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
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 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!
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Email Geraldine P. Wallach | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was remarkable due to personal care, attention to detail, and astute diversity and choices made.
This trip with the amazing Joh Cooper was beyond expectations. John knows how to make a trip memorable so that it becomes the "trip of a lifetime." From his pre-trip e-mails, through his personal attention during the trip, to his post follow-ups, the entire experience was outstanding. John chose excellent accommodations that gave us an authentic experience in the bush and beyond. The sequencing of the trip including "side-trips" to Dullstroom and then to Victoria Falls were well placed to give the group a "break" from the bush. The "experts" John arranged for us to meet and interact with (e.g., Ian for the rhino tracking) were superb as were all of our local rangers/guides. Every need was met including food preferences and times spent in each location. This safari was superb and much "richer" than others that I have heard about. John encouraged our group (four Americans and four Australians) to communicate with one another before the trip which was a terrific idea. The people we travelled with (two couples we did not before the trip) became fast friends. John knows how to form cohesive groups which, again, contributed to the trip's success. Every step of the way, John "made it happen!" He orchestrated the three weeks to perfection and we could not ask for anything more. It was beyond excellent in every way! Bravo, John. We would book with him again without any hesitation and will recommend his company to others! Dr. Geraldine P. Wallach, Corona del Mar, California, USA.
Email Dick Johnstone | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
John Cooper's schedule and accomplishment is superlative!!
Excellence in every segment has characterised our recent journey with John Cooper of African Adventures. For three weeks his introductory tour brought us up close to a fabulous and diverse selection of regions, habitats and accommodation in southern Africa. John's access to some of the prime private concessions within the National Parks ensured that the only crowds were the free running animals. And as two of four Australian guests we made a fabulous and fun loving team with two very special American couples. Looking back, we would not wish to change anything.
John, we salute you!
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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 Jess M | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible
I've been lucky enough to travel with John twice now and loved both trips. First trip was from Victoria Falls down through Hwange National Park, Bulawayo and into Kruger National Park. Second trip was through Namibia across to Victoria Falls. John has this infectious love of Africa and its history. Every location we visited was because it had spectacular views or the ability to get up close for animal viewing. Absolutely incredible trip - I can't wait to go back. John is a great host full of stories and experiences and wouldnt travel to Africa without him there. John travels in small groups in air conditioned vehicles and knows his way around. Highlights for me were Africat in Namibia and Nehimba Lodge in Hwange National Park. Two spectacular locations for animal viewing.
Email John R | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Seeing the places I wanted to see, the way I wanted to see them
This was the second adventure that I had been on with this company. I wanted to see something different even though it was hard to imagine a better selection than I had seen first time. Before the trip, I was well informed by a series of emails on all aspects of African travel. We even had a meeting of the group to get to know each other.
I was away for 5 weeks and the trip covered over 6000kms from Capetown in South Africa up the West Coast of Africa - Namibia, Botswana and I finished in Vic Falls, Zimbabwe. On a trip this long there were many unexpected events - some good such as rare animal sightings -pangolin, black rhino and more, and some not so good such as being bumped from a planned stop for some reason. In every case, John Cooper was able to use his knowledge and contacts to obtain an alternate of equal or better quality.
The group was generally under 10 people - some joined and left- and this enabled a very flexible itinerary to take advantage of local conditions or special sightings. The trip was planned to limit the number of long drives and where possible to stay an extra day or two in interesting locations.
This was another once in a lifetime experience for my wife and I made possible by African Adventures and in particular John Cooper.
Email John R | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A life-changing experience
Having read books on Africa and heard the stories for over 60 years, finally I had the chance to experience it. Absolutely fantastic - the people, the animals , the landscapes and all bought together in a compact form by John Cooper and African Adventures. A series of emails prior to the trip help set the scene and make sure we were prepared for the excitment to come.
My trip was just two weeks and started in Harare, Zimbabwe travelling to Great Zimbabwe, Matobo Hills, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls and finally Chobe River in Botswana. The adventure started slowly allowing participants to feel the atmosphere - then the tempo increased -the animals got bigger -more dangerous - as we were able walk among elephants, rhino, and also view from bunkers as they visited the water hole. Vic Falls was a welcome break and allowed a few days shopping interspersed with helicopter flights over the falls and sunset cruises on the Zambezi.
Finally the tour reached its' climax -Chobe River and floating amongst the animals in the Pangolin Safari photographic boats. This is certainly not the cheapest safari but the money is well spent in getting to the best spots and having the flexibility of a small group tour. John was most attentive and ensured each persons needs were taken into account with his planning and tour delivery.
I am looking forward to going back
Email Sue Johnston | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable African photographic safari adventure
My sister and I had the good fortune to go on a photographic safari in 2016 with African Adventures Safari Company, led John Cooper, through John Ralph’s Camera House at Erina, NSW. We had an amazing safari. This was my second trip to Africa and John Cooper’s intimate knowledge of all things African – history, geography, wildlife, politics (as well as border-crossing protocol!) – added to our appreciation of all the regions we visited, from Cape Town up through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. John always went out of his way to ensure his guests were happy, comfortable and safe; he accommodated his guests’ requests with grace (especially those like me with not-so-normal dietary requirements); and his good humour was an added bonus. We travelled with like-minded companions and had lots of laughs along the way. One of the best aspects of the trip was that we weren’t rushed (no 5 am starts!) and we had plenty of time to explore. Apart from the Big 5 and usual African safari wildlife, we had the good fortune to encounter wild dogs, a pangolin and an aardwolf, and I finally achieved my goal of capturing wonderful images of elephants and hippos against the African sunset. The lodges were clean and comfortable, and the meals excellent, but it would be hard to beat The Fort at Onguma, bordering on Etosha National Park, for an amazing luxury safari experience. I would definitely recommend AASC for an unforgettable African safari.
Email Bryan and Joan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best 60th Birthday trip ever!!
In September, 2016, my wife Joan and I embarked on a bespoke Safari trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana organised and accompanied by John Cooper, Owner and managing Director of the African Adventure Safari Company. After months of research, emails and discussions with John, who remained extremely patient during the whole process, my wife finally confirmed the venues that we wanted to visit and John completed the rest of the planning process, leaving us only flights to book from and back to Perth Australia to Zimbabwe (Bulawayo) and from Botswana (Maun).
John proved to be a rather remarkable guide and travelling companion and we became good friends during the trip. He “sold” our safari to another Australian couple, Karen and Julius from Gosford NSW, who joined us on the trip, in order to keep costs down. They were really lovely and their company really made our holiday something special.
Our trip started with a flight to Johannesburg and then onto Bulawayo where we were met off the plane by John, who had previously picked up Karen and Julius a day earlier in South Africa. At this stage I informed John of my heart problem and from then on nothing, and I mean nothing, was too much trouble for him. I could not have been in better hands! So we started the trip proper with a lovely lunch at the Bulawayo Club that was followed by a few hour’s drive to our first stop, the Big Cave Camp in the Matabo Hills region for 2 nights. From there we drove to a railway station a few hour’s away to catch the Elephant Express to Bomani Camp in the Hwange Game Reserve for 3 nights, leaving by the same means to move onto the Lokathula Lodge in Victoria Falls for 3 nights. From Vic Falls we drove into Botswana to visit the Chobe Game Reserve on the Chobe River for 3 nights, then flew from Kasane to a bush landing strip on the Okovango Delta for a drive to our final destination, Kana Kara Camp for 3 nights. Departing Kana Kara by light plane for Maun, then onto Johannesburg and back to Perth WA, completed the return trip.
John is a really nice guy, garrulous and informed with a great repertoire of stories and jokes! He is very knowledgeable about all things African and calmly negotiated our way through various police checks, roadblocks and customs border crossings with his easy going friendly manner. He also had a great network of contacts at the various lodges and camps and was clearly a well-respected tour operator. We would unequivocally recommend John and his company to anyone wishing to experience a Southern African safari. We intend to return at some stage in the near future and will be using John once again as our guide.
In conclusion, Joan and I differ in our thoughts as to what was the best venue on the trip, Bomani in Hwange or Kana Kara in the Okavango. It is so hard to choose between them. For me the addition of lots of water at Kana Kara and the Lions made it special. For Joan the variety of game and the proximity of the lodge waterhole and all that it brought, as well as the quality of the food and accommodation tilted the balance in favour of Bomani. Needless to say we would return to both tomorrow!!!!
FYI, we thought Chobe came in third and well worth doing, followed by Big Cave (interesting and worth doing for the Rhinos) and then Vic Falls, where two nights would have been sufficient.
John, thanks again for a great time and a fantastic trip. You are a legend, man! Always happy to be contacted by prospective clients.