We’ve discussed luxury and we’ve talked about the fact that Africa can be enormously “grounding”, reawakening many an instinct that lies dormant within us.  After all, staying at a luxury camp in a National Park or a closeup wildlife encounter – maybe whilst you are on foot! – are unforgettable moments in time.

We are always looking to enhance our client’s experience of Africa, wherever it may take place. Given that the one crucial factor that makes or breaks a safari is the quality and, arguably, intensity of the guiding an obvious way to make the absolute most of every day is to ask us to create a Private Safari.

One might argue that a safari-to-oneself is an indulgence, but that really isn’t so when one looks at value and benefit. A private safari for an individual with an over-riding special interest is an obvious case in point, allowing him or her to focus on that speciality with a suitable guide and not be overbearing for others. For a couple, it may be that they simply want to be on their own and take each day as it comes with a guide who is flexible and can tailor each day to their whim.  For a family the argument becomes even more compelling – a guide who is sensitive to adults and children alike can make each day as exciting or as relaxing as the participants require.  All this has value – after all safaris are hardly cheap and one wants to make the most of every pound or dollar spent. The benefit is, surely, obvious.

Riding With a Private Guide - Private Safaris With AfricanExplorations.com

If one wants an example of this particular point then look no further than being guided by Richard Knocker in Tanzania. We’ve known Richard for a Very Long Time Indeed and having him as a private guide is, frankly, a privilege. Utterly knowledgeable and totally at home in his element, Richard is a true gentleman and a superb guide, bringing humour, expertise and enormous fun to the time one spends with him. It is only at the end of the trip that you realise just what a vast ream of information he has shared.  A private safari with someone like Richard is a truly wonderful way to enjoy the bush!

Private Safaris - Mobile Camp With AfricanExplorations.com

People often think that a safari to themselves means a mobile camp or taking a whole property and, sometimes, obviously, this is exactly the point. There are some stunning private houses and lodges (oceanside villas, too, for one’s after-safari relaxation!) which we book for our client’s private use as well as taking entire camps or erecting mobiles in “just the right spot”. But there’s no reason why a private safari cannot mix private accommodation – say a mobile or series of mobiles in Kenya, Tanzania or Botswana or a private lodge such as Mukima House in Kenya – with other camps and lodges that might have “outside” guests staying at the same time. In this way clients can spend part of the safari on their own yet have more social interaction at certain times, thus ringing the changes. This suggests another benefit of private safaris:  the ability to throw the net very wide when one is at the planning stage. This is a hard thing to value – but it is precious!

Try it sometime! Private safaris are fantastic!

Private Safaris With African Explorations.com - Mukima House - An Excellent Private Base From Which To Explore

Africa, by its sheer size and the convoluted nature of the countries that make up this fascinating continent, can be slightly daunting when one is thinking of planning a safari or a vacation. Of course one wants to see as much as possible on what may be the “trip of a lifetime” but balancing activities and locations with the logistics of travelling around and making sure that the lodges, camps or hotels in which one might stay are “just right” can be a real task and a huge responsibility without essential first-hand knowledge of the destination.

I Left A Footprint In Africa - Africa Custom Vacation at Chada Katavi With AfricanExplorations.com

That’s where a long-established specialist like African Explorations comes to the fore. With over 20 years of trading as a specialist tour operator based in the UK, dealing with clients worldwide, we are experts in Africa custom vacations. Put simply: we know what we are doing. Our small team of dedicated, highly knowledgeable, professionals have all lived, worked in or otherwise have vast in-depth knowledge of the countries in which they create safaris and holidays for their clients. It is this knowledge, constantly updated, that is the anvil on which we forge your loose ideas into a gorgeous-but-workable end product that offers the correct balance of value and experience to ensure a superb vacation, whether it be a couple, a family, a single traveller or a specialist group. And there’s no downside for our clients because it costs no more to use us than it would if one was able to create the same trip oneself!

Camp Overlooking The Zambezi - Africa Custom Vacation With AfricanExplorations.com

An Africa custom vacation can engage with almost any client interest, be it wildlife, culture, a specialist activity or maybe some other reason for travelling to these fabulous destinations. We are proud to create vacations that are completely tailored to our client’s requirements, down to the last small detail to the extent that it is almost unknown for us to send two different clients on exactly the same vacation. This may seem surprising but every individual on this planet is different; ergo each safari – if truly personalised – will be unique and cater for differing desires and personalities!

Samburu - Kenya - Africa Custom Vacation With AfricanExplorations.com

Africa custom vacations are, simply, our life. Our only requirement is that the vacation we create is exactly right for you, our client!

What is a Luxury African Safari? It is many different things to many people! Perhaps this clip defines it in more detail!

An Africa Safari Vacation is one of the most amazing and rewarding types of holiday that one can ever imagine! With magnificent wildlife in abundance, incredible walking, scenery and top class guiding – as well as having such a variety of first class accommodation – all this contributes to having the perfect safari!See the video below to get an idea of which country might be right for you! We come from Africa and have been arranging bespoke safaris for our clients for 21 years – so, if only the very best will do – we would love to assist you in arranging your safari of a lifetime!

One of the most incredible lodges ever built must be the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge ! Not only because of its design, but its location is simply unsurpassed! From here, one has 180 degree views of the Ngorongoro Crater which can be seen from virtually every aspect of your room. The rooms have glass windows and doors from floor to ceiling, allowing totally unimpeded views. Apart from being home to some of the world’s best game viewing – nowhere is quite so dense in terms of wildlife as the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge with AfricanExplorations.com

Fresh roses are flown in daily and placed next to one’s bath and a butler or steward is appointed to each room and there to serve you drinks, perhaps arrange dinner on your verandah or even have poured your bath for you when you arrive back from a game drive, cold but exhilarated in the winter months. Tanzania luxury safaris have never been so good!

Tanzania Luxury Safaris with AfricanExplorations.com

Chandeliers hang from the bathroom ceiling and one can see the Crater Floor from one’s bath! This is also one of the prettiest regions in Northern Tanzania and is a world heritage site. All I can say is that no safari to Tanzania is complete without a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater and if one can afford it, to include the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge! There is also tremendous walking in this region and one can see the cultural interaction between the Maasai and their cattle – a very genuine and peaceful scene!

A Zambia safari is truly unique – this country lends itself to some of the finest walking safaris in Africa! Whether it is in the south Luangwa, north Luangwa or a region that is always left out on people’s maps – Kafue. No Safari to Zambia should be complete without including Kafue and the Busanga Plains which must rate as one of the most beautiful regions in the country. And brimming with wildlife too – not spilling over with wildlife – there is a difference! Whether it is on a boat (where on my last safari I spotted leopard in broad daylight!), or by vehicle – this region is just so rewarding. The last visit to Busanga Plains heralded several prides of black maned lion, wild dog and a plethora of other animals. The birdlife is sensational – crowned cranes amongst many others!

Zambia Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Add to that the lower Zambezi which is simply magical – this huge river with all its abundant wildlife on the banks of the river and some of the most beautiful camps and lodges with phenomenal guiding – finishing off perhaps with Livingstone – the Zambian side of Victoria Falls – and you have yourself the finest safari imaginable!