We will be traveling to Botswana in April. We would also like to travel to Malawi, with a stop along the way at Victoria Falls and maybe some Zimbabwe or Zambia parks. Looking for recommendations for safari companies that can put together an individualized and private tour. We have been to many countries in Africa, and are looking for unique experiences as well as wonderful game drives.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1609 posts
Maybe helpful if you can provide more info - which countries in Africa have you already been to - i.e. are you already fairly familiar with southern africa? How many days do you have - how many days do you want to be on safari - other interests such as chilling on the shores of Lake Malawi or visiting historic sites (Old Zimbabwe?) or birding?. What takes you to Malawi - is it missionary work, business, or to be on safari? Are you primarily interested in game drives or would you consider walking safaris (South Luanga in Zambia is famous for this).
Have you done any other research - i.e. any interest in visiting the Okavango delta or is there something else that takes you to Botswana. Also, are you interested in a bespoke trip or would you be interested in an "overland trip" along with other folks? Almost anything is possible depending on how many days you are looking to spend and what your budget is.
Posted by
Halifax, NS
336 posts
Hi,
I highly recommend the safariralk.net forum for African trips. The people there have a wealth of info and you will get lots of good recommendations to help.plan a bespoke trip.
Posted by
Northern New York
91 posts
Hi. I highly recommend Expert Africa as a safari travel expert. Their website in very informative. They have arranged two safaris for us to Tanzania and I know they cover Botswana and other countries. They will suggest and arrange a trip to specifically meet your needs and budget. They arranged a trip for us in Oct 2024 at high end camps with a private guide/vehicle for basically the same price as a group travel safari.
Posted by
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
1937 posts
This past July/August I did an amazing tour with Wilderness (https://www.wildernessdestinations.com/).
Also, OAT has a Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe itinerary that is one of their most popular. It sells out well in advance, so you might even be too late to book for next April. And it's a tour, so if you want a private experience, it might not be for you.
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1174 posts
We just returned from Africa and chose Yellow Zebra. We did not want to do a "tour", but had our own ideas and wanted someone to plot an itinerary.
Try these:
yellowzebrasafaris.com - Matt
artofsafari.travel
rhinoafrica.com
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks everyone for your responses. I had already been in contact with some of the places recommended but will also reach out to the other companies. Keep the suggestions coming! There are SO MANY companies to choose from and I'd like to go with ones that others recommend.