Private Safaris

For families and small groups of friends looking for a private safari experience we would be happy to recommend our favorite exclusive use properties. We are also familiar with private aircraft options and specialist guides whom, whether you have an interest in photography, wine, golf, or birds, can take your trip to the next level!

Each private safari is unique – from just a few nights in one location to several weeks flying by between Africa’s iconic safari areas. By choosing exclusive use safari properties family’s can often travel with children of any age. With private aircraft you can fly directly between safari destinations. With your own private guides and chefs activities and meals are based around your requirements. Enjoy Africa at your own pace and in your own style. With our low price guarantee you can’t afford not to!”

Here are some examples:

Private Luxury Tanzania Safari – 8 guests optimum: For a luxurious East Africa getaway imagine meeting your pilot  at Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Airport and departing by air to one of the world’s 7 natural wonders, Ngorongoro Crater, for 2 or 3 nights. You can’t avoid the Crater crowds when on Big 5 game drives but you will have the most exclusive views of the Crater from the 6 roomed Tree Camp at Crater Lodge! In addition to a private crater floor lunch head out to the Cradle of Mankind (Olduvai Gorge), Shifting Sands (this is amazing), and visit with the local Masai in a traditional village. Continue by air to Paul Tudor Jones’ 4 roomed Serengeti Safari House. Spend 4 days having the world’s largest animal migration all to yourselves in the exclusive Singita Grumeti Reserve. Fly onwards to Tom Friedkin’s home, Mwiba, set within its own private game reserve for 3 nights. Elephant and buffalo abound in this exclusive area.

Private Luxury South Africa Safari – 6 to 10 guests optimum: South Africa has an abundance of high end exclusive use villas and private safari lodges perfect for a secret getaway. Start with 4 nights in Cape Town at Ellerman House staying in their 3 room, or 5 room, villa. Days can be spent exploring the historic city on foot, taking the cable car up Table Mountain, or enjoying a picnic lunch with the penguins. Another option is Liz Biden’s 4 roomed “The One Above”, a 13,700 square foot penthouse, at the popular Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Love wine? Add a few days in the Owner’s Cottage Grand Provence in the Cape Winelands. It has won “Most Fabulous Villa in the World”. They have 5 rooms taking 10 guests and their restaurant was voted top 10 in South Africa. Continue by air to the Oppenheimer’s family retreat – Tarkuni – set within South Africa’s largest private game reserve, Tswalu. The newly remodeled 5 roomed house is stunning. Wild dog and rhino are highlights here. 3 nights is ideal. Continue by air to Sabi Sands for South Africa’s best wildlife viewing. Singita Castleton, set on a 45,000 acre private concession, has 6 rooms for 12 guests. Alternatively fly to Royal Malewane’s Africa House which also takes up to 12 guests. 3 to 4 nights in either location is the perfect end to this trip!

Private Value South Africa Safari – 6 to 8 guests optimum: Family’s and friends looking for a lower cost, yet very high quality, private South African safari could stay at the 4 roomed Redcliffe House in Cape Town. For your safari travel by air to Arathusa for superb Big 5 wildlife viewing in the Sabi Sands Reserve. They have 4 suites located away from the normal rooms for an exclusive experience.

Private Adventure Zimbabwe Safari – 8 to 9 guests optimum: Zimbabwe is home to Africa’s most highly trained safari guides and over the last 20 years we have had some our most memorable, up close, wildlife experiences there. This trip would suit an adventurous group of adults. Depart aboard your private plane from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park for day and night wildlife viewing drives and professionally guided walks with your private guide. You would have private use of 6 roomed Little Makalolo Tented Camp for 3 nights. Fly onwards to Mana Pools and the Lower Zambezi River for a 3 night / 4 day private canoe safari taking up to 9 guests. Days are spent on the river paddling around hippo and crocodiles while nights are spent comfortably under canvas (with proper beds, toilets and bucket showers). From Mana Pools fly direct to the private 130,000 private Malilangwe Game Reserve. Spend 3 to 5 nights in the private 5 bedroom family villa. With 6 guests you pay the same rate as for a normal lodge room. With 7 to 10 guests you actually pay less than a normal lodge room while getting a private experience!

What does it cost? Some private safaris are a fantastic value while others are terrifically expensive. Much depends upon the number of days spent traveling, where you stay, time of year, number of travelers, and the type of aircraft used for getting around. We typically recommend comfortable 4 or 5 star properties. We can book scheduled light air transfers and use each property’s resident guides to keep costs down or arrange for your own private aircraft and specialist pro guide to travel with you. Many airstrips are capable of handling our client’s own personal aircraft as well.

We regularly compare our prices with our competitors to ensure we are providing you with a great value.

Aircraft on Offer Include:

Pilatus PC12: This pressurized single engine turbo prop takes 8 to 9 guests with a crew of 1. The main advantage of this aircraft is its ability to take off from short remote bush airstrips. At the same time the aircraft has a high cruising speed at high altitudes and has the longest range of any aircraft in its class.

Cessna Grand Caravan: This single engine turbo prop has a crew of 1 can take up to 12 guests. Not pressurized it maxes out at 12,000 feet and is slower than the Pilatus. The Grand Caravan is designed to be simple, rugged and reliable. It is the best passenger carrying bush aircraft for flights of 20 to 300 kilometers. The aircraft is capable of taking off from nearly all bush airstrips. The air conditioned cabin, large windows and unrestricted view, made possible by a high wing make the Caravan very popular with our clients. The aircraft has a very generous luggage carrying capacity.

Beechcraft King Air: With a crew of 2 this pressurized twin engine turbo prop takes 7 to 9 passengers cruising comfortably at 240 kilometers an hour! The King Air 200 can be used into and out of most airstrips enabling passengers to stay with the same aircraft throughout their trip. The standard cabin has 7 seats and a toilet. With optional seats in the baggage compartment the passenger capacity is raised to 9.

Beechcraft 1900D: This twin turbo prop, pressurized plane has a crew of 2 and takes up to 19 passengers. The most obvious difference from the King Air 200 is the substantially lengthened fuselage. The 1900D offers a true stand up cabin (71 inches tall) and an extra generous cabin volume. No other aircraft in it’s class can carry so much, so far, so fast.

Citation Mustang Model 510: This luxurious twin jet engine, pressurized aircraft with a crew of 1 or 2 takes up to 4 guests. This VLJ (Very Light Jet) has an ultra-luxurious interior offering a personalized, privileged and super-fast experience for the discerning traveler – at surprisingly affordable rates. With 4 club seats in the all-leather, wool carpeted passenger cabin, as well as cold refreshment storage space, this is the ideal option for flying tar-to-tar anywhere in Africa. Ideal for couples, small groups or families and is a more cost-effective option than the larger Pilatus PC12 or King Air B200.

Exclusive Use Lodges, Camps and Private Homes in Africa that we Love:

Botswana:
Abu Camp, Okavango Delta: 6 rooms
Chitabe Lediba, Okavango Delta / Moremi: 5 rooms
Duba Explorers Camp, Okavango Delta: 5 rooms
Little Mombo, Moremi:  3 rooms
Selinda Explorers, Selinda Reserve: 4 rooms
Selinda Camp, Selinda Reserve: 3 rooms
Selinda Suite, Selinda Reserve: 2 rooms
Zarafa, Selinda Reserve: 4 rooms
Zarafa Dhow Suites, Selinda Reserve, 2 suites

Kenya:
Cottar’s Bush Villa, Masai Mara: 5 rooms
Geoffrey Kent Suite at Sanctuary Olonana, Masai Mara: 2 rooms
Lengishu, Borana Conservancy, Laikipia: 6 rooms
Mara Expedition Camp, Mara North Conservancy: 5 rooms
Ol Jogi, Laikipia: 7 suites
Segera House, Laikipia: 2 rooms
Segera Retreat, Laikipia: 6 rooms
Sirai House, Laikipia: 6 rooms
Sirikoi House, Laikipia, 3 rooms

Malawi:
Ndomo Point House, Likoma Island: 4 rooms
Satemwa Tea (Huntingdon House), Shire Highlands: 5 suites

Mozambique:
Azura Presidential Villa, Benguerra Island: 3 rooms
Azura Villa Amizade, Benguerra Island: 2 rooms

Namibia:
Little Ongava, Etosha: 3 rooms
Okonjima Grand African Villa: Okonjima Reserve, 4 rooms
Okonjima Private Bush Suite, Okonjima Reserve: 2 rooms
Safari House, Etosha Heights Private Reserve, 3 rooms
Villa Mushara, Etosha: 2 rooms
Wolwedan’s Private Camp, Namib Desert: 3 rooms
Wolwedan’s Boulders Safari Camp, Namib Desert: 5 rooms

Seychelles:
Banyan Tree Villa, Mahe: 2 rooms
North Island, North Island: 11 villas

South Africa:
Arathusa Bush Facing Luxury, Sabi Sands: 4 suites
Bushman’s Kloof Koro Lodge: 2 rooms and loft
Cape Grace Two Bedroom Apartment, Cape Town: 2 rooms
Cheetah Plains, Sabi Sands: 4 to 8 guests per house
Dulini, Sabi Sands: 6 suites
Ellerman House Villa 1 and 2, Cape Town: 3 suites each
Grand Provence Owner’s Cottage, Franschhoek Winelands, 5 suites
Grand Provence La Provençale Villa in the Vineyards, 2 rooms
La Cle Des Montagnes Villas, Franschhoek Winelands: 2, 3 and 4 rooms
La Residence Suites, Franschhoek Winelands: 2 and 3 rooms
Lion Sands Ivory Fish Eagle Villa, Sabi Sands: 2 suites
Londolozi Private Granite Suites, Sabi Sands: 3 suites
Londolozi Pioneer Camp, Sabi Sands: 3 suites
Londolozi Tree Camp, Sabi Sands, 6 suites
Londolozi Varty Camp, Sabi Sands, 2 suites
Mala Mala Sable Camp, Sabi Sands: 7 suites
Mala Mala Rattray’s, Sabi Sands: 8 suites
Molori Safari Lodge, Madikwe: 5 suites
Royal Madikwe, Madikwe: 5 suites
Royal Malewane Africa House, Thornybush Reserve: 6 rooms
Royal Malewane Royal Suites, Thornybush Reserve: 2 rooms each
Savanna Lodge Savanna Suite, Sabi Sands: 2 rooms
Singita Castleton, Sabi Sands: 6 cottages
Singita Sweni, Kruger: 5 rooms
Tintswalo Manor House, Manyeleti: 5 rooms
Tswalu Tarkuni, Tswalu Reserve: 5 rooms
The One Above, Cape Town: 4 suites

Tanzania:
Bustani House at Gibb’s Farm, Karatu: 2 rooms
Crater Lodge Tree Camp, Ngorongoro Crater: 6 suites
Deutsche House at Gibbs’ Farm, Karatu: 2 rooms
Entamanu Private, Ngorongoro Crater: 4 rooms
Jabali Private House, Ruaha, 3 rooms
Forest Chem Chem, Tarangire: 3 rooms
Little Oliver’s, Tarangire: 5 rooms
Little Chem Chem, Tarangire: 5 rooms
Matemwe Beach House, Zanzibar: 3 rooms
Mkombe’s House, Serengeti: 4 rooms
Mwiba Lodge, Mwiba Conservancy: 10 suites
Singita Faru Faru Villa Suite, Serengeti: 2 suites
Singita Serengeti House, Serengeti: 4 suites
Singita Sasakwa Villa, Serengeti: 4 rooms

Zambia:
Chongwe River House, Lower Zambezi: 4 rooms
Kigelia House at Sausage Tree Camp, Lower Zambezi: 2 rooms
Luangwa Safari House, South Luangwa: 4 rooms
Potato Bush Camp, Lower Zambezi: 4 rooms
Princess Royal Suite at The River Club, Victoria Falls: 2 rooms
Robin’s House, South Luangwa: 2 rooms
Shiwa Ngandu, northern Zambia: 4 rooms
Tangala House, Victoria Falls: 4 rooms
The River Farmhouse at Waterberry Lodge: 4 rooms

Zimbabwe:
Elephant Camp West, Victoria Falls: 4 rooms
Little Makalolo, Hwange: 5 rooms
Little Ruckomechi, Mana Pools: 3 rooms
Mana Canoe Trail, Mana Pools: 5 rooms
Matetsi River House, Victoria Falls: 4 rooms
Pamushana, Lonestar Conservancy: 2, 3, and 5 suite villas (the 5 bedroom villa is Malilangwe House)
Sapi Explorers Camp, Mana Pools: 5 rooms
The Hide, Private, Hwange: 3 rooms
The Hide, Tom’s Little, Hwange: 3 rooms

For groups of 10 or more guests we often book out entire safari lodges and camps which have more rooms than the private options above.

Call us today to plan your private African escape!