The expert team at Safari365
Safari365
- Offices In:
-
Brazil
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2005)
- Member Of:
- SATSA, Travel Smart Crew & SATIB Safe
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $1,700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
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Email David | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
I'm not a happy camper
Promised helicopter over Botswana….never happened
Promised 2 different luxury camps in Botswana..never happen.
One day before going to the first camp they switched and sent us for 6 days at a cheaper camp. Even the manager at the camp said it was strange and unheard of for use to be there for 6 days.
Reply from Safari365
Posted on Mar 15, 2024Thank you for your review below, although we were shocked and saddened to read this feedback from a trip you and your son took with us 20 months ago. We have looked into the history of the booking and can see you originally booked with us in 2021 but had your plans changed by COVID. You then rebooked to travel with us in June 2022. From what we can see in the archive from this 2022 trip, after a 2 night stay in Victoria Falls and then 2 nights in Chobe, you were then booked to stay 3 nights in Camp Maru and 3 nights at Amber River Camp in the Delta. These two camps are operated by Okavango Hidden Gems: https://okavangohiddengems.com/. Some time after you booked, we were then notified by Okavango Hidden Gems (in April 2022) that Camp Maru unfortunately had to close and move sites, due to issues with their temporary land lease from the local Batswana owners. They offered to move you to the newer Amber River Camp for the entire 6 night stay, which was accepted by your party. I can then see from the history that unfortunately when you were enroute and actually travelling in June 2022, Amber River Camp contacted Safari365 just before your arrival to state there was an emergency at the camp which had caused their solar power to fail, halting operations. As a remote camp, it meant that had to then close at very short notice and couldn't honour any bookings (this was unprecedented, but operational issues such as this can be a risk in the remote African bush). They offered to move you to a partner property, Kadizora Camp, which offered both land and water based activities, plus offered you a free future stay at Amber River Camp should you ever return to Botswana. Your son graciously accepted in light of their emergency and I can see correspondence from your son to say you were having a great time at Kazidora. In fact I see you yourself wrote a positive review of Kazidora on Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowUserReviews-g472673-d8337430-r844801730-Kadizora_Camp-Okavango_Delta_North_West_District.html Unfortunately part of your cancelled Amber River Lodge stay was the cancellation of the 20 minute compulsory return helicopter transfer to the lodge. Our records show however that a hot air balloon was organised instead at Kazidora. And the last email from your son in the middle of your holiday stated: "We've been informed the balloon tour is available to us, so this all has worked well. I am cognizant of how travel remains disrupted due to the pandemic and am thankful you and the Safari 365 team worked to remedy the circumstance to maintain our holiday plans. Thank you once again for your outstanding work." This was on the 13th June in the middle of your stay at Kazidora. I see a staff member then also followed up on the 17th June with your son to check all as well, as you were returning home. It is incredibly unfortunate (and rare) that you had multiple issues with the properties at Okavango Hidden Gems, but these operational circumstances were completely outside of Safari365's control. So again we are really disappointed that you feel duped in some way, and also saddened to not have had the opportunity to address your unhappiness 20 months ago. As for why you stayed 6 nights in the Delta, I cannot refer to the consultant as she no longer works for us, however she was an experienced member of the team, so I can only assume there was a misunderstanding regarding your needs. We go out of our way to make sure our clients have an amazing time and this is reflected in our 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor. I am sorry you were not satisfied in this instance, however we wish you all the best for your future travels in Africa. Kind Regards Safari365
BR
Email Sumaia Miguel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good for the ones that want a hassle free hotel reservation
Safari365 knows suppliers and can provide you with good options of hotels and local activities. However their influence to make adjustments (example we took a train for 4 nights at my mothers birthday and our cabine was ar the first car meaning that to reach the restaurant or smaking longe we had to cross the entire train about 25 cars... Luckly we managed to have the staff moving us to another car and also make a note on my mothers birthday) or understand your specific needs to fine tune itineraries is very poor.
As per consultants - the exclusive one in Brazil is very arrogant and talks to you as if you did not know what an airplane is and have never left home before leaving the core aspects that should be addressed out of the loop.
We managed to be supported by a South African consultant after requesting for a change. Clive is very friendly but yet, did not add much in terms of adjusting our itinerary and was kind to reply my message when asking for a change on hotels/City with Google and YouTube links with tips for activities where we were (??? Really??). Details such as the fact that electricity is an issue and South africa has to follow a schedule in which everybody stays in the dar at least 3 hours a day, were never shared in advance.
Again - I did not feel supported with qualified information on the itinerary preparativos not had I a 24x7 assistance. Actually, still waiting to understand if our shark dive activity that was cancelled due to a storm will ever be reimbursed. Not to mention the safari we missed due to poor logistics abd pick up time at the airport.
Reply from Safari365
Posted on Mar 15, 2024Responded on 18 October 2023.
Thank you for your recent review of your experience with Safari365, although we are really sorry to hear that you felt we fell short of your expectations.
We have reviewed your booking and are disappointed to read your comments and feedback, primarily as both Travel Consultants who assisted you (who combined have nearly 35 years of Africa travel experience between them) felt they had worked really hard over the previous 12 months to create a special vacation which fit your needs and budget.
Regarding the challenges you experienced while travelling, we apologise you were not aware that the complimentary transfers to your Kruger safari lodge departed at set times. We were not aware that you had booked another separate excursion that day yourself which meant the timings were not convenient. While it would have helped to know this, we do apologise that the transfer times were not listed on your vouchers - this is something we will rectify in future.
We apologise if you were not forewarned that South Africa experiences intermittent power outages. These vary hugely and are not always in place, but to mitigate the impact many hotels, restaurants, lodges, airports etc make alternative arrangements for their guests which include buying expensive power generators, UPS's for internet access or smaller invertors, which generate power for lights. The reality is many international guests are completely unaware of poor electricity issues due to these arrangements (and the fact that the outages are usually 2-4 hours max at a time) - so much so that this is the first complaint we have received regarding power losses in 2 years. However we take on board that you did experience outages at a time you needed it for work, and for that we apologise. We will take on board this feedback to alert future clients and we hope these unexpected sporadic outages didn't cause you too much inconvenience.
We understand you also missed out on a shark cage diving trip due to poor weather and we were in the process of obtaining the refund for this.
Finally, Safari365 are based in South Africa and we are available and online 24/7 via our 24-hour emergency telephone number and 24 hour emergency email address. This is in addition to be able to contact your consultant whenever you need, and both consultants have confirmed they were on call before, during and after your trip (we understand your South Africa based consultant was in constant contact with you throughout the actual trip, making amendments and suggestions).
All in all we are sorry we disappointed you, however hope these issued did not spoil your trip - and you left Africa with some incredible memories with your family.
BR
Email Arinete | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellence of service
My son and I did a 15-day self drive through the Garden Route (from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town), using the services of Safari 365 and I can't help but congratulate the professionals involved for the fantastic experience we had. From the initial contact with Ms. Eliane in Brazil, to the completion of the tour, I have nothing but praise to say. Ms. Eliane proved to be a dedicated professional, attentive, caring and always willing to clarify doubts (and there were many), review itineraries, adapt hotels (great choices), create suggestions, in short, everything necessary to guarantee a quality service suited to our needs. profile. I also cannot fail to thank and praise our concierge, Mr Frederik Lesch, who was always ready to help us in any situation. Therefore, I congratulate the company Safari 365 for the excellent work and for having such special people as those mentioned on its staff. Thank you Eliane, planning and carrying out our adventure through South Africa with you was rewarding and made our trip safer and more fulfilling.
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Email Brenda | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trevor at Safari365 is AWESOME!
Trevor at Safari365 was AWESOME! He listened to what we wanted and gave us wonderful and expert advice and assistance booking amazing experiences and excursions. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very responsive. We really appreciated how excited for us he was and patient he was with us and our questions and requests for modifications. We would absolutely use Safari365 and would love the chance to work with Trevor again.
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Email Carla | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania
Thank you, Safari365, Eliane and Trevor, for all your help putting together our trip. We had a wonderful time and are still talking about our experiences, and sharing our photos with friends.
The tented lodges were beautiful, the people of Tanzania were so friendly and fun, and the safari experiences were unbelievable!
Also, we highly recommend Albert, our guide. He was so knowledgeable, kind, fun and we loved getting to know him.
Email James | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari365 was outstanding; efficient, caring, friendly and knowledgeable staff.
We used Safari365 in 2016 and again in 2024 for our family adventures in South Africa, and both times, their service exceeded our expectations. We’re based in Australia and initially reached out to their Cape Town office via email. Our consultant, Zannon James, promptly addressed our safety concerns, incorporated our preferences, and organized a memorable South African experience for our family of five, including grandparents, parents, and our 9-year-old granddaughter, Poppy.
Zannon's expertise, combined with Safari365’s strong negotiating power and global reach, resulted in a well-curated journey at a reasonable price. Importantly, the price was quoted in AUD and remained consistent despite fluctuations in currency, and we were able to make the payment in Australia.
Safari365 also provided us with a personal concierge, Trevor Stoutz, who was available for our endless questions and made recommendations for hotel bookings, restaurants, and activities which were spot on. Trevor’s assistance proved valuable, and we enjoyed several dining options he suggested during our week in Cape Town; namely, La Colombe, Kloof Street House and The Chef’s Warehouse Beau Constantia.
During our stay at The Tintswalo Family Lodge in the Waterberg Reserve, we were impressed by the exceptional facilities, outstanding food and the excellent service. We came for the game and the drives were particularly noteworthy; our guide, Riian, expertly and safely showed us a wide range of wildlife from his open jeep, from ticks to majestic elephants. Poppy’s reaction—declaring that the safari experience was “better than Disneyland”—was a highlight for us as grandparents; Mission Accomplished; memories for life and all captured in a complimentary photo album. Thanks Safari365!!
Zannon Rocks! He interpreted the needs and desires of our family of 7 and then delivered!
Zannon James of Safari 365 deserves to be commended for all the effort, skill and talent he put into planning our (7 adults) family safari. We started out in Camp's Bay - hiking, mountain biking, touring the Cape, eating and drinking our way through Cape Town, Franshoek and Stellenbosh. Next we flew to Johannesburg. The accommodations at Arthol Place were PERFECT for our family - very attentive staff and incredible food! The JoBerg and Soweto tour was enjoyed by all 7 of us. Next - Four nights at Sabi Sabi Little Bush was great! We saw the Big Five after only one day, and added the Magnificent Seven before departing for Victoria Falls. Two nights worked well there as we really only wanted to see the Falls and enjoy a night out. Next we flew to Botswana for 2 nights each in Chobe and Okavango Delta. The helicopter ride between the two was a special treat. GREAT animal sighting as well. We loved the sunset Makuro canoe safari with so many elephants.
Each of the camps were well aware of the special dietary consideration of 2 of our family members. It was clear that Zannon had prepped all of our hosts. Every detail, from warm airport welcomes, easy transfers, very caring, friendly and professional staff made what could be an overwhelming process extremely easy and stress-free. Zannon listened to what was important to us and what wasn't and proceeded to tailor-make a most successful itinerary. We've been home 2 months and we're still on Cloud Nine!
ES
Email Anna | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari 365 is a remarkable tour operator and only provide the best in every aspect.
I recenlty completed a 10 day Safari in Tanzania with my family organized by Safari 365 and I cannot recommend them enough. The itinerary that Zannon put together was well planned and executed from start to finish. If we had to shorten our trip, it would have been very difficult to decide which area to eliminate. Each safari park offered an unforgetable adventure.
Logistics were perfectly organized that allowed us to relax without worrying in all the details. The accomodations were excellent and provided us different experience. Our favorite was Simbavati Grumeti; the service, people, food, ambiance were extra ordinary.
Trevor Stoutz of Safari 365 was available for us the whole time, he was professional, responsive patiently answering all our inquiries and went out of his way to assist on everything including handling our delayed luggage, made sure it was tracked down and delivered to our lodge.
Our guides (Mudy and Ronald) were the best. They had deep knowledge on the area, the animals and with great communication skills which made our safari experience exceptional. I like how both guides tried to involve our girls who are 11 and 14 years old. I also want to thank Safari 365 for putting something together to celebrate our daughter's birthday. Almost each accomodation had something arranged for her.
I am already thinking of our next Safari trip and would definetely do it again with Safari 365. They have made our first Safari experience one-of-a-kind.
Email Kym Rowley | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They were unbelievable.
From the initial contact to arrival back home they were always there to help, give advice and asking how things were going. They put the holiday we were dreaming off together, which can not be faulted. Will not hesitate to recommend them to anyone and certainly will be using them again.
Email Andrew M | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The only tour operators I would recommend for Southern Africa.
Our family hadn't been to Southern Africa before (I had) so they were a bit nervous. Therefore, I wanted this trip to expose them to all the wonders of this part of the world but to always feel safe. Our wonderful consultant Andrew listened to our preferences and then added his own local knowledge and expertise and crafted the most exciting trip. He even joined us for a beer when we were in Cape Town. He fitted in with Australian time zones for phone calls and shaped up the itinerary into a wonderful two-week indulgence - there is nothing like local knowledge that you can trust. We went to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (yes, my son bungee jumped 111metres off the old bridge!); Chobi National Park, Botswana; and Kruger Game Reserve & Cape Town, South Africa. We were picked up at airports and hotels/lodges always on time, we were indulged by the most beautiful and hospitable hosts and lovely venues, we ate amazing food, we saw beautiful natural panoramas and yes we saw the big five! I can't describe lying in bed at night and hearing lions roar within earshot! Cape Town blew us away and the trip down to the Cape of Good Hope was extraordinary. This has been an amazing experience we still talk about often. We will never forget it. We are definitely going back and most certainly organising it through Safari 365 (they aren't paying us to say that). Our Australian friends think we were brave and adventurous but little do they know we were in 5 star comfort and did not feel unsafe at all - except maybe the first time a lion walked past our open topped jeep! Definitely do it!!!
