John Cooper (Coop) owner of African Adventures
African Adventures Safari Company
- Located In:
-
Australia
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $206 to $950 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Jo Ann and Sean | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the most fantastic trips we have ever taken due in large part to John Cooper's organization.
This three week trip was more than we could have expected. Pre trip communications were wonderful and well prepared us, answering all of our questions and more. The trip was organized to give us a magnificent variety of places with a perfect blend of accommodations and experiences. John Cooper seemed to anticipate what we needed before we did. Enjoyed all the places we stayed. People, sights, animals, food - all memorable. We haven't stopped talking about it.
Email Vivian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I Can't Wait to Go Back
My trip was my first to Africa and it was so much more than I expected. We spent most of the trip in Namibia where I felt very safe the whole time. John’s knowledge of the area was invaluable and his attention to detail ensured our trip was relaxing and well organised! I’m already planning my next trip with John!
Email Jess Newton | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable
Words cannot describe just how amazing my trip was! John did an absolute stella job! The entire trip was well organised and the accommodation was first class. John's local knowledge was invaluable and resulted in our tour group having the best possible experience. I can't wait to go back!
Email Scotney | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Memorable, Spectacular, Exciting, Felt like a King, We'll be back!!!
I have been fortunate to be to southern Africa with Coop on four occasions (my wife twice). Each trip has been unique and memorable!!! Coop does all the little extras which you do not get with a large tour company. His expertise and knowledge of southern Africa is top notch! We will be definitely back for another tour with Coop!
Coop specicalises in small tour groups so why not get a few mates together and have your own personalised tour!!
If you love elephants then try to spend a couple of nights at Nehimba Lodge in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe you won't be disappointed!!
Email Lew | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great trip with an experienced and friendly owner-operator who ensured we did all the highlights.
Communications and service were excellent. We were able to communicate with John (email/phone) before the trip to clarify any matters. John went to great lengths to ensure our trip was fuss free. The tour from Cape Town, SA, along the W coast of Namibia, to Botswana, (Caprivi strip) and ending in Victoria Falls covered all the main points of interest and animal sightings, plus a few bonuses. The accomodation was, for the main, boutique style. Always interesting and comfortable. John was friendly and accomodating to our needs.
Email Heather Ferguson | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A small group, personal, hands-on experience safari with an excellent tour leader and many animals!
Our 3 week safari tour with John Cooper was really excellent. The group was small, as promised, and John accompanied us everywhere and personally guided us, gave us heaps of information and advice. His accommodation choices were very good and the local on-site game drives were beyond our expectations. John went out of his way to accommodate each person's wishes and needs and there were no hidden costs or surprise expenses. The game parks, and the camps we stayed in, in Zimbabwe were particularly good - we would go back there again! John's information and personal communication leading up to the safari departure were always timely and helpful. We would definitely choose African Adventures Safari Company for a future safari and also recommend it to friends.
Email Roz, Tasmania | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This was my second trip with John, going through South Africa, Namimbia and Botswana. I'd go again!!
After comparing my safari with AASC with other companies, ...there is no comparison. Every detail is attended to by John and "nothing is too much trouble". Very well organised, and always helpful and kind.
His knowledge is vast on all of Southern Africa and I observed that he was well liked and respected by local bureaucracies ...eg borders etc. He has an excellent knowledge of animals, towns and folklore.
I will be going again with him.
Email Jane | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The most touching, life changing holiday ever
My husband & I spent two wonderful weeks traveling with Coop in 2010. We had an original meeting with him and discussed the kind of safari we were interested in and Coop followed that perfectly and developed our ideal itinerary. We went to South Africa and Zimbabwe with a mix of rustic and luxury. Throughout the two weeks Coop was always a wealth of information, a guide, a friend, an excited companion and an enabler. It is because of Coop and all that Africa has to offer that we had the most enjoyable and touching holiday of our lives. We can't wait to do it again, this time with our daughter.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Adventure
Our trip with African Adventures Safari Company was just amazing. We stayed in wonderful accommodation, met interesting people and saw so many different animals, some I knew, some I had never heard of and if we missed any I don't know what they were. We were a very lucky group. John is fantastic, very organised, very knowledgeable about all thing African especially their laws which did help at times. We all felt very safe in his hands. We were with him through Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia, however, my husband and I went to Cape Town at the end of our tour and John also recommended a wonderful place to stay there also. I have no hesitation is recommending John as your guide is Africa and should we be lucky enough to go again he will be the first person we will call.
A fabulous 29 day safari with Africian Adventures Safari experiencing Lodges, wildlife and more.
In August 2014, my wife Maureen and I organised a 29 day private Southern African Safari with John Cooper of African Adventures Safari Company to travel to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and return to South Africa . We asked a couple of friends to join us and together with a help of our tour leader John, we managed to arrange a great itinerary, a group of 6 terrific participants (3 couples) and a date that suited all of us (this was one of the hardest parts to be arranged).
With the basics out of the way it was then a matter of us booking our flights and arranging any additional tours we wanted to do on completion of our planned safari tour.
For us, the trip was one of the best holidays we had ever experienced. The tour was ably led by John Cooper who shared a wealth of knowledge of the people, the countries we visited, the native animals and birdlife as well as the history of Southern Africa. We stayed in the most magnificent safari camps from extremely up market to some that were basic but covered all our needs right in the middle of some of the best Southern African game parks.
Some of standout activities for us included:
• Being met by the smiling welcoming face of John at the Johannesburg International airport and being whisked away to the delightful and safe African Sky Lodge located close to the airport but without the airport noise;
• Staying for 2 nights at Meno A Kwena Lodge. This truly was most impressive accommodation in which to stay. The individual sleeping quarters were perched on top of a low mountain overlooking the Boteti River which teemed with wild life particularly in the evening when they came down to drink. Our quarters included a tented bedroom with a covered service area for sitting and relaxing and for making teas and coffee as well as an area for shaving and hand washing. The shower area was separate, uncovered and it viewed the whole valley whilst the toilet area was covered and had a huge array of memorabilia and artefacts. Hot water was provided on request at any time. The main dining area included a table for about 20 where the guests joined the staff for a scrumptious dinner prepared by the local staff. There was a large open fire where the hot water was prepared and where we could gather for a relaxing ‘Sundowner” - enjoying good company, great views and beautiful ambiance.
• Chobe Safari Lodge was also a stand out as the accommodation was excellent. We stayed in a large lodge that had a balcony that overlooked herds of elephants, hippopotamus and water buffalo grazing on the river grasses. We got up close and personal to these magnificent animals when we did an afternoon/evening boat trip on the river. The stay at Chobe also included two tours into the Chobe/Kasane Game Park where we witnessed female lions teaching their young to track and follow a herd of water buffalo whilst the male watched on. A truly unique experience.
• Another destination was Big Cave Lodge. We arrived amongst the rocks at the parking area for Big Cave Lodge and soon had a 4 wheel drive appear from around the rocks to take us up to the Lodge. The Lodge was spectacular as it is perched on the rock face and built into the rocks with tall vaulted ceilings and walls that exposed the rock as a huge natural feature. Our accommodation was a separate rock hut on the side of the hill face overlooking the valley below. Big Cave Lodge adjoins the Matobo Hills National Park and is ideal for spotting White and Black Rhino. One of our tours took us into the park where we managed to get extremely close to a heard of white Rhino. It was simply magic.
• To round of our safari, we spent quite a few days at various lodges in Kruger National Park. Kruger is one of the best known Game Reserves in Southern Africa and is home to most of the animals to be found in those parts. The accommodation varied between each of the camping areas and included Safari tents, Rondavels and huts. We stayed in three camps which each had a program of evening safari tours. The highlight was our guide finding a lion eating its kill of Water Buffalo on our evening safari from Satara Camp.
• We also enjoyed time on a House Boat on the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls by helicopter, walking with the lions, riding an elephant, visiting the old city of Great Zimbabwe and many more excellent activities.
All in all, it was a fabulous trip and the notes above do not do it justice as they are only a small record of what we did during our time on our African Adventures Safari. The weather was great, the company excellent, activities brilliant and the attention to detail by our tour leader John - superb.
We would highly recommend John Cooper and the African Adventures Safari Company to anyone who is interested in exploring the real untamed area of Southern Africa.