The Chalo Africa Inc Team
Chalo Africa
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- ATTA & APTA
- Tour Types:
- Custom luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $500 to $1,600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Lynn | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A most meaningful and special trip to Kenya's Sheldrick Elephant Orphanages
Planning at the height of covid and traveling in between variants, all 5 of us on this safari had some trepidation about procedures, tests, and online entrance/exit requirements, etc. Sangeeta of Chalo did an exceptional job of helping us through all the steps and lining up the covid tests so it all went without a hitch.
Five of us planned the trip together along with Sangeeta, so we had a lot of input on what we wanted to do. Sangeeta provided us with unique and interesting options that we might not have thought of ourselves. Some of these also were money-savers to keep the costs in check.
The trip itself was superb in all aspects and I have many safaris in my background for comparison. There were some unusual needs on this trip, such as credit cards that malfunctioned, a participant running out of money, a missed international flight and very dire health issues requiring sudden special accommodations. Sangeeta on the ground with us and Chalo members back in the office made sure everything was attended to so all of us could enjoy the trip to the utmost.
The Sheldrick facilities and nearby accommodations were tremendous and far exceeded our expectations, allowing time for both elephant and keeper interaction plus ample more traditional wildlife viewing safari activities. We ended with four nights in the Mara, for a 3-week trip. Some of us did our own thing for parts of this trip and another traveler joined us for just the Mara. So there were lots of moving parts that Chalo made sure flowed seamlessly.
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Email Gautam vangala | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Superb experience!
From start to finish chalo Africa (Sangeeta, Malvika and Smita) were incredibly helpful. They helped me chose just the right lodge and experience for my young family. Their attention to detail and communication throughout the journey was terrific. We did a 4 night stay at Phinda mountain lodge. Loved this property and it’s guides. This is my fourth safari booked with chalo Africa (Kenya, Congo, Botswana and South Africa). Love this group and it’s mission. Looking fwd to my next trip with them to Botswana in September. The best review I can offer is that I like them to so much, I have used chalk Africa for four trips over 5-6 years :-)
Email Dripto | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flawless
Chalo Africa provided us with an excellent service and went out of their way to negotiate with Governors camp to postpone our Covid affected trip by 2 years! An extremely professional unit of Safari enthusiasts, Chalo Africa has the required expertise to make valuable recommendations about all aspects of the Safari experience to suit all budgets. Communication, payments, bookings, follow ups before and during trip - was flawless. Highly recommended using Chalo Africa for your dream Safari experience.
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Email Amish | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic, organized, reliable and comforting!
Our family of 4 travelled to Tanzania in May 2022. Sangeeta and Malvika handled our arrangements. When there were multiple last minute changes to our flight itineraries they handled the various permutations with patience, grace and our best interests in mind.
I can't say enough good things about the places they recommended we stay and visit. The entire experience, from how and what to pack, to making sure we were greeted personally at each airport was smooth, seamless and high class. I highly recommend Chalo Africa-they will arrange a trip of a lifetime for you! We wish we could have stayed longer!
KW
Email Pia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super professional
Smita was the one who helped us organize this amazing adventure, and honestly it was like working with a friend.
From the start, she was extremely patient, very professional, attentive to our needs and to all details, ensuring our experience would be smooth and flawless (and it was). So thank you Chalo Africa for your follow-up and efforts in making this an unforgettable trip!
Email Elisha | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great advice, prompt responses! Booked Sayari Camp
I was speaking with Smita mostly. I was very happy with the way she thought about situations to give me the best options and outcomes. She always had my best interest in mind!
Sayari itself was amazing! A luxury (permanent) camp with all the bells and whistles. Breakfast and lunch with set for everyone. As we didn't have many dietary requirements, we ate what they gave us and it was always very decent. For dinner you get a choice between two starters, a choice between two mains and a choice between two desserts.
In terms of game drives, amazing time of the year to be in norther serengeti /mara river!! We saw so many amazing things, like a fight between leopards and lions. Huge prides of lions, huge herds of elephants and of course the river crossing of the Great migration.
The Chalo Africa team starts a WhatsApp group with you and the team members, in case of any issues or questions during your trip.
The team also works together, for example is smita couldn't reply, Sangeeta or Malvika would reply instead.
Definitely recommend the team and Sayari!
IN
Email Krishna | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A true Lifetime Experience with a Great Operator
We rarely use travel agents during our travels, and was put across to you'll from asilia for the bookings, and I am glad that this happened. The knowledge and suggestions from Smita and the team at Challo Africa made the trip what it was.
Visiting a luxury game camp in Africa is all about the correct itinerary and people of the camps and this is the most important part where Challo Africa was amazing at.
Suggestions about which property to visit in which order to see what kind of game, to help book us the best guides, and a ton of surprises at each of the properties made this a once in a lifetime trip.
Could not recommend or suggest Challo Africa as well as Asilia enough to everyone on a trip to Africa.
Asilia is an outstanding brand, which makes you feel like you are a part of the family, and definitely one that will be a leader in this experience based travel in Africa. This is one of many in the future.
One small feedback for Asilia for back end reservations - during covid when there is a certain amount of uncertainty, especially for high end travel such as this, would appreciate some more flexibility/support regarding bookings and management in case of any unfortunate issues due to covid.
Communications- Were great and they were always there for us regardless of the time. We had a small incident at one of our properties and got it resolved within 10 mins thanks to Challo Africa!
Value for Money- This was definitely an expensive trip, but we found the value in this.
Reliability - 100%
The Tour was incredible and unmatched. Definitely speak to Challo Africa to book an African Adventure, and if the budget allows, Asilia is the best option in Africa!
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Email Joe | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Advice and Operations
When we started this we had no idea where to go or how much to spend we only knew we wanted to travel on safari. The team at Chalo understood our budget and helped plan everything from the Covid tests and flights to the camps and balloon adventures. This was the most memorable trip we have had and Chalo was right there to give us real time advice when we had questions or didn’t fully understand once we were in Africa. I would highly recommend them to anyone trying to book a safari.
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Email Kim Wallihan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
FANTASTIC customer service and communication! Flexible and Knowledgeable! Highest recommendation!
Let me preface this review by saying that I rarely use travel agents as I enjoy researching and planning vacations. However, for a bucket list Africa trip, I wanted to make sure it was done right and was at a bit of a loss. Chalo was recommended by a friend who sang Sangeeta’s praises and am happy to report the accolades are well earned. My expectations were exceeded!
The biggest advantage Chalo provides is their knowledge about Africa (in our case, S Africa, Krueger, Namibia) and their incredible on the ground service. Our trip was shortened by one day because United Airlines cancelled our connecting flight (that’s a very different review, lol) and we missed the flight into Johannesburg. Whilst we were hurriedly getting retested for COVID due to expiring test results for S African entry, Sangeeta and team did the Lord’s work notifying various hotels/lodges, reconfiguring tours and itineraries and reticketing intra and intercountry flights (intracountry flight to Krueger, intercountry to Namibia). Her team did this quickly and with no effort on my part and I appreciated not having to worry about these changes.
Even more critically, Chalo has an extremely reliable agent on the ground in S Africa. Stanley met us at the airport to introduce himself. That alone assured me I was in good hands. However, Stanley’s benefit really came into sharp focus when the COVID testing lab produced “inconclusive” results for my son at 10pm when we were supposed to fly to Namibia at 10am! Even prior to that, Stanley was on the phone really pushing the lab for 3 hours, just to locate the status of our results as they had mistyped our email and the results were lost to the ether. I cannot imagine having to deal with this lab and communicate the quandary. Stanley ended up taking a cab to our hotel at 5:30am in order to personally walk us into the lab at the airport at 6am
To make sure we got retested in time for our 10am flight. EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE!
Finally, I know I haven’t referenced the actual itinerary. It was amazing! We loved our safari lodge (Simbavati Amani) and the hotels in Namibia (Sossusvlei Lodge and Olive Tree guesthouse in Windhoek). We had great guides in the safari and the food was spectacular. Sossusvlei was ethereal and magical and I would never have thought about visiting unless Sangeeta had suggested it. However, lots of different travel planners would be able to provide wonderful itineraries - where Chalo stands out is the attention to detail, amazing communication (seriously, they are so quick to respond and happy to entertain any number of questions and changes), and fantastic service in the event of hiccups.
What I thought of us as a bucket list vacation was such an amazing experience, thanks to Chalo, that we are already taking about our next trip to Africa. Not bucket list anymore, it is now my favorite place to visit, and I can’t wait to go back!
IN
Email Karthik K | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent & Reliable
Our group of 16 people was scheduled to go to Kenya in March, 2020 which got cancelled due to the travel restrictions in place due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Our booking was a very complex one with people coming from multiple destinations on separate dates to meet up in Nairobi before heading to Olare Mara. The team at Chalo Africa never said no to any of our requests and many changes we requested during the course of the booking. They made sure everything was covered. And i knew they were good because i had gone on a trip to Tanzania which was planned by them in 2016.
I am sure there are a few other operators who can provide such service. But the way they kept in touch after the cancellation and worked out various options for us to either get a refund or credit is a statement of their character in such tough times and is truly commendable. My family and friends will definitely make this trip and Chalo Africa will be our agency of choice to plan the trip.
I would like to thank the all star team of Sangeeta, Smita and Malavika for everything and would like to wish them all the best.
Best Wishes
KK