
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Email Rita | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Phenomenal
If you are considering a safari, I highly recommend Early Kingfisher Safaris!! Sam is so knowledgeable about the animals and their behaviors, is an expert tracker, and has a great eye for great picture opportunities. His crew is top notch. The accommodations and food were beyond my expectations! It was a trip of a lifetime!! I would gladly add more exclamation points.
When I was on the plane, looking at my pictures, a fellow passenger commented on the quantity and quality of the animal pictures and videos I had. She had been on a few safaris and said she was disappointed in the lack of what she saw. She is definitely booking with Early Kingfisher for next trip.
Ke a leboga, rra Sam!
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Email R O | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
AMAZING!
We saw so many animals and birds. We saw prides of lions, the marsh pride, the north pride, the xini pride. We saw leopards, rush hour at the watering hole with over 100 elephants. We sat quietly at another watering hole to see giraffes adjust to get those long necks down to drink. There were hippos, zebras, impalas, red lechwe, wildebeests, kudus, water bucks, buffalo, ostriches. This was the most amazing trip I have been on. Sam is so knowledgeable and has a great eye for great photo ops.
The crew kept us very comfortable and well fed.
Early Kingfisher Safaris is the place for an amazing safari experience!!!
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Email Linda Beckwith | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderfully memorable experience!
I just completed an 11 day safari with three friends led by Samuel Mopalo, owner of Early Kingfisher Safaris. We were in the Chobi River area, and the Okavango Delta, and stayed in three different camps. The large tents with bush bathrooms attached were roomy, and the beds comfortable. They even have electric lighting. Leave your dirty clothes, and they come back laundered and folded every day.
The number and variety of animals was unbelievable. Sam is a first class tracker, always finding the animals, and positioning us in the best spot for photo shots. Sam has incredible knowledge of all the animals, birds, and flora of the area. One day he noticed some tracks and said the elephants are headed to the watering hole. We raced there just in time for rush hour, with over 100 elephants coming to the hole! We saw 53 hippos one day, 17 giraffes together, a group of 18 wildebeests, so many beautiful lions, leopards, and on and on. People who have been on several safaris said they never saw what we saw. We saw at least 50 elephants, giraffes, and zebras every day.
Sam has a great crew. PK the chef cooks gourmet meals over an open fire in cast iron pots, with freshly baked bread 3 times a day. Khomo was always there to help, as well as Lesh and Khem. They catered to our every need. BZ greeted us with warm water and wash cloths twice a day after the game runs, attended to us at meals, and had our favorite cocktail ready around the campfire before dinner.
It is hard to explain how wonderful this safari was. You have to experience it to understand, and I encourage you to do so. It changed my life.
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Email Diane | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Guide and Company
Our 14-day safari, camping 4 places in Moremi and Chobe, was spectacular. Sam’s tracking expertise and knowledge of the complex network of back roads gave us many opportunities to enjoy lions, cheetahs and other wildlife all by ourselves. We felt so fortunate.. He knew every bird by song/call, the location of stars and planets , local ecology, the social history of the several lion prides we visited and much more.. The staff was equally expert at making the camps our homes. Food was fantastic, bed comfortable and campfires greeted us each morning and evening. I’m already plotting our next trip with Early Kingfisher..