Ker & Downey® Africa staff
Ker & Downey Africa
- Located In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- APTA, SATSA, CTT & Safe Travels
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $500 to $950 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Maria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip!
Our African safari trip was totally incredible. We absolutely loved our safari guides, accommodations, food, camp settings, and all of the people we interacted with in Tanzania and Kenya.
The vacation was super memorable and one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.
One drawback of the process was the booking and payment that occurred before we departed for the trip. Over the course of one year while the trip was being planned, confirmed and paid for, there was some staff turnover in the Ker & Downey office that resulted in some difficulties with finalizing trip details.
On my end I had a change in personal circumstances that required some trip rearrangements. At that time, the original employee who handled the trip left the company and so my trip was handled by employees I hadn’t met previously. This transition was not seamless and there were times when I was frustrated and getting conflicting information from different employees.
However, those issues were sorted out before departure and the trip itself was very smooth. Everyone was very responsive during the trip, even when their local time was in the middle of the night.
Our designed itinerary was perfect and we are very thankful for the unique and luxurious experience we had.
PH
Email Mira | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Recommended by a good friend, KDA gifted us with memories to last a lifetime.
It was our first trip to Africa. We were looking for a luxury safari experience. We were referred to KDA by a friend who had gone with her extended family. Before going, our KDA contact was very professional: provided so much information on what to bring, how the tipping was. She also made sure to closely coordinate with us on the budget and preferences, so that the package would be right for us, for instance, if we weren't experienced campers, then she excluded camping in the bush. She made sure to schedule calls with us, and was available through WhatsApp and video calls. KDA even handled our Tanzania visas for us. Even before we left, we felt we were in good hands.
I discovered that when I travel, I have subconscious expectations of stress. The pick-up might be late, the weather might be bad, the traffic, noise, smells --- all things that go with traveling to a place one has never been to before.
Arriving in Tanzania had none of that. It was July which is their winter. The weather was crisp and cool, and the air smelled so fresh. Frank, our KDA guide, met us as we exited the airport doors. He settled us in the Land Cruiser and handed us personalized reusable water bottles, assuring us that it was filtered. He gave us locally-made blankets as gifts. I think those first few minutes were the perfect balm to nerves frazzled from almost 24 hours of traveling.
KDA booked us in Arusha Coffee Lodge (overnight), Nimali Tarangire to be near Tarangire National Park, Acacia Farm Lodge to be near Ngorongoro Crater, and at Siringit Serengeti and Nimali Mara for two separate parts of the Serengeti. It was perfectly planned. From our first wildebeest sighting enroute to Tarangire (We hadn't even arrived at the park; Frank just drove us to a watering hole off the highway.), to first seeing all the animals at the parks, to seeing lions really close at Siringit, and ending at Nimali Mara with their majestic view. We were lucky to cap it off with a wildebeest river crossing; not all the travelers we came across did. KDA planned the perfect crescendo of a trip.
US
Email James and Tammy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our tour operator shown excellent customer service and extremely knowlegable of south africa
Thanks for a beautiful itinerary, excellent accommodations, and memorable food and wine experiences. Thanks also to the guides for providing an experience that exceeded expectations.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Trip to South Africa
We booked our Cape Town and safari experience with Ker & Downey Africa after a recommendation from a friend. The properties selected in Cape Town and the winelands were spot on, just the right mix of luxury and simplicity. Babylonstoren in particular was a stand-out for us. In the Kruger, we visited Kapama Game Reserve. The guiding was exceptional, we managed to see all of the Big 5 in our 3 days there.
OM
Email Chris and Christa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Service! Extremely helpful. 100% Recommended to all!
This was our first tour booked solely via a tour operator so we were a little sceptical to say the least. K&D completely surpassed all our expectations and after our holiday we understand we couldn't have done it alone. The attention to detail was second to none, every minor detail was thought of so we didn't have to worry about a thing!
The service leading up to our Safari was unlike any I have dealt with before. Rory (our representative) was helpful, understanding and answered all our questions to the very last detail (we had a lot of questions!). Rory took on our feedback and designed a custom tour that was perfect for us and within the budget we wanted. Even when we requested changes to the itinerary after confirming, there were no issues. The communication was impeccable - always responding within a few hours (if not minutes!).
During the tour the team were also on hand to help us with any questions or problems we had along the way and quickly sorted out everything. We were not quite happy with the standard of one of our rooms in Rwanda and after contacting K&D they quickly upgraded us without any hassle or additional charge.
Overall our Safari and Gorilla Experience in Rwanda was Amazing - A once in a lifetime experience. The service, the people, the food was unlike anything else. I cannot thank Rory, Barbara and the team more for their help in bringing our trip to a reality.
DE
Email Walter | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ker&Downey made a wonderful job
Ker&Downey prepared a wonderful trip to the Ulusaba Lodge with all bookings. They took care of us from arrival at Johannesburg Airport with the transfer to the regional airline to the lodge, gave a lot of useful information and also prepared a tour along the Garden Route according to our personal requirements. We always felt well taken care of. It is good to know to have the assistance of Ker&Downey in the background.
"An unforgettable trip to Tanzania thanks to Ker & Downey”
Although being used to organising our travels on our own, for this trip to Tanzania we decided to engage Ker & Downey as we wanted everything to be perfect. From the beginning we felt in excellent hands with Rory. He worked everything together making us quickly an exciting proposal fit in with our budget. Until the moment we actually started the trip, he answered always immediately and had an immense patience with all our tiny questions.
The team of Ker & Downey managed to not only fulfil our very high expectations but even exceeded them. We had a fantastic experience, wonderful in every way: all the camps, their staff, the food, the car and its equipment, the parks, the nature, the animals, even the weather with only some short refreshing rains, really everything was perfect. Ker & Downey organised everything with no problem, booking some wonderful accommodations and allowing us to fully enjoy our trip.
Our guide David understood immediately our desire to be away from the crowds and with his kindness and calm, his great respect for nature and its wildlife, he made our journey an unique and amazing experience. He made it possible that most of the time we really were on our own, having the feeling that we were in Paradise on Earth with only animals around us. His enormous knowledge about all kind of animals and their habitat has enriched the experience even more.
We thank all those involved for setting up such an awesome trip and recommend Ker & Downey without any doubt!
Email David Poulter | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Ker & Downey Africa arranged my booking to Sanbona Wild life Reserve during my recent visit.
KDA team were great in advising which reserve to visit, making the reservation and confirming all details in advance of my trip. Sanbona itself is a wonderful place - the beautiful views, peace and quiet, amazing sunrise and the vast numbers of stars at night. I also had fantastic close up encounters with lions, cheetah, rinho, elephant and much more. The standard of accomodation is excellent and I would have no hesitation in recommending anyone else to visit. I will also look forward to the KDA team supporting me again when planning my next African adventure - hopefully a longer trip to Botswanna & Victoria Falls. Thanks David.
CA
Email Robert | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Africa
Every part of our program that was aranged by Ker Downey was great. They did the trip in the proper rotation and the camps they selected from our experience were bang on.
Without sounding too over the top we can only say thanks for the service you did it right.
US
Email William G | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
South Africa Luxe-Adventure of a Lifetime
In a time where we depend on technology so regularly to run our lives, it is important to remember that we are people. It is our experience with two very special people at Ker & Downey Africa that made this the best trip of our lives. Sarah Morris, our adventurist, and Zeena Ponto, our Customer Experience Coordinator, planned, designed, and arranged the most luxurious South African adventure to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.
After I made an inquiry to Ker & Downey about visiting South Africa, I was promptly contacted by Sarah. She gathered as much information from me to make this trip unique and special for my wife and me. Oh my goodness, did she and Zeena ever! Working with a travel agency has never been such a pleasure. The communication was always prompt and informative, whether through email exchanges or telephone conversations.
No detail was overlooked. Every airport transfer, hotel accommodation, South African airline booking, safari camp, restaurant reservation, and custom tour was perfect. It would not have been impossible for me to arrange such a wonderful adventure without Sarah and Zeena.
I want to especially thank Sarah and Zeena for selecting andBeyond Phinda Forest Lodge and Lion Sand Narina Lodge and Samsara Africa.
The two safari camps were spectacular and uniquely different, but both had fantastic game drives, luxurious accommodations, outstanding dining and the most exceptional staffs who cared for us in a way we never expected. They anticipated every need and exceeded every expectation.
Samsara Africa, specifically, Leonard McMillan, is a category unto itself. Leonard brought a new meaning to "personal custom tour". We spent two days with him touring the Winelands and the Cape. Our time with Leonard is reason enough to look forward to our return visit to South Africa.
Ker & Downey Africa will plan our next visit to Africa, and there definitely be a next visit!