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Has anyone booked through Safaris by Chameleon? - Kenya Forum

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10 replies to this topic

I can vouch for Chameleon safaris. I know Greg personally. You're in safe hands.

Richard Trillo

East Africa Manager: ExpertAfrica (dot) com

In short: would recommend going with them and if you have a choice ask for Eustace!

Richard, sorry I’ve only just realised I never replied to you. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Based on your message I booked with them for June next year and they have been fantastic to deal with so far. We have never spent this much money on a trip before and your message really put my mind at rest.

Thanks again.

Hi, about to book for Nov 2024 and have same concerns. Is everything moving forward smoothly ?

Hi, it seems there head office is based in Windhoek, Namibia where they take most of their Safari tours. Tripadvisor reviews are mostly very good and they seem to have been around a long time. Have you tried phoning them? +264 81 889 9452 is the phone and What's app number

Did you try to contact them on [email protected]? We are in touch with them regularly so I am surprised to hear that they are not answering you.

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Chameleon Safaris

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Half-Day Windhoek City and Township Cultural Tour

Scenic Game Drive Activity

3 Day Sossusvlei Budget Camping Safari

4-Day Swakopmund And Sossusvlei Accommodated Adventure from Windhoek

7 Day Southern Namibia and Sossusvlei Camping Safari

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Chameleon Safaris - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Chameleon Tours

Email Address [email protected]

Address P. O. Box 1013-00502 Nairobi

Phone Number 0208891247/2493569/2493512

Company Bio: We are an eco-friendly safari company offering classic safaris, led by top quality guides, to Kenya's rugged wilderness areas. Safaris are tailor-made for photographers, ornithologists and safari-goers looking for the complete experience.

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wildlife guide to the chameleon

Cameleon belongs to the distinct and specialized natural group of Old World lizards. Chameleons belong to the family Chamaeleonidae. As of June 2015, there are a total of 202 species of Old World lizards in the world. The chameleon is one of them. Chameleons live in warm habitats that include specific regions of Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Our wildlife guide to the chameleon features all the details of this animal. Let’s quickly get to the sections below for knowing more about these “wizards of nature”.

• Latin name (genera): Brookesiinae and Chamaeleoninae
• Family name: Chamaeleonidae
• Size: 23-51 centimeters
• Lifespan: 5-11 years

Skip to: Characteristics , Range & habitat , Diet , Behaviour , Fun facts , Video

Chameleon characteristics

Chameleon species are of different colors and many species can change their color. The color-changing feature is the most common characteristic that we are aware of. However, they are distinguished by their structure of feet. Their feet are termed as zygodactylous. Chameleons have superbly flexible tongues and horns in their brow as well as snout. The larger species of Chameleons have a prehensile tail. They can move each eye independently.

Chameleons species show sexual dimorphism. It means the male and female chameleons differ in physical characteristics like other animals. Apart from that, a chameleon has five clearly distinguished toes on each foot. The toes are grouped into a bundle of two. Such a structure of foot appears as tongs. Moreover, each toe has a sharp claw in it.

Chameleons have the most unique eyes among the reptiles. The upper and lower eyelids of a chameleon are joined and it only sees through a pinhole wide enough for the pupil to see through. However, chameleons don’t have an outer ear.

Range & habitat

The family of chameleons is divided into two subfamilies. These are:

• Brookesiinae
• Chamaeleoninae

All the chameleon species are divided into the mentioned groups according to the features they share. However, most of the chameleon species are found in the mainland of sub-Saharan Africa and on the island of Madagascar. There are a few species that are found in northern Africa, southern Europe mainly in Spain, Italy, and Greece, the Middle East, southern India, Sri Lanka, and some islands in the western Indian Ocean.

Chameleons live in tropical and mountain rain forests, savannas, deserts, and steppes. In the Chamaeleoninae subfamily, the chameleons are arboreal. They live in trees or bushes. In the Brookesiinae subfamily, the chameleons live in low vegetation or on the ground among leaf litter.

The Brookesia micra chameleon is significant as it’s amongst the smallest animals in the world .

Chameleons are insectivorous animals. That’s why they generally eat insects. However, some species show cannibalism. The common chameleon is one of them. They eat other lizards and also young birds.

Let’s have a look at the diet of specific chameleon species.

Veiled chameleon ( Chamaeleo calyptratus )

The veiled chameleon, a species from Arabia, feeds mainly on insects. They also eat leaves when they can’t find water in the area they live in. They also a lot of crickets daily.

Jackson’s chameleon ( Trioceros jacksonii )

Jackson’s chameleon, a species from Kenya and northern Tanzania, feeds on a wide range of items. Its diet includes small animals like ants, butterflies, caterpillars, snails, worms, lizards, geckos, and amphibians. They also show cannibalism and eat other chameleons. Sometimes, they feed on some plant materials too.

Common chameleon ( Chamaeleo chamaeleon )

The common chameleon, a species from Europe, North Africa, and North-East Asia, primarily eats wasps and mantises. Their diet includes waxworms, earthworms, grasshoppers, flies, and plant materials like leaves, oats, and fruit.

Panther chameleon ( Furcifer pardalis )

The panther chameleon of Madagascar feeds on insects. They also prefer plant materials like other chameleons.

Behavior & lifestyle

Not all Chameleon species can change their skin pigmentation. However, some species can. Those who have this ability can change their color to pink, red, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, turquoise, and purple. They use skin coloration to camouflage . Sometimes they change color for social communication and in reactions to temperature and other environmental conditions.

Chameleons are ectothermic. It means their body temperature depends on the environmental temperature. They can’t regulate their body heat like other animals.

Chameleons are oviparous and lay eggs 3-6, weeks after mating. The number of eggs they lay vary in different species. However, as a signal of mating , they change their color while courting female chameleons.

Fun chameleon facts

Here is a list of “ Top 5 Fun Chameleon Facts ” that will amaze you, for sure. You can read the list below.

• The female Jackson’s chameleon can give birth to 30 offspring from only one gestation!
• The veiled chameleon feeds on 15-50 large crickets every day.
• The panther chameleon can regulate its vitamin D3 levels.
• Some chameleon species have  fluorescent bones that glow under ultraviolet light.
• Chameleons can see in both visible and ultraviolet light . The ultraviolet light has a positive effect on a chameleon. When it is exposed to UV light it starts to show increased social activity and eats more than normal times.

Meet the chameleon

Here at SafarisAfricana , you can read such amazing facts about Safari Animals .

Did you enjoy learning more about the chameleon? Have you ever met this unique creature face-to-face? Tell us about your chameleon experience in the comment section below. Because those who care share!

• Glaw, F. (2015). “Taxonomic checklist of chameleons (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae)”. Vertebrate Zoology. 65 (2): 167–246.
• Edmonds, Patricia (September 2015). “ True colors “. National Geographic: 98.
• Klaver, C.; Böhme, W. (1986). “Phylogeny and classification of the Chamaeleonidae (Sauria) with special reference to hemipenis morphology”. Bonner Zoologische Monographien. 22: 1–64.
• Tilbury, Colin (2014). “Overview of the Systematics of the Chamaeleonidae”. In Tolley, Krystal A.; Herrel, Anthony (eds.). The Biology of Chameleons. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 151–174. ISBN 9780520276055.
• Young, Emma (2008) Chameleons fine-tune camouflage to predator’s vision . New Scientist
• “ Chamaeleon News, August 2004 “. Chameleonnews.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
• Prötzel, David; Heß, Martin; Scherz, Mark D.; Schwager, Martina; Padje, Anouk van’t; Glaw, Frank (2018-01-15). “Widespread bone-based fluorescence in chameleons”. Scientific Reports. 8 (1): 698. Bibcode:2018NatSR…8..698P. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-19070-7. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5768862. PMID 29335580.
• “ Habitat loss and fragmentation reduce chameleon population in Tanzania “. Phys.org. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
• Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (1994). A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (2nd ed.). Köln: Verlags GbR. ISBN 978-3-929449-01-3.
• “ Reptiles and Amphibians: Veiled Chameleon “. Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Archived from the original on 2011-12-17. Retrieved January 9, 2012.

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This post has been removed at the author's request.

10 replies to this topic

I can vouch for Chameleon safaris. I know Greg personally. You're in safe hands.

Richard Trillo

East Africa Manager: ExpertAfrica (dot) com

In short: would recommend going with them and if you have a choice ask for Eustace!

Richard, sorry I’ve only just realised I never replied to you. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Based on your message I booked with them for June next year and they have been fantastic to deal with so far. We have never spent this much money on a trip before and your message really put my mind at rest.

Thanks again.

Hi, about to book for Nov 2024 and have same concerns. Is everything moving forward smoothly ?

Hi, it seems there head office is based in Windhoek, Namibia where they take most of their Safari tours. Tripadvisor reviews are mostly very good and they seem to have been around a long time. Have you tried phoning them? +264 81 889 9452 is the phone and What's app number

Did you try to contact them on [email protected]? We are in touch with them regularly so I am surprised to hear that they are not answering you.

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Namibian Highlights Accommodated Safari

Per person sharing.

Safari Description

This 7 day and 6 night accommodated safari is a tailor made opportunity to visit the best of Namibia in a perfect time frame.

Experience a moving insight into wildlife conservation and rehabilitation at the N/a’an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary before seeking amazing wildlife encounters in Etosha National Park. We are looking for predators and prey alike, lion and leopard, elephant and giraffe, black rhino and eland are all in the mix of possible sightings.

The mineral pan ‘’The Great White Space’’ from which Etosha takes its name is 22,000 square km of desolate, dazzling expanse, so big it can be seen from space.

Beautiful Damaraland gives us a unique ‘’Big Sky’’ experience, where the towering pink granite koppies seem to touch the very sky on our horizon. Stunning in every season this region of mountains and grassland, trees and riverbeds, desert elephant and desert rhino, puts real meaning into the words ‘’breath taking’’.

We meet some of the locals as we travel through Damaraland, Himba, Herero & Damara people, often in traditional dress, welcome us to their makeshift roadside stalls where they sell traditional hand crafts to the passing traffic. Onwards, westward, passing under the shadow of Namibia’s highest mountain, The Brandberg, we make our way down to the Atlantic Ocean.

Reaching the wild and rugged Skeleton Coast, we follow the ocean road into the unusual and quirky town of Swakopmund. Referred to by some as the adrenaline capital of Namibia, there are certainly some hair raising experiences on offer, but Swakopmund is also a place where you can relax and recharge.

Head for adventure on a magical trip to one of the most beautiful places on Planet Earth, the centre of the Namib – the oldest desert in the world. From the coast we cross the vast gravel plains that stretch inland for over 100km. We traverse high mountain passes and cross The Tropic of Capricorn on our way down to the dune fields.

A pre-dawn start to catch the soft light of sunrise as we head for Dead Vlei with its stark collection of skeleton trees and on to Sossusvlei, waters end for an ancient river. We watch out for wildlife, oryx and springbok are often seen in this sandy land but if we look and have sharp eyes, the dunes are also home to a full menagerie of reptiles, beetles, insects, rodents and birds. All these creatures are uniquely desert adapted survive in this waterless wonderland using super-power evolutionary adaptations. The Namib Desert is internationally recognised as a top biodiversity hot spot in a desert habitat.

Climbing a towering sand dune, 300 m from top-to-toe, is an experience unique to Namibia, Big Daddy, Big Mamma and Dune 45 are all waiting to be conquered if you are feeling intrepid and want to experience the view from such a lofty perch.

ONLINE BOOKING HERE!

• Etosha Village
• Desert Camp

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Windhoek Airport – Chameleon Backpackers, Windhoek City Centre – 50 km You will be collected from Windhoek International airport and transferred to Chameleon Backpackers Lodge close to the centre of Windhoek City. After checking in and having some time to relax, for clients who have arrived in Windhoek before 10:00 midday, there is an interesting and exciting excursion planned for the afternoon.

We will drive out to the internationally known N/a’an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary. Located about 50 km to the east of Windhoek. N/a’an ku se is a sanctuary dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned animals. The ultimate focus is to reintroduce these sometimes rare and endangered species back into their natural habitat so that they can live life wild and free. Sadly though, in many cases this is not possible. Some of the animals that come to N/a’an ku se would not, ever again, be able to fend for themselves in their native yet cruel natural environment. Instead they take ‘’early retirement’’ and find themselves a permanent home at N/a’an ku se. We will be introduced to several species, perhaps baboon, caracal, lion & cheetah. Wild dog and leopard are also living at N/a’an ku se together with a multitude of smaller mammals and we can watch some of the N/a’an ku se ‘’locals’’ have their supper.

Returning to Windhoek in the late afternoon. Dinner tonight is for your own account but your guide will be able to make bookings and recommendations for you from the many excellent restaurants available in Namibia’s capital city.

Day 2: Windhoek – Camp inside Etosha National Park – 500 km You will be collected from your accommodation within the Windhoek city limits at 07:00 and transferred to Chameleon Safaris Head Office for a short pre-departure meeting.

Heading north from Windhoek, we stop briefly at the small town of Otjiwarongo to gather some last-minute supplies before continuing on to Etosha and we enjoy a light lunch pack whilst “on the move”. We enter Etosha National Park and game drive our way to our overnight accommodation inside the National park.

Etosha is huge, just over 22,000 square km and is home to 114 species of mammal, 350 species of bird, 110 species of reptile, uncountable numbers of insect and, somewhat bizarrely, one species of fish. There are good chances of spotting many of these different creatures as we tour through the park, stopping at the various waterholes along our way. All visitors must be in camp by sunset and we aim to arrive at our lodge just before sunset and with time to settle into our rooms, with en-suite bathroom and tea/coffee facilities.

The ‘game show’ in Etosha doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. All the Etosha camps have floodlit waterholes for extra game viewing opportunities. The waterhole it is located within walking distance from our accommodation. A visit, or two, is highly recommended this evening as we can expect many species to visit during the night and this waterhole is known to be very popular with elephant and the critically endangered black rhino.

Day 3: Etosha National Park –Taleni -Etosha Village near Anderson gate – 70 km We have the whole day to explore Etosha and we want to make the most of it. The park gates open at sunrise and we aim to be on our way just as the sun breaches the horizon. Early morning is usually a productive time for game viewing and first thing in the morning is a good time to catch big cats returning from the hunt.

We return to the lodge for breakfast and to load our vehicle before heading out into the park once again in search of big game. Etosha is desert landscape and water is the most scarce natural resource. There are however numerous waterholes here, both natural and man-made, and our game driving technique is to take in as many as of these possible. Here we hope that the game will come to us as the thirsty animals attend for a much needed drink. On our way today we will stop to have a closer look at the Etosha Pan. The name Etosha translates as ‘great white space’ but this name does not do justice to the immensity of the pan. Over 4,700 square km of dazzling white mineral pan, so big that it can be seen from space. We exit Etosha at the Anderson gate close to sunset and it is just a short drive to or accommodation in a comfortable spacious twin share room with modern en-suite bathroom facilities. An ideal space to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. A fantastic dinner is prepared by our guide this evening.

Day 4: Etosha – Swakopmund, – 510 km After breakfast we aim to be on the road by 07:30 today. We are heading for the Skeleton Coast and we are taking the scenic route. We first head south on the main road, passing the small town of Outjo, then onwards towards the west and picking up the gravel road as we travel through an area known as Damaraland.

Damaraland is famed for its scenery, mountains, open grasslands, tall koppies, (small hills), of round pink granite boulders, wide open spaces and big sky. We also have a chance to meet some of the locals as there are several places along our road today where we can find informal shops selling locally made, hand crafted souvenirs. Represented here we usually find ladies from the Himba, Herero and Damara tribes and most often they are wearing their traditional dress. Here we can interact with some of the colourful local characters who live in this harsh environment. Making a small purchase here is a good way to inject some cash directly into the local economy.

We continue on through the beautiful landscape, making a stop for a light picnic lunch, under the shadow of Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg. Rising up from the desert floor, this giant monolith is 2,573 m above sea level and is formed of pink tinged granite. We continue our journey west and soon arrive at the coast and the chilly Atlantic Ocean. The whole coastline of Namibia is known as the Skeleton Coast and it is easy to see why this barren seaboard is so named with its forbidding mountains and barren beaches. The wind, the waves and the huge fog banks all conspire to push ships onto the beach. The countless mariners that, in olden times, found themselves shipwrecked here faced the stark prospect of no fresh water, no food, no rescue and a slow death by exposure. Their Shipmates who went down with their ship were thought to be the lucky ones.

Heading south on the coast road our next stop is a more recent shipwreck. 15 km south of the small town of Henties Bay a fishing trawler, The Zeila, was beached in 2008. She was an old vessel that had been sold for scrap and was under tow at the time. The cable snapped and, as so many vessels before her, she was caught in the swell and currents and ended up on the beach. She lays quite close to the shore and is well positioned for photos.

We complete the final leg of our journey into Swakopmund, we check into our accommodation, the centrally located A La Mer hotel and the town is easily explored on foot from our central location. Swakopmund was founded by Captain Kurt von François of the imperial colonial army of the German empire in 1892. (He also founded Windhoek in 1890). It is an interesting town to say the least, bounded to the north, the east and the south by the mighty sand dunes of the Namib Desert and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. There are still many examples of colonial German architecture to be seen and the German language is still widely used.

Swakopmund boasts some truly excellent restaurants and again your guide will be able to help you with recommendations and bookings.

Day 5: Swakopmund – Accommodation, near Sesriem – 350 km We have the option to have a more leisurely start this morning as we are only leaving Swakopmund in the middle morning. Your guide will let you know the exact time of departure.

If you choose not to have a lie in then Swakopmund offers many opportunities to keep us busy during our morning here. The town centre is small and easily explored on foot but there are also many extra, optional activities available. For those with a love of adrenaline quad biking and sand boarding is also very popular if you fancy careering down the slip face of a sand dune at 60 km per hour.

Our guide will discuss all the options with you in advance and will be able to facilitate any bookings that we would like to make.

Departing Swakopmund 11h30 we head east into the desert. We first cross the Namib gravel plains, large areas of flat and seemingly barren terrain broken up by huge mountain inselbergs.

We have two mountain passes to traverse this afternoon, first is the mighty Kuiseb Pass and we follow the road from the top of the mountains, dropping steeply down into the canyon carved over eons by the Kuiseb River on its way to debouch into the ocean at the port town of Walvis Bay. We climb up from the banks of the river and over the pass, travelling through the mountain peaks and on to the second, smaller canyon of the Gaub River, a tributary of the Kuiseb. We emerge from the mountains onto a flat road and almost immediately we cross the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 south degrees. There is a signpost at this auspicious spot and we stop along the road for photos. Onwards again to our destination for today, Desert Camp, located very close to the National Park entrance at Sesriem which is the gateway to the dunes at Sossusvlei.

There is a pool and bar available and dinner is prepared by our guide over an open fire.

Day 6: Sossusvlei – 120 km Getting into the dune area as early as possible this morning is our aim and that means a pre-dawn start and a very early breakfast. As we are staying outside of the national park we will enter the dune area as soon as the gate opens at sunrise. The best time to photograph the dunes is around sunrise and sunset. This is when you can see towering sand dunes illuminated a glowing orange, apricot red on one side and swathed in shadow on the other. The depth of field is amazing at this time of day.

From Sesriem we cover the 60 km into the dunes quickly and arrive at the 2×4 car park where all 2 wheel drive vehicles have to stop. From here we enter the ancient Tsauchab River-bed for the last 5km leg to Sossusvlei itself. The Tsauchab River is ephemeral, it only flows seasonally, when there is enough rain, and for the most part the riverbed is dry. Eons ago, during these rare floods the Tsauchab sometimes received enough water to flow all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. However, as the millennia passed and the dune fields began to form, (around five million years ago), wind -blown sand invaded the riverbeds. The rivers became more and more constricted by sand until eventually the occasional floods could not break through the sand barriers that had been erected by the wind. The valley we drove along this morning to get here is kept free of sand by the Tsauchab but Sossusvlei is now permanently waters end.

Sossusvlei does still sometimes flood, (perhaps once in a decade). After good rains in the Naukluft Mountains where the river rises Sossusvlei can become inundated, and the lake that this creates can last for many months, but no longer can the river find its original path to the Atlantic.

There is a 4×4 shuttle service that will transport us through the sandy terrain of the riverbed. We will visit Dead Vlei, an ancient pan completely surrounded by dunes, that is strikingly populated with dead, skeletal camelthorn trees. These trees have been a feature on this landscape for over 1000 years. Sossusvlei is almost surrounded by dunes, just one narrow path kept open by the Tsauchab River. We have time to explore the area on foot and to climb one of the highest dunes in the world, some towering 300 m above us, the views are breath taking and justly famous.

We drive back the way we came, (there is only one road), stopping at the iconic Dune 45, (so named as it is 45 km from Sesriem. There is time to climb Dune 45 if you still have energy, or perhaps just a sit in the shade at the base of the dune will suffice.

Driving back to Sesriem we take a short excursion to see the Sesriem Canyon. Only four km from Sesriem, this canyon has been carved out of the landscape by the Tsauchab River. Around two million years ago there was an ice age in Europe. This caused glaciers to form and resulted in a worldwide drop in sea level. The knock on effect of this at Sesriem Canyon was that it increased the length and waterflow of the Tsauchab River. This greater force of water allowed the Tsauchab to begin cutting through the terrain resulting in the canyon we can see today. We can easily walk into the riverbed, it is usually much cooler in the canyon and we can follow the river for some way along its journey to Sossusvlei.

We head back to Desert Camp in the late afternoon.

Day 7: Namib Desert – Windhoek – 320 km Our last day today but excitement is still on the menu. We head back to Solitaire where our guide will get us a sample of the apple pie that has made this homestead famous. There is some lovely mountain scenery on our drive back to Windhoek. The road climbs up onto and over Namibia’s central plateau and we return to Windhoek via the small community at BűellsPort and the small town of Rehoboth. We arrive mid-afternoon and will be dropped at Chameleon Backpackers or the accommodation of your choice within Windhoek city limits.

For those that choose to fly today, NO FLIGHTS DEPARTING PRIOR TO 19H00 in case there are unexpected delays returning from safari. Outbound airport transfer is included, should it be for today or a later date.

Namibian Highlights Route Map

Bookings are made on a twin share basis, single supplement is available for solo travellers that prefer their own room.

Safaris by Country

We offer a wide-range of guided holidays in Africa, ranging from scheduled budget tours, private guided family holidays, to honeymoons and fly-in safaris. If you prefer to book a self-drive trip, check out our dedicated self-drive site .

 Namibia Getaway Family Safari

Namibia: Etosha Park, Sossusvlei, Damaraland, Swakopmund, Namib Desert

5–Rivers Fly–In Green Season Safari

Botswana: Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans

Best of Kenya Fly In Safari

Kenya: Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara Reserve, Mount Kenya Park

Best of Uganda, Gorillas, Chimps & Game

Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Gorilla Trekking

Best of Zimbabwe Safari

Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park

Botswana Escape Scheduled Safari

Botswana: Okavango Delta, Chobe Park Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park

Botwana – Okavango Delta Fly–In Safari

Botswana: Okavango Delta, Moremi

Botwana Maun to Kasane Safari

Botswana: Okavango Delta, Chobe Park, Moremi

Buffalo Camping Botswana Safari

Botswana: Chobe Park, Moremi

Cape Town to Victoria Falls Group Safari

Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Classic Namibia Safari

Namibia: Etosha Park, Sossusvlei, Damaraland, Swakopmund

Classical Uganda Safari

Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park

Delta, Pans, Linyanti & Chobe Safari

Botswana: Okavango Delta, Chobe Park, Makgadikgadi Pans

Desert & Wildlife Namibia Fly–In Safari

Deserts of namibia & delta of botswana.

Botswana: Okavango Delta, Moremi Namibia: Sossusvlei, Namib Desert

Discover Kenya Safari

Kenya: Maasai Mara Reserve, Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru

Diverse Namibia Safari

Dunes & wildlife safari.

Namibia: Etosha Park, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund

East Africa – Vic Falls to Nairobi Safari

Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia

East African Migration Discover Safari

Kenya: Amboseli National Park, Maasai Mara Reserve Tanzania: Serengeti Park, Tarangire Park

Escape to Namibia Family Safari

Essence of tanzania safari.

Tanzania: Ngorongoro Area, Serengeti Park, Tarangire Park

Etosha & Swakopmund Safari

Namibia: Etosha Park, Swakopmund

Fish River Hike

Namibia: Fish River

Garden Route Safari

South Africa: Garden Route, The Winelands, Addo National Park

Gorilla Express Uganda Safari

Green desert okavango delta & chobe safari, highlights of kenya & tanzania.

Kenya: Maasai Mara Reserve, Lake Nakuru Tanzania: Arusha, Ngorongoro Area, Serengeti Park

Highlights of Uganda Safari

Hoanib skeleton coast fly–in safari.

Namibia: Skeleton Coast, Damaraland

Intimate Botswana & Zimbabwe

Botswana: Okavango Delta Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park

Kalahari Botswana Safari

Botswana: Central Kalahari Reserve

Kenya Classic Safari

Kenya: Maasai Mara Reserve, Lake Nakuru

Kenya Honeymoon Safari & Beach

Kenya: Diani Beach, Lewa Conservancy

Kenya’s Masai & Uganda’s Gorillas

Kenya: Maasai Mara Reserve, Lake Nakuru Uganda: Gorilla Trekking, Murchison Falls Park

Kibale, Kyambura & Bwindi Safari

Kruger park scheduled safari.

South Africa: Kruger National Park

Namibia Classic Camping Safari

Namibia: Etosha Park, Sossusvlei, Fish River, Damaraland, Swakopmund

Namibia Kaleidoscope Private–Guided Safari

North namibia & cultural safari.

Namibia: Etosha Park, Damaraland, Zambezi Region

Northern Namibia & Skeleton Coast Safari

Namibia: Etosha Park, Damaraland, Swakopmund

Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Zanzibar South

Tanzania: Ngorongoro Area, Serengeti Park

Skeleton Coast Fly–In Safari

Sossusvlei & southern namibia safari.

Namibia: Sossusvlei, Fish River

South Africa Addo, Lesotho and Drakensburg

South Africa: Drakensberg Mountains, Addo National Park

South Luangwa Walking – Mobile Camping Safari

Zambia: •South & North Luangwa

Tanzania Sacred Places

Tanzania serengeti footprints walking safari.

Tanzania: Serengeti Park

Tanzania Wildlife Breakaway

Tok tokkie hike.

Namibia: Namib Desert

Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Encounter

Uganda: Gorilla Trekking, Murchison Falls Park

Uganda Mountain Gorilla Luxury Safari

Very best of zimbabwe luxury safari.

Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools, Lake Kariba

Windhoek, Delta, Chobe to Victoria Falls Safari

Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe

World In One Country Safari

South Africa: Cape Town & Table Mountain, Drakensberg Mountains

Zambia and Zimbabwe Cultural Safari

Zambia: Victoria Falls Zimbabwe: Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba

Zambia’s Gems Safari

Zambia: Kafue National Park, Lower Zambezi Park, •South & North Luangwa

How we rate our safaris

Namibia, Botswana and some other African destinations do not have a set star system that is familiar worldwide to many countries, however, as this is widely used, we have tried to replicate this format to give you an idea of the level of comfort during your safari. For example, a mobile camping tour in Namibia is given 1* and luxury accommodation increasing to 5*. Depending on your tour, there may be a bit of a mix of levels of comfort so please check if you are not sure.

1* or 1–2* Rated Safaris – Camping tours:

These are generally scheduled/small group or self–drive safaris (though a private–guided safari can also fall into this category if you wish to camp); the scheduled trips generally involve client participation where you may be expected to put up/take down your tent and assist with camp chores, dome tents and a ground mattress is supplied. For self–drive options this will often mean roof tents on the vehicle and all camping equipment. There may be the occasional night in simple accommodation but majority of nights are spent camping and most camp sites will have shared ablution facilities. If there is a good mix of both camping and accommodation, this may be rated at 1&2*. These are the most basic level of safaris offered and scheduled safari group sizes vary according to the trip and company – 1* tours are the most affordable option and geared for adventurous travellers who do not mind a bit of discomfort.

Accommodated Safaris

Standard/mid–range safaris 2–3.5*.

Standard accommodation style trips generally have no camping included (though on occasion with a specific activity such as a Delta or Serengeti excursion, or perhaps hiking, a couple of nights may be included). As a general rule this is not the case. With most small group/scheduled tours accommodation is generally 2/3* level – clean and affordable but generally without too many frills; rooms will have en–suite facilities, most will offer air con/fans in the rooms, swimming pools etc (not guaranteed), restaurant/bar facilities, though location can be a little further away from main place of interest this option offers excellent value for money for those seeking a bed each night! We try to indicate on each trip the level of comfort for the particular tour

Superior/Luxury Safaris 3.5–5*

A superior style of accommodation. Most lodges at this level will have air–conditioning or fans in the room though some accommodation establishments are technically “camps” as they may be partially build of canvas – these “camps” are permanent fixtures, generally built on a platform, and will have full and comfortable facilities – the occasional trip may have a more basic night or two involved depending on location to ensure clients can fully appreciate the region they are experiencing. Service is generally very good and most places (outside of towns/cities) will have just a few rooms/chalets. Tours in this bracket include very small group safaris (up to 8 clients), self–drive and private–guided options which are tailored to suit you. The luxury options offer a high standard of accommodation, facilities and service in the region with attention to detail – some “camps” /lodges will have private guides and vehicles, but all accommodation is the best available with personalized service and a quality or unique experience perhaps unavailable elsewhere or in a more moderate price bracket. Tours include fly–in safaris, self–drive and private–guided options.

Please note:  this is a guideline only and each destination can vary – some areas in Southern Africa do not always have 5* accommodation (there are limited hotels outside of cities that have the same * grading accommodation) but will be best in the area, have limited volume of rooms and some of the best locations and experiences for clients that is outside of the normal “tourist/travel” route. This can include exclusive conservation regions and emphasis is place on clients having a unique experience rather than offering hairdresser type of facilities that may be found is hotels in cities in other countries. Please also remember that some of these locations can be remote so wifi may not always be available, nor a huge menu range.