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 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 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 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 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!
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 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 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.
Email Jenifer Roth-Magar | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exciting and action packed,John Cooper what a amazing holiday could not fault anything.
The service at each park we stayed in was such high quality,the food the staff and the accommodations were the best I have ever been in.
Johns knowledge in Africa was outstanding,we were in Zimbabwe,Botswana and Nabia and I can't wait to do it all again with African Adventures Safari Company.
Email Sonia and gordon muir | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Living an African dream with jovial John the expert tour guide with flair and knowledge!
An African trip of a life time - exceeded expectations
We travelled with John Cooper's African adventures in May 2017 for a three week fully escorted safari through Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Both countries delivered amazing opportunities to experience Africa and exceeded our expectations.
We are not usually tour people but truly John's tours are so professionally run, customised to meet time constraints, specific needs and budgets. He provides excellent briefing newsletters and always answers question so you are well prepared before you take off.
Our tour was intimate with only four other people two of whom had travelled to Africa with John before (I think this is a resounding endorsement for his tours).
We often felt less like tourists but more like a group of friends traveling together.
John takes care of just about everything, has insider knowledge and so much is included there were no hidden surprises only extra options if you wanted.
The accommodation he sourced provided us with a range of experiences including some mind blowing luxury.
We had the most amazing time. John knows Southern Africa inside out and upside down. He is a font of knowledge and negotiated with authorities as required which was comforting and knows where to go to maximise you exposure to animals. We saw the big 5 which is always a dream of anyone going to Africa as this is not guaranteed.
We highly recommend African adventures to anyone wanting to go to Africa without the stress of figuring out out where to go, where to stay and what to do. It was indeed value for money.