Planning a safari

As part of our commitment to our guests, we are continually exploring new safari lodges and partners throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. We make it a priority to experience select properties in the field ourselves, alongside insights from trusted industry partners, to ensure they align with our standards in guiding, hospitality, conservation, and overall guest experience before we recommend them.

This marks the beginning of our “Behind the Safari: Lodge Review Series,” where we share first-hand impressions from the lodges we are considering for our carefully curated portfolio of trusted safari partners.

Our first review takes us into the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, where we recently visited RockFig Safari Lodge.

Planning your first African safari is both exciting and overwhelming. East Africa and Southern Africa each offer extraordinary wildlife, beautiful lodges, and deeply memorable experiences, yet the feeling of travelling through these regions is very different.

The right choice depends on what you imagine when you picture Africa. Vast golden plains filled with migrating herds, or a private wilderness where your vehicle is the only one at a leopard sighting.

This guide will help you choose the safari that best matches your travel style, expectations, and priorities.

Starting the Safari planning process can be both exciting and pretty overwhelming and daunting. There are so many incredible countries, wildlife locations, lodges, and camps to choose from.

We've been planning and hosting safari trips collectively for more than 38 years. We work hard to match our clients' wish lists with the right locations, lodges, and activities to make their African safari dreams come true and to make their vacation memories last a lifetime.

If you're ready to start planning your African safari, here are some expert tips to make sure it goes smoothly: