Director Michelle on a mokoro in Botswana
Explore & Travel Africa
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2020)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $200 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Andrew | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Knowledgeable, efficient, kind and responsive to questions.
I contacted a variety of agents via Google search. After a few days of posing my questions and requirements I found myself warming to Michelle at Explore & Travel Africa. She was knowledgeable, responded quickly, and in particular paid attention to my needs. I had set a budget which we quickly exceeded (for good reasons). This was a short notice booking to take advantage of unusual availability from the uk of airmile flights with BA to JNB, celebrating my upcoming 60th.
Michelle helped me find 2 lovely but contrasting safari properties that were available at a modest discount. I arranged our transport to Hoedspruit (BA then Airlink… excellent) and Michelle arranged the private transfers to Klasserie Drift and on to Arathusa and back to Hoedspruit. These transfers worked perfectly and I am so glad that I didn’t take the alternative option of renting a car. The roads are not driver friendly!
Klaserie Drift was simply stunning. The setting and staff/service set it apart. I could not think of any worthwhile improvements that could have been made. The food was exquisite, the setting just amazing and our river view room just stunning. The aircon struggled to cope with the nearly 40 degree temperatures but luckily the ceiling fan helped. Every member of staff went above and beyond and Khutso was an amazing guide/tracker. Although we saw an amazing variety of animals, in contrast to Arathusa they were perhaps harder to find. But every one of our 6 drives delivered and then some. Highlights included lion, hyena, vultures, rhino, elephant, water buffalo but no other cats. Loads of birds too.
Arathusa was also luxurious with a wonderful room. We had some amazing sightings and in particular close encounters with leopard, hyena and wild dogs. Plenty of lion. White rhinos in The distance at dusk. We seemed a little less lucky compared to the other cars out from Arathusa however. Our guide seemed to be a bit out on his own.
In summary I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Michelle at Explore and Travel Africa. Thank you! Hope to be back.
MY
Email Soon Lai NG | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Michelle Ashley patiently tailormade a 8 fantastic days of Botswana safari of Delta, desert n river!
Michelle was able to understand our requirements n it met all our expectations of varied safari in different terrain n environment. Tour was well organized n Kwando Lodges were comfortable, had excellent staff, good meals, knowledgeable guides. Flying to different lodges saved a lot of time too. The cost was well worth every penny. Daily laundry service was an extra bonus!
CA
Email Emy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great, fast and easy
Such an easy process! I was contacted by Michelle Astbury so quickly and she’s been great since then. Michelle listened to all my requests and she delivered! Knowledgeable, experienced and awesome! We had a fantastic Safari, a one in a life time experience.
Thank you so much Michelle for your top notch service!
Email Juliette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Efficient, friendly, knowledgeable
Michelle was instrumental in helping us to plan and make the most of our time on the safari. We had an excellent trip, some amazing experiences that will stay with us forever. Staying at the migration camp in Ndutu was one of the highlights.
US
Email Brenda | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Michelle took the time to listen to what we wanted and planned the right package for us.
We were able to see the Big Five many times. The service at the lodges that we stayed at was excellent and the value was exceptional. English was widely spoken.
HK
Email Gavin Ip | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We have never travelled with so much ease. The whole trip is nicely arranged by Michelle.
We are glad to have found Michelle on SafariBookings.com. We went to South Africa (Cape Town) & Kruger National Park at the end of December 2023. We were planning our trip to South Africa just one month before departure. Michelle managed to help us find high quality (quite exclusive) accommodation and quality tours. We faced no problem during the journey thanks to her great effort in planning and organizing the trip with the transfer, accommodation, day tour, and domestic flight service providers.
We understand that luck is a huge factor for safari game drive. We managed to see all big 5 animals during the 5 days of safari in the Greater Kruger area, staying at 2 campsites.
We must also mention that Michelle is very accommodating to our requests for changing some of the itinerary items. She presented us 2 routes for selection, with different hotels and in different areas of the Kruger area, after which she customised with our preference.
Would definitely recommend to anyone going to Africa
US
Email Andrew | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Attentive, Careful and Caring
Michelle at Explore & Travel Africa was the perfect travel guide. She was super friendly and interested in tailoring a bespoke experience based on my interests and budget, as well as her own vast experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my safari experience as well as the lodges she organized. It really couldn't have been a better trip. She even made good when we had a misunderstanding, treating me with respect and going beyond what was necessary to satisfy me. I would work with her again, and again!
Email Watson Family | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Michelle created the most perfect bespoke South Africa safari for my family of five
In January 2023, I used the safari bookings website to help me plan the holiday of a lifetime for my wife, three teenage children and I in August 2023. The website was incredibly helpful for comparing different itineraries and costs. By March I had down-selected three suppliers from safari bookings website to work with to develop a bespoke package for my family. All three were excellent, and I eventually picked Michelle at 'Explore and Travel Africa' .
Michelle arranged a week's safari across two different lodges in the Kruger National Park and all transfers in between, including a day safari around the park itself, rather than just the private game reserves that the lodges were in, and a day trip to three different locations (an animal rehabilitation facility, a boat ride, and (the best ever) Elephant experience). So it was a rather complex itinerary yet Michelle arranged it faultlessly.
I loved being able to speak via whatsapp, so it wasn't just an email exchange. I also loved Michelle's breadth of knowledge of the African safari market for great suggestions. Where Michelle didn't know the answer (e.g. would a hotel configure a bedroom with suitable beds for my three adult-sized teenagers, rather than pull-out beds?), then she went the extra mile of contacting the hotels and confirming back to me. This gave me so much reassurance.
When we landed at the airport, we were met by a driver who ferried us to our first lodge. And from that moment onwards, the itinerary ran faultlessly. Drivers were always on time, lodges were arranged perfectly (and they were beautiful lodges!), and the additional activities were breathtaking (especially the Elephant experience!!).
I wholeheartedly recommend Michelle and Explore and Travel Africa to you for your next African adventure!
CH
Email Claudia | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very relyable and competent
We booked a 7-day safari with "explore & travel africa". It was simply fantastic and everything worked wonderfully. Michelle helped us a lot with the planning and catered to our wishes. We wanted simpler accommodation and Mboma Island Camp was exactly what we had in mind. Michelle sent us some suggestions with very detailed information so that we could really choose what we liked. We then booked 2 nights in a more luxurious lodge so that we could also get to know this side, it was also very nice at "Little Sabel" and the guide was also very competent, but not as familiar as at Mboma Island Camp. We also had a very competent guide at Mboma Island Camp and we saw and observed a lot of animals at both places. Michelle even helped us to hire a cheap hire car for our trip from Durban to Cape Town and when we had some problems with the rental company we were able to call her and she spoke to him and took care of everything. We were very grateful. We would definitely recommend explore & travel africa.
CA
Email Vanessa | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very helpful! Worked through my options with me, happy to deal with all my questions!
Michelle was wonderful. Have us lots of good info, and answered so our anything questions. Worked with us to find a place for our desired experience and budget. Followed up just before we left and afterwards as well.