Why Simply Safaris rather than another operator?

We plan and design each itinerary in great detail taking time to understand your expectations and requirements. We are totally flexible on dates, airlines and types of safari - group, private, escorted/guided or independent/self-drive. We are independent and not affiliated to any particular tour company, ground handler or lodge group and do not simply promote places owned by a single company or which offer the best commission.

Plus, your personal safety will always be our top priority. Drivers and guides are chosen for their local knowledge and experience which not only makes your safari interesting and fun, but also provides a measure of reassurance if confronted with the unexpected.

How can we offer the finest safaris at such low prices?

We are committed to providing affordable tailor-made safaris off the beaten track. While you can pay more than $1000 per person per night at some lodges (and we can book them for you if you want!), we believe that it is unnecessary to pay this much just to get china soap dishes, leather luggage decorating your enormous bedroom and individual plunge pools. After all, you'll be seeing the same wildlife wherever you stay in a particular area.

We keep our prices reasonable through a combination of detailed research, use of local knowledge, contacts inside the countries we feature and low overheads (we avoid expensive brochures, middlemen, fancy offices, big cars, and lots of office staff and so we don't have to mark up our prices by huge amounts). Plus, as our name suggests, we concentrate exclusively on African safaris - it's our only business.

What to expect on safari?

Activities are geared around the best game viewing times and vary greatly by country, season, lodge, group size and game availability. Days normally start early, often before sunrise and sometimes finish late in the evening if night game drives are offered. The middle part of the day is for relaxing - swimming (if available), reading, lounging on a hammock or just bird-watching around camp or sitting quietly overlooking a waterhole.

A typical day might look like this:

0545 Wake up call
0600 Morning tea/coffee and biscuits
0615 Depart for game activity - drive, walk, canoe, mokoro or boat trip
0930 Return to camp for breakfast
1030 Free time to relax, shower, swim, read, paint or bird watch
1300 Buffet lunch
1400 Siesta time
1545 Afternoon tea and cake (you don't diet on safari!)
1600 Depart for afternoon game activity
1900 Return to camp after sundowners
2000 Pre dinner drinks followed by full three course dinner
2130 Coffee and liqueurs around the campfire
2230 Off to bed

What is included?

Unless stated in the itinerary, our rates are all-inclusive (accommodation with all meals; game activities by vehicle, on foot, by mokoro or boat; national park fees; laundry; internal flights; and all transfers). Excluded are international airfares; visas; insurance; bar drinks; tips; and personal expenditure.

Feedback from previous clients

"The holiday of a lifetime. A great mix of sun, fun, fascinating sightseeing, adventurous safaris and relaxed wine tasting, all in one holiday! We even celebrated the Millennium at Cathedral's Peak in the Drakensberg - can't think of a more memorable place to have been for it! Couldn't have done it without Simply Safari's planning."
Susan, Washington DC, USA

"So much more than I ever expected from an African safari holiday, I was apprehensive at first but once I got there I felt I was in safe hands with Simply Safaris outstanding organization. They are the most dependable and detailed tour operator I have ever used."
Sally, Windsor, UK

"An adventure every moment and in every way - Lake Kariba, Mana Pools, Chizarira and ending with white water rafting at the Victoria Falls. Fascinating, fun, relaxed, memorable - thank you!"
Graham, Stokenchurch, UK

"What an experience! Exceeded our expectations. Many thanks."
Jane and Barbara, Yate, UK

"My safari to Africa was a trip of a lifetime! Three weeks in four locations seeing game on foot, by canoe, by jeep and by air. Top class accommodation, food and ambience at each location all perfectly organised to the last detail by Simply Safaris."
Mary, Rothwell, UK

"Many thanks, Mike, for organizing such a super holiday for us to Kenya. It shows that if we can go on safari and have an active and incredible time - aged 76 and 81 - then anyone can in your good hands."
John and Jill, Bristol, UK

"At last I find time to thank you for a truly remarkable 18 days on safari - time and time again I have relived that holiday. What stands out? The differing surroundings, the variety of outstanding accommodation, the people, the stunning birds, the guides and then there was the game! So, very many thanks...I will always be a strong supporter!"
Angela, Thornbury, UK

Any of these previous clients would be available to supply further information and references on request to vouch for our ability to discuss, plan and arrange outstanding safaris.

Living the dream: Kenya 2007

0545
It was still dark when I heard footsteps softly padding towards the tent. ''Knock-knock'' said a voice beyond the canvas and the chink of china heralded the arrival of early morning tea. ''Jambo'', I replied, wishing again that I could converse more fluently with the ever-cheerful camp staff.

0600
I'm amazed how quickly I can be up and ready to go on safari. No dragging of heels trying to eke out extra moments under the duvet, listening to the traffic droning by outside the window. I'm outside absorbing the smell of wood smoke from the campfire, sipping tea and munching on a homemade biscuit before you can say Denys Finch Hatton.

0630
It gets light incredibly rapidly and those huge, shadowy giants transform into majestic baobab trees and the darkness on either side of the track draws back to reveal the first game sightings of the day: a pair of jackals trotting along, a large mixed group of zebra and wildebeest staring back at us, then a mother and baby giraffe standing just behind a clump of thorn-trees. But it's the birds and insects that really welcome the golden dawn: from silence to a multitude of singing, squealing, humming and cooing in no time at all.

0930
The 3 hours pass too quickly. From herds of buffalo, groups of elephant, a pride of 15 lions devouring the remains of last night's zebra kill, to the smaller sightings: comical warthogs running away with their tails up, banded mongoose and rock hyrax, colourful agama lizards and some vervet monkeys. This morning's highlight was a beautiful caracal stalking through the long grass not far from camp.

1030
Breakfast was welcome and huge! How do they manage to produce fresh bread every day in the bush? Sated on bacon, eggs and sausages I retired to my tent and had an outside shower in the en-suite attached to the back of my tent. It's pretty cool taking a shower in the open with the sun filtering through the acacia canopy above and with the sounds of emerald-spotted wood-doves and slate-coloured boubous all around.

1400
I was wandering around camp after the buffet lunch trying to identify the different weaver birds when there was a bit of a commotion between the dining tent and the kitchen. Apparently the local elephants had a liking for the marula nuts on the tree overhanging the kitchen, and one had wandered into camp!

1730
The afternoon game walk was thrilling. There were only 3 of us plus Jackson, our guide, with rifle slung nonchalantly over one shoulder. Progress was slow as we absorbed everything going on around us. You really appreciate the small things on a bushwalk: a persistent dung beetle, a column of safari ants, deciphering the various animal tracks, and sampling a 'toothbrush' tree. Senses were on full alert but we were never that close to the animals until we reached the river and sat and watched hippos and a huge crocodile from the top of the bank.

1845
We were standing on the boarded balcony overlooking the waterhole with a cold beer in hand when the sun set in an explosion of blood-red colour. Dinner was a sumptuous 3 courses and the guides and camp manager entertained us with stories of their close encounters with the local wildlife. We took our coffee and sat in a circle facing each other around the log fire listening to various unidentified rustlings from the surrounding bushes and the haunting whooping call of a hyena far out on the plain.

2230
How did I feel when I crawled under my mosquito net into bed that night? Elated, privileged, replete with all the amazing food, pleasantly tired from all the fresh air and activities but ultimately incredibly happy. I really could get used to this life!