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Desert Air Africa Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Member Of:
- NTB & TASA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $224 to $1,707 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
FR
Email Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Helpful, competent and accommodating. Much rarer then you might think!
We only had 8 nights to spend in Namibia. The itinerary suggested was great and when we asked for a couple of tweaks they were accommodated without fuss.
From being greeted and waved off at the airport, to the quick WhatsApp responses and handy printed itinerary we always felt like we knew what we were doing and where we were going. We’ve been on several trips in Africa where the next day and even the next hour fet uncertain. Not so on this trip.
To top it off we had great safari experiences, good driving conditions and some wonderful hiking
Reply from Desert Air Africa Safaris
Posted on Mar 4, 2025Dear Chris,
Thank you so much for trusting Desert Africa Safaris to host you in our beautiful country on a luxury self-drive safari. Thanks for writing this glowing review. We feel very humbled and are looking forward to hosting you again in future.
Best regards,
Katja & the Desert Africa Safaris Team
US
Email Chris and Amy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Without a doubt, the best tour operator we've ever utilized worldwide.
We've very frequent travelers, and have been to 94 countries, and multiple trips to Africa. I had originally contacted Desert Air Safaris to arrange for private charter flights. I was contacted by Carien Rall Swanepoel, and she offered to make all our arrangements. Carien and the staff of Desert Air Safaris were without a doubt the most professional travel consultants we have ever utilized. Carien arranged our trip with military precision, and made great suggestions that we would surely have missed without her advice. She literally met us at the airport upon our arrival in Namibia. That alone is a testament to her dedications to customer service.
If you love Africa (and we do) I can't recommend enough the many advantages of a private air charter for your travels. First and foremost, you're not limited on luggage. Secondly, there is no time wasted on commercial flights. We were able to visit four countries (Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe) with only 15 days in Africa. This would have been impossible using commercial flights. Upon arrival at each airport we were quickly escorted through security and customs. Carien arranged for seamless transfers to our lodges. Even crossing the border at Victoria Falls was arranged in advance, and our guides (Zambia side) literally handed us off to their counterpart in Zimbabwe.
Flying with Desert Air Safaris is a treat upon itself. The pilots were wonderful, and getting to know them was part of the fun of our trip. We started our tour at the &Beyond Desert Lodge, then to Fish River Canyon, Moremi Mountain Camp, Shipwreck Lodge, then on to Little Ongava at Etosha. From there to Chobe Lodge in Botswana, and then to the Royal Livingstone Hotel adjoining Victoria Falls. Our pilots accompanied us along the entire trip.
We're already talking about our next adventure in Africa, and we will surely be using Carien Rall Swanepoel for all travel arrangements and those wonderful pilots of Desert Air Safaris.
DE
Email Ben | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A flawless experience start to final
We (familiy) did a 16 day flight safary with Desert Air Namibia that proved to be a dream holyday from start to final. Planning was well in advance, but Namibia is heavily booked - at least the very fine resorts that were on our bucket list. It needed a bit of flexibility and amendment we were assisted in with some smart changes suggested that made it work. The time in Namibia was pre-arranged perfectly, and it went perfectly. Doing all the hot places in relatively short time was not trivial in planning, but we saw everything we wanted - going from Windhoek to Etosha to Damaraland to Kaokoland to Purros to Swakobmund and Walfish Bay to Fish River Canyon to Lüderitz to Sossuvlei. All the lodges were cool, but the friendlyness and attentiveness of all people we met surpassed it all. Going by plane (Cessna 210, pilot+4) is not the cheapest way to go, but sure the best if you want to see a bit more of this quite big country without sitting in a 4x4 all day. All our family member agreed that this was a vacation you think of for quite a while.
As for Desert Air Africa Safaris, it´s a pro Air Service provider with airplanes in good shape and professional pilots (I am a private pilot for 30 years myself, so it is fair for me to judge). Our pilot took care of everything you can think of and conducted pleasurable rides all along. Besides, he was a cool and fun guy we had a good time with. Mrs. Rall, responsible for all planning (and obviously for monitoring her clients when on the way and arranging for nothing to go wrong and making sure that for ex. items we forgot in a lodge surfaced a couple day later in another one) definitely knows her job very well and obviously loves it ;-).
Bottom line: This was my first vacation ever I wrote a note to the tour operator (re. Mrs. Rall) after it was finished to assert our satisfaction. And once we will consider Botswana I know whom to call.
AT
Email Nina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The flying safari Tour we did with Desert Air Africa was the best holiday we ever spent.
The Organisation of our 3 weeks holiday was very professional and I am glad that Carien was so patient with me as I had several special requests. We had a highly competent pilot who brought us to beautiful places. We will never forget that time! Thank you Desert Air!
Email Yang | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very reliable and quick response.
My husband and I visited Southern Africa in this May. Namibia was a key part of our 5 weeks trip. We booked the accommodations by ourselves and did not want to struggle on finding the way on road by self-driving. I contacted Carien from Desert Air Africa Safaris for help. Carien gave me very prompt response and kind suggestions on the route.
Through the communications, I was sure Carien and her company were professional and very responsible.
We entrusted Carien and Desert Air Africa Safaris to arrange the flight and road transfers for all of our 13 days trip in Namibia. Thanks for their great efforts on coordinating all detail, our trip in Namibia was excellent, very smoothly. Each of the drivers and service providers was very friendly and responsible.
I highly recommend Desert Air Africa Safaris.
FR
Email Charmaine | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
One of the best holidays of our lives!
Hands down the best travel agency I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with many. I appreciated their efficiency and quick turnaround time. It’s such a pleasure to work with a company that responds in a timely manner to emails and messages. The organization was perfect down to every detail. Carien went the extra mile and beyond to ensure that we enjoyed a hassle-free road trip in Namibia. The accommodation and excursions exceeded our expectations. From the breathtaking nature of Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon to the warm hospitality and desert elephants at Brandberg White Lady Lodge, unrivaled luxury and generosity as well as a rare leopard spotting at Okonjima Bush Camp, the unique tented Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp with 6000 year-old rock engravings and unforgettable sunsets, the abundant wildlife at Etosha, and the friendly guides and sundowners at Palmwag, we were welcomed warmly everywhere. The scenic flight over the Namib was a highlight. Carien checked in regularly to ensure that everything was going as planned. She even provided us with detailed directions to each destination and ice cold drinks and snacks for the road. Leaving all the arrangements in her capable hands allowed us to sit back, relax, and enjoy this beautiful country. I can’t recommend this agency highly enough. We are ardent travelers, and this was one of the best holidays of our lives. Thank you for the unforgettable, relaxing and adventurous experience. Thank you for your kindness and hospitality, Namibia. We’ll be back!
Email Fran | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Attention to detail, knowledgeable, professional, listens to and understands her clients needs
Carien was so easy to deal with. She arranged every aspect of our Namibia trip. She guided us superbly over every aspect of our 8 day long self drive trip. As a result we enjoyed every minute!
Email Lori C | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great look at beautiful Namibia
Desert Africa Safaris put together a comprehensive and varied two-week tour of Namibia for us combining travel by small plane as well as self-drive. We were very pleased with our program and the selection of locations and lodges.
US
Email Clare | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service and amazing trip!
I reached out to Desert Africa Safaris for help in planning a very last minute safari in Namibia around a project I had booked there. After a negative experience with a different travel operator, I was scrambling a bit and had contacted numerous agencies looking for assistance with what I was hoping for. I was most impressed by the response from Desert Africa. Carien responded right away and expressed that the short timeframe would not be an issue. She listened to what I wanted, presented different options, and worked with me on multiple iterations to come up with exactly the trip I was looking for. While I was traveling, I ended up changing plans a couple of different times, and Carien always responded immediately, jumped right on it, and figured things out quickly for me. At one point prior to starting my safari, I had an issue with my lodging and reached out to Carien to see if she might be able to assist. Within a couple of hours, she had booked two hotels and three transfers for me, and someone was on the way to pick me up. (Her recommendation for a lodge in the area also ended up being one of my favorite stays of the trip). Having issues while traveling can be really overwhelming, and having Carien as a resource was incredibly helpful.
The pilot from Desert Air for my safari, Gerard, was also wonderful. Beyond just feeling completely safe while we were flying, he also acted more like a guide throughout the whole trip, and was so informative about the areas we were traveling and everything we were seeing. Especially as a solo traveler, having someone along who helped deal with logistics, looked after things, and was available in case I ever needed help was a huge comfort. The service from the company was excellent all around, and I would highly recommend booking with Desert Africa!
NL
Email Family Kramer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
DAS: Professional, personal service for an unforgettable journey through Namibia
Our family of five—two adults, two teens, and a seven-year-old—recently experienced what can only be described as the best holiday ever, thanks to DAS. Carien truly understood our vision and translated our wishes into a week-long program that was as diverse as it was enriching. The itinerary perfectly balanced engaging activities with ample downtime, allowing us to relax and soak in the breathtaking surroundings of Namibia.
The accommodations were a delightful blend of luxury and adventure. Every lodge and hotel we visited was chosen with care, ensuring that our stay was comfortable yet exciting. The food was great and the beds were incredibly comfortable—every detail was thoughtfully arranged to enhance our experience.
What truly set this tour apart was the seamless service. It felt as though Carien was personally overseeing every aspect of our journey. Every hotel was pre-informed of our arrival, and nothing was ever left to chance. We never had to wait on anything; everything was ready when we needed it, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience.
Another highlight of the trip was the fact that it was a Fly Safari! We flew from Windhoek to Sossusvlei, then on to Swakopmund, and finally to Etosha in a Cessna 210. We stayed two nights in every location. The flights itself were an unforgettable adventure, led by a super friendly and skilled pilot who made the entire experience both safe and exhilarating.
Overall, DAS provided an impeccably organized trip that exceeded our expectations in every way. We are immensely grateful to Carien and the DAS team for crafting such a memorable journey. If you're looking for a tour operator that combines thoughtful planning, excellent service, and unique experiences, look no further than DAS.
Reply from Desert Air Africa Safaris
Posted on Feb 24, 2025Dear Pascal
I am delighted by the amazing review. It was such an honor to arrange this trip for your family. It was very easy and straight forward from the word go. You knew what you wanted and it was very doable.
We are very much looking forward to hosting you and your dear family on a next visit to southern Africa soon.
Kindest Regards
Carien