Special Interest Safaris

One of our greatest pleasures is arranging something special like a photographic safari to find African painted dogs or filming the rare and difficult to find shoebill.

To give you a better idea of the type of safari we'd term special interest, these are some of the trips we’ve planned recently:

Assisting and living with orphan chimpanzees’ on Ngamba Island in Uganda.
The Bat Migration Safari in Kasanka National Park, Zambia - an amazing convergence of millions of “straw-coloured fruit bats” as they descend upon Kasanka National Park to feed on the abundant seasonal fruits.
Trips to see the spectacular Namaqualand daisies in the Western Cape
Birding safaris to see the rare shoebill living in the Bangweulu Swamps or on Lake Edward. The pitacarthes in Gabon's Lope Forest and carmine bee eaters nesting in the South Luangwa Valley.

Funnily enough its not unusual for African born clients who've moved to other countries throughout the world, to contact us to arrange a trip to visit the place of their birth and other unusual spots which may be off the normal tourist circuits. It takes real knowledge of local routes and people to arrange these trips and we're the right people to do this especially in Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda and Kenya.

Our Recommended Special Interest Safaris

Cheetah, leopard and hyena tracking

$ 466

Okonjima - Home of the Africat Foundation

The cost is per person per night, an overnight stay is necessary to take part in the large carnivore tracking activity.

We suggest visiting Okonjima, essentially a rehabilitation centre, if you'd like to see big cats close-up, support the rescue programme and track big predators in the 4500 hectare rehabilitation park. This is a very worthy programme to support. Highlights include seeing wild leopards close-up, hunting for themselves and a 90% chance of seeing spotted hyena in the wild. Tea with the lions and excellent opportunities for photography.

Spirit of Ethiopia

$ 2164

Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, Axum - 7 nights/8 days

All of these tours are custom-made, prices are subject to change.

This encompasses four major historic sites: Axum, Lalibela, Gondar, and Bahir Dar. Axum was the seat of an empire which extended across the Red Sea to Arabia, traded with India and China, had its own alphabet and notational system, constructed great engineering works and dams.

Much of the fascination of Ethiopia lies in its myriad historical sites, the obelisks and stele of Axum, churches and Coptic monasteries in the Tigre, in the Lake Tana isles and in the Lalibela: the African Jerusalem with its monolithic churches.

Liuwa Plains Exploration

$ 2400

Liuwa Plains - 4 night/5 day or 5 night/6 day

Seasoned Africa travelers have heard of these vast open grasslands in the far west of Zambia but very few have been there. In fact in 2000 only 50 visitors were registered entering the park.

Why go? The Liuwa Plains is an immense wilderness area, brimming with birds and home to huge numbers of animals. The landscape is completely flat and the skies vast - here you really are in the middle of wild, remote and isolated lands.

Seychelles luxury on a less royal budget

$ 2639

Praslin Island, Seychelles, Indian Ocean - 7 days/6 nights

You don't have to give up on your Seychelles honeymoon dream if your budget doesn't quite stretch to the crown jewels.

Situated on the white beaches of Anse Kerlan, where turtles still lay their eggs in complete tranquility, your honeymoon resort is a 5 star deluxe resort with an 18 hole championship golf course.

Bat migration safari Kasanka NP

$ 2799

Kasanka National Park, Zambia - 4 days/3 nights

Price is quoted per person for the whole safari including return flights to and from Lusaka airport.

This event is one of Africa’s most amazing and unusual wildlife spectacles – never forgotten by those lucky enough to witness it. From around the end of October each year, many millions of straw-colored fruit bats congregate in the trees of the Mushitu swamp forest near the confluence of the Musola and Kasanka rivers in Kasanka National Park. At sunset they fly out across the forests, lit from behind by the fabulous glow of the dying sun.

Uganda gorillas, chimpanzees and game

$ 2936

Ngamba Island, Lake Mburo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

An eight day safari including the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, game viewing, optional chimp tracking in Chamburu (Kyamburu Gorge) and game/bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Includes a boat cruise, and a visit to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Two gorilla tracking opportunities are available but must be requested on booking and subject to availability.

This trip may run in reverse, please check when booking. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of two guests.

Zambezi and the Jackson 5 safari

$ 3000

Mara North Conservancy, Kenya - 5 nights/6 days

6 incredible days with Jackson, legendary Big Cat Diary guide.

A maximum of 6 lucky Zambezi guests will be able to enjoy this unique safari journey with Jackson Looseyia , legendary Masai guide and famed for his appearances in BBC's Big Cat Diaries. Stunning wildlife including zebra, lion, elephants, giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, hyaena, gazelle and cheetah. Set out each day from a private bush home, far from the tourist trail and enjoy private safari adventures.

Find out what our past guests Janet and Chris McC had to say about Jackson.

Cape Town and Winelands

$ 3100

Cape Town Waterfront & the Cape Winelands, South Africa - 9 nights/10 days

Prices are guidelines only and subject to change depending on date of travel.

This excellent short holiday break includes two of the finest small hotels in the Cape area. Staying right on the V&A Waterfront with a private waterside platform the hotel includes an award winning restaurant and a wellness spa. Moving on to the historic town of Franschoek is a boutique guest house giving access to French, Malay and traditional South African gourmet meals plus a spa. Activities include wine tasting, horse riding, golf, fly fishing and shopping.

Splendid Deserts of Namibia

$ 4044

Southern deserts of Namibia - 15 days/14 nights

The prices quoted alter according to the number of guests booked on each trip. There are a maximum of 12 guests per trip with a limit of 6 per vehicle.

An adventure packed set departure tour of the lower half of Namibia taking in the Kalahari Desert, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Fish River Canyon, the Namib Desert including the Namib Naukluft Park, Sesriem and Sossusvlei. These are mobile safaris in customised vehicles with professional Namibian guides.

Skeleton Coast Safari

$ 4335

Skeleton Coast, Namibia - 5 days/4 nights

This safari has to be one of the most privileged on earth simply because its so unique and takes place is such a special setting. Just one camp lies in this spectacular, uninhabited (by humans) private concession stretching along the Skeleton Coast. Full days out in the vehicle with a highly professional guide and picnic lunches, are the only way to explore this fascinating area with its roaring dunes, shipwrecks, quick sand and colonies of seals.

Marvel at a Rainbow

$ 4425

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Chobe National Park, Botswana - 6 nights/7 days

Save £320 per person. Take advantage of an unbeatable package to Victoria Falls and time your visit to coincide with the most magical natural phenomenon afforded by the "Smoke that Thunders" - a lunar rainbow - saving into bargain.

The price is per person sharing and is valid to 31st December 2011.

Congo rainforest and Odzala-Kokoua National Park

$ 4500

Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) - 3 nights/4days

Heart of diversity, heart of Africa, heart of humanity.

Join us on a set departure journey of either 3 nights or 6 nights through the diversity of the African rainforests in the heart of Africa. Enjoy the security of travelling on private charters with professional guides. Track the lowland gorilla, photograph red river hogs, forest buffalo and elephant and even the Bongo.

A 6 night/7 day trip is available at US$6000 per person.

Zambezi 'River and Lake' fishing safari

$ 4620

Upper Zambezi, Lake Kariba and Lower Zambezi River - 11 days/12 nights

Fish the Zambezi River for the re-knowned tiger fish, tilapia and even giant size cat fish while enjoying the full spectrum of big game and two world heritage sites at the same time.

This amazing fishing journey begins near Victoria Falls with private river frontage. Continue the journey to an island in the middle of Lake Kariba and enjoy fly fishing in addition to trawling for tiger fish. Finally ending on the Lower Zambezi to enjoy close-ups with elephants and other big game whilst chasing your final catches of the trip.

Explore Gabon: Central Africa Adventure Safari

$ 4621

An adventurer's safari in Central Africa discovering Gabon

Libreville and 4 Gabonese National Parks - 13 nights/14 days

TRIP NOT AVAILABLE AS OF JANUARY 2012 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Explore Gabon's National Parks including Lope National Park (known for its great apes, mandrills and a wide range of birds), Lekedi National Park (walkways through the canopy of trees), Loango National Park (mammals on the beach) and the Wonga Wongue Reserve.

Zambezi Fishing Expedition

$ 4675

Zambezi river Namibia, Vic Falls and Zambia's lower Zambezi - 9 nights/10 days

Starting and ending in Lusaka or Livingstone Victoria Falls. The accommodation is in comfortable well-appointed lodges and although the emphasis is on fishing, game viewing activities are also included. The price includes all transfers and flights, full board accommodation, park fees.

This 9 night itinerary takes in three areas on the mighty Zambezi River from the Upper Zambezi on the Namibian border to Victoria Falls, finishing on the Lower Zambezi.

On this trip you'll fish for the Tiger fish, Yellow Belly Bream, Three Spot Bream and Kafue Pike on the upper Zambzi and you'll fish for Tiger Fish and the giant Vundu catfish. The Lower Zambezi is also home to Three Spot Bream, Red Breasted Bream, Nile Bream, Chessa, Nkupi, Bottlenose and the Cornish Jack.

Purely Primates

$ 4926

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Virunga Volcanoes NP - 8 days/7 nights

An eight day safari from Entebbe or Kigali visiting the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. This safari optimises time for gorilla trekking and the option to add on a chimpanzee sanctuary at the end.

Price quoted is for 4 guests in one vehicle on a private trip per person.

Livingstone Birding Trail

$ 4975

Botswana, Namibia and Zambia - 16 days/15 nights

Set departure dates during rainy season - November to April

Highlights of this safari include visitng Lake Ngami birding wonderland, panhandle of the Okavango Delta, Caprivi Strip specials, Zambia and the Victoria Falls, the dramatic Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans, Moremi Game Reserve wildlife and birding on the fringes of the Okavango Delta, scenic flight over the Okavango and boat cruises on the Okavango and Chobe Rivers.

Best of Namibia Wing Safari

$ 5221

Sossusvlei, Walvis Bay, Damaraland, Etosha Pan - 7 days/6 nights

This is also a set departure trip to keep the costs within reason however if you would like a private departure, we can arrange it for you on any day of the week. These trips depart once a week on a Sunday. Accommodation is in luxury tented camps or lodges throughout and all groups are accompanied by an experienced pilot/guide.

Discover Rwanda

$ 5688

Akagera National Park, Parc National des Volcans and Nungwe Forest

Starting and finishing in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, this safari starts with a visit to Akagera National Park to view the beautiful wetland savannah and Rwanda's fabulous birds and animals. The highlight of the trip is gorilla trekking in Parc National des Volcans of course and if time allows a visit to the golden monkeys. After gorilla trekking the safari continues to Nyungwe rainforest. There are 13 primate species, 300 bird species and a variety of orchids and butterflies.

Price quoted is for a set departure group safari staying in high quality lodges and camps and is per person.

Wild Western Kenya privately guided safari

$ 5765

Laikipia Plateau, Lake Bogoria, Lake Baringo, Mt Elgon National Park and Kakamega Forest Reserve - 11 days/10 nights in Kenya.

A real dream for bird lovers especially. Start with a relaxing big game ranch stay before visiting millions of greater and lesser flamingoes on Lake Bogoria. Black-necked Grebe, Steppe Eagles, fish eagles and other raptors are commonly seen, moving on to Lake Baringo where 470 species of birds are found, many specific to the Rift Valley and northern Kenya. Mt Elgon offers volcanic lava tube caves and is home to cave dwelling elephants, forest birds and unusual mammals such as the bongo, giant forest hog and African golden cat.

The little known Kakamega Forest Reserve is the only remmant piece of the Congo forest in Kenya and here are found 350 species of forest tree and 300 species of birds. Flying squirrels, forest duikers, potto and many types of monkey are also found.

The cost is US$5765.00 per person including US$1350.00 conservation fees and transfer costs. Minimum two persons travelling.

Katavi and Mahale safari in Western Tanzania

$ 6638

Remote and fascinating Katavi National Park + Mahale Mountains

8 days in two unique and amazing camps in Western Tanzania

This safari takes place in the lesser travelled Katavi National Park with its wide open plains and massive herds of buffalo and elephant. Combine this with the special forests and wild chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the biggest body of fresh water in the world.

Safari journey with Zambezi

$ 7890

Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Okavango Delta - 10 nights/11 days

An exclusive escorted safari with Zambezi. Book by 31st May 2012.

The 11 day trip traverses two spectacular areas of Zimbabwe and Botswana, home to some of the most magnificent wildlife and breath-taking scenery in Africa, harking back to the original meaning of the sord 'safari', or journey. With a small group of 4 to 8 guests, a private guide and vehicle and access to private concessions, the itinerary offers an exclusive glimpse into the expeditions of old.

Available only to Zambezi Safari guests; set departure dates, small group.

Expedition to Central Africa

$ 7909

Dzanga Ndoki National Park, Central African Republic - 9 days/8 nights

African rainforests fly-in safari

An off beat guided safari to Central African Republic connecting via Cameroon, South Africa or Kenya. The trip includes tracking with the Ba-Aka pygmies, viewing forest elephant, trekking western lowland gorilla and viewing an astonishing array of birds and other species including the striking bongo antelope.

Other Options

Purely Primates
Usually $ 4926. Now only $ 4450

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Virunga Volcanoes NP - 8 days/7 nights

Price quoted is for 4 guests in one vehicle on a private trip per person.