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
CA
Email David & Joan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly professional, knowledgeable, great attention to to detail and a delight to work with.
We are experienced, independent travelers who usually make our own arrangements. But for a bespoke, three-week adventure for just the two of us to some pretty remote areas of Botswana and South Africa, we knew we needed a trip manager with deep expertise. Boy did we select a great company. Our adventurist Emma Perrin and our Customer Experience Coordinator Razaan Abrahams were superb and their services went far beyond anything we could reasonably have expected. Nothing was impossible, including switching dates and reorganizing the entire itinerary halfway through the planning period, just to enable us to spend three nights at an accommodation that was on our bucket wish list. Emma just seemed to "get us" from the beginning and her suggestions on what we might want to include on our trip were brilliant. She really knows her stuff and it showed up over and over in the eventual enjoyment of our trip, which was the best one we have ever taken. This is a company with extraordinary contacts (as we learned from staff at the camps where we stayed), flawless execution and instant communication while you're on your trip. They even supply you with a mobile phone app that contains every detail of your itinerary and can be used offline, important when you're out of Internet and mobile range. We appreciated their attention to detail in planning, since everything we could possibly have wanted was taken care of prior to our arrival at each and every bush camp. At airports and air strips, we were met and transferred without confusion or delay and on the one occasion when there was a minor glitch, Emma remedied it quickly. (They are always instantly available by phone, email, WhatsApp, Skype or whatever system you're using. Very impressive) The best thing, though, was that their advice, experience and responsiveness to what we said we wanted to see and do in Africa made this trip an absolute joy from start to finish. We cannot recommend them highly enough and would definitely use Ker & Downey again.
SE
Email Fam Annika Modin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Just awesome!!!!
We actually contacted Ker & Downey from Sweden because of their good reputation and we then got contact with Sarah Morris ! She is the one that manager to arrange this trip to a memorable, wonderful , one-in-your-lifetime experience!
We are not that easy because of all our demands and requests but she took care of it all and manager to arrange everything we wished for!
We started in wonderful Oyster Box outside Durban and then continued to Phinda Mountain Lodge and after 3 great days we flew to Sabi Sands! We finally spent 6 nights on Azura Benguerra Island ! She gave us good advice all along and she was always very easy to reach both before the trip and even during our trip! We had actually a back-up 24 hours which we never had to use because everything was so perfectly planned!
So we can definitely recommend Ker & Downey and definitely Sarah Morris if you want to have a perfect arrangement for your Journey !!!
For reviews regarding the lodgings and hotels Pls see Trip Advisor!!!
US
Email Bonnie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip of our lives!
I chose Ker & Downey to help us plan our African safari after hours of online research comparing the different safari outfits and reviewing their tours. I absolutely chose the right company and Kayleigh, our "Adventurist" who helped us, was amazing in her attention to detail to ensure we had the trip of our lives. Nothing was overlooked, from the airport transfers to the suggestions of what we should be sure to do at each location and lodge. She presented us with three options in different price ranges and then changed things as requested. My husband told her this was our honeymoon - after 29 years of marriage - and she passed this on to each lodge where we stayed. One lodge had a bubble bath set up for us with candles lit when we returned from an evening game drive, and another one had a lovely candlelight dinner away from camp and under the stars of the Milky Way. These experiences were wonderful and meaningful beyond belief and added immeasurably to our enjoyment of this trip. I cannot recommend Ker & Downey and especially Kayleigh enough, they will help you plan the safari of your dreams. One thing we did was have a balance between actual safari and site-seeing. We were in Cape Town for four days where we saw Table Mountain, the winelands, and the cape area; then Lion Sands Narina Lodge where we saw Sabi Sands Game Preserve and part of Kruger National Park; then the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe; and finally, two areas in Botswana, the Savute and the Okavango Delta. This was utterly perfect for us, a stellar blend of game drives to see the wildlife and the tours to see incredible natural wonders. Kayleigh at Ker & Downey did a masterful job coordinating all of the transfers between countries - we were so glad to have people meet us and usher us through Customs and Immigration. Trust me, Ker & Downey will help you plan a memorable trip and will see that every last detail is covered so that you can remain worry-free. We are in love with Africa now and I know we will return. We will not hesitate to use Ker & Downey and Kayleigh again in our future travels.
Reply from Ker & Downey Africa
Posted on Jun 25, 2019Hi Bonnie
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We are thrilled you had an amazing time! I know Kayleigh was just as excited as you planning this trip. We hope to see you back in the near future!
CO
Email Juan Pablo Assmus | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ker & Downey Africa are over the top of my traveling experiences.
First Thank you to Emma Perrin which was perfect and super patience with me and my hundreds of questions. She always respond and help us planning our Safari in a perfect way. She designed every single detail and beyond of our safari experience.
Emma help me to design a complex safari trip with many flights, road trips and safari timings so we do not missed any second and with Ker & Downey Africa works like a Swiss clock. One day we had a safari drive in the morning in one lodge but at the afternoon drive we had to be in a different one and we did it, was perfect, we do not want to loose any chance to get amazing photographs from our trip.
As photographers timing is everything, with Emma and Ker & Downey Africa we did not get blurred at any second.
I asked to Emma for one specific lodge and she booked that one for us, plus she select 2 others which make our experience perfect because every single place was so different from the others, and for a photographer that was a plus because I got a chance to photograph animals in different conditions.
I live in the other side of the world, so communication was complicated, but Emma was always helping me with my questions and comments so she return my e-mails with the perfect plan.
English is not our native language so she also was patience with me in this aspect, We are so grateful to Emma and Ker & Downey Africa for our perfect safari trip.
We return home with so many amazing stories about, hyenas, cheetahs, elephants, lodges, people, food, flights, etc... and all of them are positive.
I think there is no way go wrong with Ker & Downey Africa, to book online you always get suspected but at the end I am so happy that we did everything with them and we had no bad experiences. It is sad for me to read reviews of other travelers that go to Africa and after all that time and money they return home with bitter things of they experience. As I said... you can't go wrong with Emma and K&D Africa.
CA
Email Elise | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The perfect first safari tour !!!
We had the perfect luxventure in South Africa, thank you to Ker & Downey!
From the beginning they were friendly,attentive at our demand, making sure that every part of our adventure was tighly link.
They assit us in finding great resto and organised perfect day tour in the wine region and in CapeTown.
The highlight of our safari was our four nights in RockFig Lodge in Timbavati private reserve. The lodge and his suites,the warm welcoming staff, the great ranger and tracker and the wildlife was extraordinary!I will never forget those breakfast in the bush, those sundowner at the waterhole with buffalos,elephants and the sunset, the apero around de firepit and the elephants that came to dring derectly in the pool while we where having dinner under the stars. I would recommand Ker&Downey to anyone . They offert a great service,communication was always fast and easy.
CH
Email Amira Berzi | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very attentive to our wishes and needs and very personable.
Communication with Sarah Morris at Ker & Downey was extremely comfortable and helpful from the first time she contacted me. She arranged an itinerary for us according to our needs which fit perfectly and she adjusted for our feedback on the first suggested itinerary very well. The whole trip was a wonderful experience and very memorable in large part thanks to the good organisation and perfect choices for accommodation, transport and pace of trip. The whole team was attentive to us before and during the trip and made us feel very well taken care of. I could not recommend anyone better to organise a trip to Namibia.
CA
Email Suzanne P | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Sarah and Peter from Ker & Downey looked after us from start to finish
We were very happy with Ker & Downey and will definitely deal with them again for any future safari adventures. All of our logistical and other worries were speedily dealt with by the Ker & Downey team. They organized a spectacular 12-day safari adventure for the three of us that took us to three different camps. Our safari in Botswana exceeded any and all of our expectations. We were fortunate to be upgraded all the way and enjoyed a very high level of personalized service and attention throughout our holiday. We had no problems travelling despite Covid restrictions and felt very safe and secure at all times.
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Email Teri | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
High School Graduation Trip
Our 19 & 19 year old granddaughters chose a trip to Africa as their destination. They graduated June 2022 and we started planning the trip with Sarah a year before our departure. I have been to Africa many times before and really wanted to see the migration of the wildebeests in Tanzania to Kenya. So the trip was designed around that request. The girls wanted to see Giraffes and Hernias. We were successful and saw our requests. My husband is a photographer and he was able to shot wonderful pictures on our 11 day trip.
We were taken care of from the moment we landed to the time we had to say good bye to Africa.
We experienced 5 different camps and each one offered a different look at Africa.
Sarah and Peter were always available before our trip and had everything mapped out for us.
The transfers from camp to camp went very smoothly and we were always with a guide to help us with our luggage and get us to where we were going next.
The camps were able to take care of our dietary needs as one of our granddaughters is a vegetarian .
All in all our trip was a memory our granddaughters will always carry with them
As a side note I have used Ker & Downey 4 times now.
US
Email Phil Tague | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best organized trip that my well-traveled family has ever experienced.
I've had the good fortune of traveling many times to most continents over the last 50 years. I use travel consultants about 1/2 of the time and plan trips myself the other half. I had never been on a safari before and chose Ker & Downey based on the recommendation of a friend of my daughter who also came on the trip. Our group had 5 family members. I would be happy to expound on the trip in detail if anyone would like to know more. However, Ker & Downey Africa (Terri-Ann Sholtz in particular) planned and organized perhaps the best trip of our lives. Every means of travel was timely, efficient and above expectations. The drivers/pilots/escorts were uniformly courteous, knowledgeable, on time, and conscious of any special needs we had. The lodges and hotels were also above expectations. With respect to the lodges, the hosts/hostesses were similarly knowledgeable, caring, and meticulous. Every lodge and hotel had rooms, amenities, wifi and other features exactly as described by K & D. In addition, the food and drink provided at the lodges was superb. Our trip was 2 weeks in length with half being at safari lodges and half being in other parts of South Africa. We received substantial information from K & D about both legs of the trip that made our experience fulfilling, predictable and very gratifying. Almost all of our interaction was with Ms. Scholtz. She planned and caused to be executed a flawless plan. I would recommend her and K & D to anyone, no matter what the age, size of group, or area of interests. Both Terri-Ann and K & D are very special service providers.
Email Alet | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ker and Downey Africa exceeded our expectations by sending us to the best camps and lodges in SA.
Ker and Downey Africa organised a stunning trip for my family in South Africa. The lodges and camps we visited were on point with our needs. The hospitality at Tsala Tree Top Lodge and Gorah Elephant park actually blew our minds. The spectacular romantic and private settings make them fit for a perfect hideaway for couples or anyone that needs to feed the soul.
We were treated like royalty on arrival and throughout out stay. The staff were geniune, friendly and attentive without being intrusive.
Staying at the level of the treetops at Tsala created a feeling of mystery and remoteness. Dinner at Tsala was intimate and the food was excellent. Attention to detail was noticable at all times. I especially loved the handwritten notes at bedtime and the sweet treat.
Gorah did not fail to impress us even after our fantastic experience at Tsala. One again, the attention to detail, the excellent food and service at dinner were admirable.
The game drives at Gorah were unforgettable - we were provided hot water bottles, ponchos and blankets for the early morning drives. To be so close to the majestic elephants, magnificent lions, herds of buffaloes, zebras, warthogs and other species was an impeccable experience.
The roar of lions at night added a very rare and special dimension to this luxurious experience in the wild. As we left Gorah we were entertained by a group of mischievous monkeys playing on the roof of the lodge that left us smiling although we regret having to leave.
Thank you Ker and Downey Africa for choosing this amazing itenary for us, for the excellent communication and faultless organizing.
I will happily recommend anyone looking for an experience of a lifetime to make use of your expertise.