Owner, Simon on a game drive
Real Africa Safaris (BW)
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- Botswana Guides Association
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Craig Eddy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Simon and Real Africa Safaris is the best!!!
Extraordinary and incredible, but those words don't do justice to a trip with Simon. We did a 2 day, 1 night boat/safari/camping in Chobe National Park. Simon is incredibly knowledgeable in not only finding the animals, but he knows their behavior which provided advanced notice to us for some great photos. He also keep lighting in mind when positioning the vehicle or boat for great photos. We always felt safe, comfortable and well informed with Simon. We would absolutely recommend Simon for the ultimate Africa experience. We even had honey badger, elephants and hyena walk trough our campsite.
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Email Mikaela M | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simon is extremely knowledgeable and friendly! Great to spend a safari with!
Simon runs an excellent Safari experience! He is very knowledgeable and I can’t think of someone more deserving of your business! The Safari package was extremely affordable compared to other companies and went above and beyond our hopes. Simon knew the Chobe so well and was able to take us to the right spots to see all of the animals we wanted to find. I would also make sure you don’t miss the overnight camping option as that was one of our favorite parts! A great way to see more animals and enjoy the stars!
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Email Sarah T | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Enchanting
Whether this is your first or fiftieth safari, do yourself a favor and choose Real Africa. Simon and his team took me and my father on a seven-day camping safari through Moremi and Chobe National Parks. It was our first safari and we could not have had a better experience. Botswana has some of the most beautiful landscapes and incredible animals this world has to offer: Simon is the man to show them to you.
Simon is an excellent guide: he knows so much about the land and the animals of Botswana and it was obvious to us that he appreciates them deeply. He is eager to share the glories of his country. He is also a talented tracker, and even seemed to sense animals before they stepped out of the bushes or swept down from above. As he is an avid photographer, he knows what makes for a stunning photo and frequently stopped to point out a piece of beauty we had not seen. Has a great sense of humor, too.
There was no hiking involved on our trip. All was seen from the back of a shaded and breezy Land Cruiser. Simon was happy to stop on request so we could take photos or stare at some new marvel. He halted at mid-afternoon for tea and biscuits – and a stretch of the legs.
If you choose the camping route, which I heartily recommend, be aware that this is not rough camping. All the work that was to be done was done for us. We slept on comfortable cots, had a private outdoor latrine, took bucket showers, and ate like kings. Simon had a team of two guys who set up and tended the camp while he took his guests on game drives. (These two were also some of the friendliest and most considerate men I have ever met.) One of these guys is a trained cook, and everything he served was absolutely delicious. We fell asleep each evening to the sounds of wild night noises and woke each morning to the Southern Cross in the sky.
Do bring some soap for washing. If you don't wish to pack sunscreen and bug repellent, you can buy them in town before heading into the bush.
Safety was never a worry. No weapons were brought on the trip: almost all the animals shied away from the Land Cruiser. For those that didn't, Simon knew them well enough to know what to do to get out of a scrape. At night the guys set up several spotlights that shone out from the camp, and that was enough to keep the animals from wandering among the tents.
Simon was very communicative with us before the trip started and was happy to answer all our questions. He also checked in after our trip was over to see if we made it safely home. He has treated us like friends from start to finish.
Real Africa sets the standards for service and delight. I highly recommend it.
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Email Mudit | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Expert tracker and guide
Simon is THE BEST- Do not hesitate to reserve a safari with him. This review is from our family’s trip to Botswana in August.
Simon answered emails promptly (unlike some other operators who never even responded) and answered all the questions (about the Day safari/game drive and afternoon boat safari combo). We felt confident wiring him the funds in advance. On arrival, our hotel in Kasane, Botswana confirmed that he was a great guide.
He picked us up promptly at the agreed upon time and we were one of the first vehicles entering Chobe in the morning. His ability to track animals is exceptional! Simon is a very knowledgeable guide and gave us detailed explanations about the wildlife. We saw 100+ elephants, 20+ giraffe, a lion, 10+hippos, jackals, crocodiles, many different birds, and much more. About midway through our safari we were served tea, coffee, sandwiches, fruit etc.
Simon takes pride in Botswana and is a great ambassador for his country. He took time to explain everything and answered our questions patiently. Unfailingly pleasant. Very accommodating with what we wanted to see. He insisted on coming back in the afternoon to bring us to the boat safari though it was virtually next door to our hotel. We could not have had a better guide! Highly recommended.
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Email LA | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic experience
Great professional service throughout my safari in Chobe, Botswana. The boat game drive was amazing encountering elegant colorful birds, and Nile crocodiles of various sizes. The game drive on land was equally just as pleasant. Nothing beats seeing wildlife in their natural habitat.