Xaa Safaris Directors
Xaa Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- HATAB & BOGA
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Mid-range)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
BE
Email Laura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing safari with a wonderful team, it exceeded all our expectations!
I highly recommend Xaa Safaris and the “10-day classic safari tour with Victoria Falls” we went on with them in July. They were very responsive and more than happy to adapt the program to suit our wishes, and the team was really professional, attentive and gave their everything to ensure we had a great time. Our first stop was Victoria Falls, where we stayed at Pamarah Lodge (I really recommend it!) and had a couple of days to discover the area. The Falls were breathtaking, we had a go at bungee-jumping and we enjoyed cruising along the Zambezi river at sunset.
They then took us to Botswana, to begin the safari part of our trip, which was a once in a lifetime experience. We camped for 6 nights, first in Savuti, then in Khwai and finally in the Okavango Delta. Each area was very different, Savuti was quite arid, Khwai was much lusher and the Delta was a maze of canals. The tents were roomy and well set-up, with ensuite bathrooms, and you felt safe and cosy in your bed while hearing the lions roar outside at night. With that and the delicious food prepared by Kempo, we felt we were staying at a 5-star hotel, only better! Kempo’s food was excellent – tasty and varied, and it was all the more impressive for being cooked on a woodfire. I still remember the warm bread rolls, fresh out of the “oven”. Kenny and KB completed the logistics team and were really welcoming and professional. The camp was always set up when we arrived, they welcomed us with a smile, a nice chat and some warm water, and did a great job of anticipating and accommodating all our needs and wants.
The first 4 days of the safari we had the luck of having Titi as our guide. He was really knowledgeable, friendly and made sure to adapt the program of the day to our rhythm. Aside from driving around with him during the day, we also enjoyed great long conversations with him and with Gape at dinner time and around the fire. We had a great time getting to know them, learning about Botswana and talking about many different things.
Thanks to Titi, we learned a lot about the fauna and the flora of the areas we visited. Furthermore, he was very respectful of animals, he didn’t harass them and gave them their space, but we were still able to see many animals from up close. We were lucky enough to see a lion and a lioness sleeping under some bushes, only a couple of meters away, as well as a leopard, who was preparing to hunt. Thanks to his perseverance in tracking animals, we also saw a group of hyenas and another group of African wild painted dogs, both with cubs. Elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, impalas, steenbok, zebras, coyotes, pumbas... and loads of birds, including the lilac breasted roller, the African jacana, the “go-away” bird… - it would be a long list if we wanted to name all the animals we saw. We did not only see animals during our drives, but also while we were at camp. We woke up to discover hyena tracks by our tents, an elephant passed by while we were having breakfast, we said our good-nights with many eyes looking at us in the dark (from a herd of zebras)…
We then switched the jeep for mokoros, and went off into the canals of the Okavango Delta with our mokoro guides, Freddy and Luke. Here we were also very lucky to have knowledgeable and friendly guides who showed us around, made sure we avoided the hippos and crocodiles and helped us discover the wonders of the Delta, by boat and on foot. It was such a calm and restful experience to glide silently on the water, in between the reeds. It was also great to be able to walk around with our guides and discover the area in a different way.
We then sadly had to part ways with the team of Xaa safaris, who dropped us off at Maun to continue our journey. We hadn’t known what to expect, as it was our first safari, but it surpassed our expectations. It was a definite luxury to have such a lovely and professional team taking care of the 4 of us and it was worth every penny. We would like to thank you all and we hope to see you again !
DE
Email Anja | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional handling, flexible, customer oriented
I had booked the 9-day classic safari tour through Savuti, Khwai and the Okavango Delta, with the first 2 nights in Victoria Falls. The whole organization of the tour went very well, and the safari was a truly great experience to remember.
I was a solo female traveler and felt well protected and looked after by the crew: Ranger, an experienced guide and driver and good company to spend a safari day with, George, not only a good cook, but also a gifted baker who miraculously baked all kinds of delicious things in his „oven“ over the woodfire, and the two camphands Luke and KB who were never tired working in camp and making sure everything was ready on time and my stay was pleasant. The team was flexible with regards to my requests - be it how to spend the day or change the itinerary or with regards to setting up the camp.
I had a very comfy spacious tent with an en-suite bathroom and loved hearing the lions roar and hyeanas howl at night and watching the elephants strolling through the campsite in Khwai during the day. I even encountered an elephant drinking out of a my wash basin while I was inside the tent! We saw lions a few times, came across a pack of wild dogs and a bat eared fox couple and had a great leopard sighting where we could spend quite some time with the animal. Apart from that we enjoyed spotting many gracious giraffes, a lot of hippos and elephants. It was good fun and excitement to track lion, leopard or hyaena.
Thanks to Xaa Safaris and the crew for truly memorable, exciting and fun days in the bush!
Reply from Xaa Safaris
Posted on Oct 14, 2024Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a memorable and enjoyable experience on our 9-day classic safari through Savuti, Khwai, and the Okavango Delta. It’s great to know that you felt well taken care of by our team—Ranger, George, Luke, and KB are truly passionate about what they do, and they will be delighted to hear your kind words!
We’re especially pleased that you enjoyed the flexibility of the itinerary and the comfort of your tent, as well as those thrilling encounters with wildlife. It sounds like you had some unforgettable moments, from watching elephants stroll through the camp to that amazing leopard sighting!
We’re grateful you chose Xaa Safaris for your adventure, and we hope to welcome you back to the bush for more exciting and fun days in the future.
CH
Email Manfred | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible once in a lifetime experience
I enquired about this 9-day-tour on a short term notice, just one week before it started, and the detailed offer came instantly and well prepared, so I booked. And everything worked out to my absolute satisfaction, starting with the airport pick-up and transfer to the first lodge, and then all the way to the last day.
I was stunned to find out that I was the only guest, and instead of cancelling the tour, Xaa Safaris realized the trip just with me! So I found myself with a safari car, a driver/ranger, 3 wonderful camp hands - one of them a chef, who each day miraculously produced the most wonderful food in the midst of the bush - and a local guide in the Okavango-Delta for spectacular walking safaris. Wherever we arrived, the tents (with open-air shower and toilet), the kitchen and the eating canopy were put up in no time, while I was taken on a sunset-safari-drive. When we returned, the fire in the middle of the camp was burning, tea and dinner was ready and we had the most wonderful chats together.
Each day began with an overwhelming sunrise drive at around 6am, which was followed by a rich breakfast/lunch and a siesta during the hot hours, and ended with a sunset-safari at around 4pm, when most animals are out from their hiding spots. And not to forget the tasty dinners at nightfall. The driver was an experienced track reader and had no problems to find ALL the animals, even twice a leopard absolutely close to us. My emotions soared into the sky.
Spending 6 nights (2 nights per park) in tents in the bush, with a giraffe feeding nearby and being surrounded with all the sounds of night animals is so different to staying in a lodge, if you are the adventurous character. I can honestly say that not 1 second did I feel endangered, because I was in such competent hands, who, for example, surrounded the camp each night with a circle of candles.
Driving on sandy roads for the transfer from one park to the other was the most strenuous part and is not recommended if you suffer from car sickness. But this is what Botswanan road are - nature tracks and you might encounter elephant crossings more than once. It was a fantastic journey I will not forget all my life - thank you so much, Xaa Safaris, I am very grateful!
Reply from Xaa Safaris
Posted on Sep 27, 2024Wow! Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and heartfelt review of your 9-day tour with us. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your last-minute booking worked out to your complete satisfaction and that you had such a memorable experience with Xaa Safaris.
We are incredibly proud that our team was able to make your solo safari not only possible but enjoyable and unforgettable. It is our goal to ensure that each guest feels cared for, and your kind words about the team, including our driver/ranger, camp hands, chef, and local guide, truly mean the world to us. We're delighted that you enjoyed the beauty of the sunrise and sunset drives, the delicious bush meals, and the close encounters with the incredible wildlife.
Your adventurous spirit really shone through as you embraced camping in the bush, and we’re glad you felt safe and well looked after, even with nature’s sounds all around. We appreciate your understanding of the terrain, and you’re absolutely right—Botswana’s wild and raw roads are all part of the adventure!
Thank you again for trusting us with your safari experience, and for your wonderful review. We are grateful to have been a part of such a fantastic journey for you, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure in the future.
US
Email Esther | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Experienced Caring Guides and Staff provided an amazing Safari adventure
This was my first trip to Botswana for work and I extended my time so i could take a Safari. Xaa Safaris came highly recommended. I was a woman traveling by myself so safety and attentive staff were important along with seeing the natural beauty of the landscape and of course seeing the animals up close in the wild was an awe inspiring experience. The Guides were first rate and it was a source of pride to them make sure I saw and experienced as much as possible. The chef did an outstanding job of preparing delicious meals with a simple camping setup. I was so impressed by each member. The memories they helped to create are embedded in my mind and heart forever. I would highly recommend Xaa Safaris
Reply from Xaa Safaris
Posted on Sep 27, 2024Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review of your experience with Xaa Safaris. It was our absolute pleasure to host you on your first trip to Botswana, and we are delighted to know that you felt safe, well-cared for, and fully immersed in the beauty of the landscape and wildlife.
We take great pride in ensuring that every guest enjoys a personalized and memorable adventure, and it’s wonderful to hear that our guides, chef, and staff were able to exceed your expectations. We’re especially pleased that the attention to detail and passion of our team left a lasting impression on you.
Your recommendation means the world to us, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of your unforgettable journey. Should you decide to return to Botswana in the future, we would love to welcome you back for another adventure!
Email Jen Ussi | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional, exceptional service and an amazing campsite.
We had the most amazing 2 night trip on the banks of the river in the Delta. The campsite was perfect clamping. Food by Amos the chef was exceptional. All the staff were friendly and professional. Our guide, Oros, was knowledgeable and we saw everything from hippos to lions and elephants. We learnt a lot about both the flora and fauna from him. The mokoro cruises were fab. Definitely worth doing this trip with this company, we absolutely over it.
Reply from Xaa Safaris
Posted on Sep 27, 2024Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you had an amazing two-night trip with us along the river in the Delta. It's fantastic to know that you enjoyed the "glamping" experience and that Amos, our chef, provided exceptional meals. We are also pleased that our staff's friendliness and professionalism stood out during your stay.
Oros will be delighted to hear your kind words about his guiding expertise. It's always a joy for us when guests leave with not just memories of wildlife like hippos, lions, and elephants, but also a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna in the Delta. We're glad you had a great time on the mokoro cruises, and we're grateful for your recommendation.
Email Raul | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Xaa Safari Experience.
I embarked on a five-day journey, they picked me up from Kasene and proceeding to Savuti, where I explored rock paintings and encountered abundant birdlife and wildlife. The food, tents, and vehicles were all superb, and our ranger was an excellent storyteller. This guy receptor had a knack for humor in storytelling.
CN
Email Derek WU | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We exceeding all our expectations! We saw many aspects of Botswana’s amazing flora and fauna .
My wife and I travelled as a private tour on a 6 day tour in Okavango Delta ,starting at Maun, through Khwai Concession, Mababe Gate and Savuti National Park, the safari itself was absolutely amazing –
Xaa Safaris provided fabulous service from start to finish. After explaining what I was looking for in a safari trip, and my approximate budget, I receivedcorresponding quotation quickly. In additional, due to issues with airlines (Air Botswana temporarily canceled our flight without warning), we had to communicate with Xaa Safaris and modify the itinerary repeatedly. The owner, Mrs Nobantu, was very patient and efficient in helping us solve everything. We got a private vehicle for 6 days, Our tour guides & driver Range were patient, knowledgeable and planned each safari carefully. Range is the best safari guide we could have imagined – he has a huge knowledge on so many aspects of the safari animals and nature, and his great experience and patience in searching also for the rare animals made us see essentially almost of them!!!
We were fortunate to have spectacular views of the delta for a couple of days. Savuti National Park was magical in its own way with animals wandering past mornings and evenings elephants enjoying their happiness and tranquility by the pond. Kenny and his support team also made a lot effort, They provided us with clean and hygienic food and beverage. While we left camp and started tracking animals, they’d begun to disassemble the tents and equipment, then transported to the new campsite. When we got back to the new camping site at night, everything had been rearranged already... The tents the portable toilet, up to the bucket showers – were nice and convenient.
Our animal sightings also included many elephants, lions , cheetahs, wild dogs, impalas, hippopotamus, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest crocodiles to name a few and many different birds,, and even we saw a hyena in the evening of the last day. We exceeding all our expectations! We saw many aspects of Botswana’s amazing flora and fauna and experienced it.
Communication with Xaa Safaris was extremely friendly and efficient, without complications.
CA
Email Ryan Wilkinson | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful memories and experiences on well run safari
Our family (2 adults and an 8 yr old) had a wonderful 9 day safari with Xaa Safaries staring in Victoria Falls for 2 days and Botswana for 7 days. We were immediately met at the Airport and transported to an incredible lodge in Vic Falls (Pamarah Lodge) which had beautiful rooms, garden space nad excellent food. There was a little lack of detail on scheduling over the two days but this did get sorted out and I attribute this to the fact that in Zimbabwe it was an outsourced tour operator as Xaa operates in Botswana. That said our Sunset cruise, Vic Falls tour and time there in general was fantastic. On arrival in Botswana we connected with our guide and safari crew. Everyone was professional, kind and went out of their way to make our experience incredible. Our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging about wildlife adn we were able to see amazing amounts of animals including multiple leaopards, lions, wild dogs, antelope, elephants, etc. Our cook Amos was incredibly kind and engaging and prepared amazing food over the open fire. With each meal being very tasty. We completed game drives in Savuti and Moremi and overnight makoro trip in the delta, with all being incredible and memorable destinations. As noted, they were professional, generally well organized and the cost of the safari was very competitive relative to other quotes that I received in planning the trip. We would not hesitate to recommend Xaa Safaris to friends and family based on our experiences and a very big thank you to Xaa Safaris for a wonderful trip.
ES
Email Yolanda Lozano | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service, excellent experience
Everything was excellent: organization of the tour, description, value for money, personnel (guide, main organiser, local organiser in Maun, cook, assistants during tour). The tour itself was wonderful, we saw plenty of animals, we were excellently treated, and everything exceeded our expectations.
Email Mieke | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Either a scam or terrible customer service
Watch out! I had been discussing our boat safari via email with Xaa Safaris since January of 2023 just to arrive in Maun in July of 2023 to find that my deposit had been stolen and no boat was waiting for us. I accepted a quote, completed the paperwork, signed and sent it through as requested, then on the same email string, banking details were provided for me to pay the deposit. Upon phoning them a day prior to the excursion, they said no payment had been received, and this is when it came to light that right after I emailed the signed contract, the correspondence address changed from [email protected] to [email protected]. In the same string replying, this was not noticeable, so the money was paid via EFT and the receiving account was emptied - nothing I can do to have the funds returned. I have no proof that Xaa Safari is the culprit. However, considering the timing at which the fake email address became active and the fact that they never tried to follow up on our booking, despite having (via the legitimate email address) received a signed contract with all our personal details, this is either extremely poor customer service, or more likely an inside job.