Safari Specialists
Safari Specialists
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About
Safari Specialists creates tailor made safaris into Botswana's National Parks and private reserves. Activities include game drives, boat cruises on the Okavango Delta, guided walks, San bushmen cultural experiences, traditional mokoro excursions, quad biking on the pans, habituated meerkats and much more. Additionally we arrange safaris into Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique
Maun, Botswana
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
83 reviews
Excellent
82
Very good
0
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Brent203
Vancouver, Canada54 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Anouk at Safari Specialists were excellent to deal with, responsive and helpful in creating our 8 day itinerary starting with 2 days in Victoria Falls, then 3 days at Chobe Bakwena, and then 3 days at Sango camp in the delta. They arranged all of it including flights and transfers. Everything worked flawlessly and we really enjoyed the trip and especially the experiences, safaris and accommodation in chobe and at Sango. I highly recommend safari specialists and traveling to Botswana.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
USCtraveller
The Woodlands, TX328 contributions
May 2021
I typically like to plan all our trips. However, using Safari Specialists was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Lisa, our agent, was phenomenal!!! We started planning our trip a year in advance, when we thought Covid would be short-lived. Using Skype, email and text messages Lisa helped us find camps in South Africa and Botswana that would meet our schedule, requirements, and budget. Finding camps that would meet our desired schedule was not an easy process, yet Lisa always kept working diligently to find a solution while also meticulously working on the rest of our trip details (ground/flight transfers). I was always impressed with her hard work, patience, and willingness to help.
Fast forward one year and Covid was still an issue. Lisa again worked closely with us to stay on top of local government requirements, Covid testing options and the operating status of the camps. Additionally, she was very patient while we worked through whether we could get vaccinated in time to take the trip. She successfully negotiated with the camps to delay our final payment to give us additional time to become fully vaccinated. She repeatedly checked on the status on the Botswana/Zimbabwe land border closure (due to Covid) to see if we could salvage the Victoria Falls portion of our trip. Unfortunately, the border never did open, so Lisa helped us cancel this portion of our trip. Lisa was with us every step of the way helping us navigate through all the uncertainty. Eventually we were vaccinated and decided to take the trip. The risk was worth the reward. We were some of the first travelers to be welcomed back to South African and Botswana. All the establishments were so happy to have us, so we had a trip of a lifetime.
We met Lisa, in Maun, during a stopover to get Covid tested. She helped us store our bags and assisted us with our Covid test results. When we were planning this vacation, we were hoping to find a highly professional agent, familiar with the local camps, to help us navigate the safari process. However, we found someone willing to not only assist us with the camp selections but with every detail of our trip, including navigating through all the uncertainty caused by Covid. My words cannot express how thankful we are that we used Safari Specialists and Lisa to help us plan this trip. We had so much interaction with Lisa over the past year that we now consider her to be a good friend. If you are looking for an expert to help you plan a safari to Africa, in particular Botswana, then hire Safari Specialists! You will not be disappointed!
Fast forward one year and Covid was still an issue. Lisa again worked closely with us to stay on top of local government requirements, Covid testing options and the operating status of the camps. Additionally, she was very patient while we worked through whether we could get vaccinated in time to take the trip. She successfully negotiated with the camps to delay our final payment to give us additional time to become fully vaccinated. She repeatedly checked on the status on the Botswana/Zimbabwe land border closure (due to Covid) to see if we could salvage the Victoria Falls portion of our trip. Unfortunately, the border never did open, so Lisa helped us cancel this portion of our trip. Lisa was with us every step of the way helping us navigate through all the uncertainty. Eventually we were vaccinated and decided to take the trip. The risk was worth the reward. We were some of the first travelers to be welcomed back to South African and Botswana. All the establishments were so happy to have us, so we had a trip of a lifetime.
We met Lisa, in Maun, during a stopover to get Covid tested. She helped us store our bags and assisted us with our Covid test results. When we were planning this vacation, we were hoping to find a highly professional agent, familiar with the local camps, to help us navigate the safari process. However, we found someone willing to not only assist us with the camp selections but with every detail of our trip, including navigating through all the uncertainty caused by Covid. My words cannot express how thankful we are that we used Safari Specialists and Lisa to help us plan this trip. We had so much interaction with Lisa over the past year that we now consider her to be a good friend. If you are looking for an expert to help you plan a safari to Africa, in particular Botswana, then hire Safari Specialists! You will not be disappointed!
Written 5 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly W
1 contribution
Jun 2021
Our safari was the best experience! I highly recommend booking with safari specialists. They partnered with Bushway safaris for our trip. The communication is top notch and Kagiso worked with us to find an itinerary that would fit our budget. It was pretty tricky to plan with COIVD but Kagiso did a great job keeping us posted on changes and it was well worth it! We went to the Okavango Delta and traveled up to Chobe and ending with one night in Victoria Falls. I looked at a lot of agencies before settling on this one and they are the best! Would highly recommend. We saw so many animals! Our guide said "you're seeing things that you shouldn't on your first safari. "He meant we were very lucky! We saw wild dogs with their puppies, several lion prides, elephants swimming across the Chobe River and...the highlight for me was a leopard on our last day! Not to mention so many beautiful birds and common animals like antelope, baboons, hippos and on and on. Definitely book with Safari Specialists! They will not disappoint.
Written 4 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wyuna123
London, UK14 contributions
Mar 2022 • Solo
If you want to leave the troubles of the world behind, go to Botswana. If you want to organise it with ease go to Safari Specialists. Friends and family were somewhat shocked I was going to Botswana but I tried to explain to them that it was easy with Safari Specialists as they had taken any worry out of it!! Nadine and TT organised my Botswana trip with only a few weeks notice. They were very thorough and replied to my emails very promptly. It was just great that TT was there to meet me in Maun in both directions. On the way out he had the all important negative pcr test in his hand for me. Nadine arranged with my last camp to have the pcr test done at the camp airstrip. This was an expensive option but worry free and it allowed me to stay at camp in what was only a seven night trip to bots all up rather than waste a night in maun and get it done there. I would definitely recommend this company - you can’t beat local knowledge and it made me much more confident compared to adding another layer by using a foreign travel agent. A charming touch at the end, TT presented me with a photobook handmade in Maun from recycled paper. I will definitely use it to treasure the memories of my trip to stunning Botswana.
Written 20 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Garfieldluvr
Denver, CO981 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
My Boyfriend and I decided we wanted to do a safari in Botswana. I started trying to plan our trip and realized rather quicky that this trip was going to be different. For most trips I plan everything; our flights, hotels, restaurants, transportation, and tours. I actually really enjoy planning vacations and I am a little bit of a control freak, preferring to have complete control over all aspects of our trip. I realized that while African safari trips can be planned by folks like me, they usually are not, as most people use a company to help them. I found Safari Specialists mentioned on the TS forms several times so decided to reach out to them and was connected to Nadine. Since this was our first safari, I had tons of questions and Nadine patiently answered every single one. She provided me with so much detailed information it really helped me make decisions as to what we wanted to do. She recommended some camps based on our personal preferences, and laid all options out on the table. She would send me prices for Camp A, B, and C and if I said that was too high, she would revise it with Camp A, B and D stuff like that. We did that back and forth for quite a while until I found the price and the camps that I liked. I never felt pressured to choose any specific camp or anything, the information was simply presented for me to use to make the best decision. I was a little nervous about paying a deposit for far in advance, but I understand the need for it, and I had no issues. Upon arriving to Africa, we had ZERO issues. Every car arrived when they said they would, every plane took us where we needed to be, every camp was prepared for our arrival, it was totally seamless. On top off all that, a rep from Safari Specialists met us at Maun Airport and brought us over to a wonderful café before wishing us well on our journey. I think using a company based in Botswana brings more local knowledge and recommendations. Camps are closing, opening, and changing and Nadine knew all of the news and was able to use that to help me find the best camps for our preferences with the best price. I highly recommend Safari Specialists If you are planning a Safari to Botawana or neighboring countries. They are ush a knowledgeable, dependable, and friendly company. Thank you Nadine for helping us plan the trip of a lifetime!
Written 14 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelfairy6
florida112 contributions
Jun 2021
I had not heard much about Safari Specialists precovid when I was planning our trip to Botswana/Zimbabwe but I wanted to use a local travel agent. WOW! I'm so glad I did. Nadine at SS was incredible. Between lockdowns, testing requirements, rebooking a second time (I got covid a month before our rescheduled 2020 trip) and everything in between, she was there helping me every step of the way for over a year.I nearly drove her crazy with all the changes but she rolled with it and worked it all out for me. I would highly recommend using Safari Specialists for any travel in Africa!
Written 23 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark S
Auckland, New Zealand11 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
We were a group (8) of two families with teenage children wanting to experience a mobile safari starting at the Okavango Delta, up through Moremi/Khwai, and Chobe, finishing with a stay at Vic Falls with a time window of 10 nights.
Our New Zealand Dollar only gets us US60 cents, so budgets were a bit tight.
Erica at Safari Specialists was sensational - providing an amazing amount of detail upfront and clearly wanting to make this an incredible experience for us. She pulled together an awesome itinerary that flowed seamlessly throughout our journey and with guides that were experts in their fields. The camp staff, food and tented accommodation was all just incredible.
This was a once in a lifetime trip for us and Erica made it just perfect.
Our New Zealand Dollar only gets us US60 cents, so budgets were a bit tight.
Erica at Safari Specialists was sensational - providing an amazing amount of detail upfront and clearly wanting to make this an incredible experience for us. She pulled together an awesome itinerary that flowed seamlessly throughout our journey and with guides that were experts in their fields. The camp staff, food and tented accommodation was all just incredible.
This was a once in a lifetime trip for us and Erica made it just perfect.
Written 24 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela B
New York City, NY8 contributions
Oct 2021
I booked a safari for my partner and I in October 2019, planning to visit Botswana in May 2020 - then the COVID pandemic hit and the trip had to be postponed. Kagiso was our agent and couldn't have been more helpful or patient, noting we had to move the trip twice as travel restrictions were extended. She freely offered expert advise on everything from different experiences depending on the season to appropriate packing. Also, your agent meets you at Maun airport to give you a quick debrief in person and make sure you easily get to charter flight. Overall, will be booking with them again for our next Botswana excursion!
Written 29 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
missycrok
Lexington, KY14 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
This was all scheduled for us and we had to not put forth any effort in planning. All of the lodging was wonderful and the food was outstanding. The staff in every place we stayed was exceptionally helpful and accommodating. All of our guides were knowledgeable and friendly We took a sunset cruise the first night in Zimbabwe. We did a Victoria Falls tour. Pioneers scheduled a Rhino search and game drive for us at The Stanley and Livingstone private reserve. That is where I saw my rhinos. Chobe was lovely and I was so happy to be back. Sango was where I saw the Cheetahs. Setari was wonderful as well. The Portswood in Cape Town was also exceptional. We Booked a tour from Beyond Africa Safari and Tours, visited the entire Cape and got to see the penguins and took the funicular to the light house at Cape Point. Our guide Reuben there was remarkable. I left my camera at one of the stops and he had one of his colleagues get return it to me at the hotel. We went to the waterfront, Hop on off bus. Took the cable car to Table mountain. Went to Two Oceans Aquarium, and of course shopped a lot.
Written 12 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hansjörg
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Our safari organized by 'Safari Specialists' was a fantastic and unforgettable experience. From the first contact we felt we were in the best of hands. Nadine was very responsive and answered the many questions we had before the trip quickly and clearly. There were no surprises during the trip, we felt well prepared for everything. All transfers also went smoothly. As Swiss people, we are used to punctuality and we found that Botswana has a similarly high standard in this respect, if not higher. The fact that we could make so many extraordinary animal sightings during the 10-day camping safari was the icing on the cake of this incredible journey through southern Africa.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I need the email of Erica in Safari Especialist in Maun.I write emails but they are returned to me by the machine.
Written 29 August 2019
Necesito el email de contacto de Erica de Safari Especialist in Maun.He enviado varios emails que me son devueltos
Written 29 August 2019
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