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Desert Air Africa Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Member Of:
- NTB & TASA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
-
BWNAZAZMZW
- Price Range:
- $220 to $1,681 ppper person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)

for a custom tour
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If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews

Email Clare | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service and amazing trip!
I reached out to Desert Africa Safaris for help in planning a very last minute safari in Namibia around a project I had booked there. After a negative experience with a different travel operator, I was scrambling a bit and had contacted numerous agencies looking for assistance with what I was hoping for. I was most impressed by the response from Desert Africa. Carien responded right away and expressed that the short timeframe would not be an issue. She listened to what I wanted, presented different options, and worked with me on multiple iterations to come up with exactly the trip I was looking for. While I was traveling, I ended up changing plans a couple of different times, and Carien always responded immediately, jumped right on it, and figured things out quickly for me. At one point prior to starting my safari, I had an issue with my lodging and reached out to Carien to see if she might be able to assist. Within a couple of hours, she had booked two hotels and three transfers for me, and someone was on the way to pick me up. (Her recommendation for a lodge in the area also ended up being one of my favorite stays of the trip). Having issues while traveling can be really overwhelming, and having Carien as a resource was incredibly helpful.
The pilot from Desert Air for my safari, Gerard, was also wonderful. Beyond just feeling completely safe while we were flying, he also acted more like a guide throughout the whole trip, and was so informative about the areas we were traveling and everything we were seeing. Especially as a solo traveler, having someone along who helped deal with logistics, looked after things, and was available in case I ever needed help was a huge comfort. The service from the company was excellent all around, and I would highly recommend booking with Desert Africa!

Email Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Helpful, competent and accommodating. Much rarer then you might think!
We only had 8 nights to spend in Namibia. The itinerary suggested was great and when we asked for a couple of tweaks they were accommodated without fuss.
From being greeted and waved off at the airport, to the quick WhatsApp responses and handy printed itinerary we always felt like we knew what we were doing and where we were going. We’ve been on several trips in Africa where the next day and even the next hour fet uncertain. Not so on this trip.
To top it off we had great safari experiences, good driving conditions and some wonderful hiking

Reply from Desert Air Africa Safaris
Posted on Mar 4, 2025Dear Chris,
Thank you so much for trusting Desert Africa Safaris to host you in our beautiful country on a luxury self-drive safari. Thanks for writing this glowing review. We feel very humbled and are looking forward to hosting you again in future.
Best regards,
Katja & the Desert Africa Safaris Team

Email Family Kramer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
DAS: Professional, personal service for an unforgettable journey through Namibia
Our family of five—two adults, two teens, and a seven-year-old—recently experienced what can only be described as the best holiday ever, thanks to DAS. Carien truly understood our vision and translated our wishes into a week-long program that was as diverse as it was enriching. The itinerary perfectly balanced engaging activities with ample downtime, allowing us to relax and soak in the breathtaking surroundings of Namibia.
The accommodations were a delightful blend of luxury and adventure. Every lodge and hotel we visited was chosen with care, ensuring that our stay was comfortable yet exciting. The food was great and the beds were incredibly comfortable—every detail was thoughtfully arranged to enhance our experience.
What truly set this tour apart was the seamless service. It felt as though Carien was personally overseeing every aspect of our journey. Every hotel was pre-informed of our arrival, and nothing was ever left to chance. We never had to wait on anything; everything was ready when we needed it, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience.
Another highlight of the trip was the fact that it was a Fly Safari! We flew from Windhoek to Sossusvlei, then on to Swakopmund, and finally to Etosha in a Cessna 210. We stayed two nights in every location. The flights itself were an unforgettable adventure, led by a super friendly and skilled pilot who made the entire experience both safe and exhilarating.
Overall, DAS provided an impeccably organized trip that exceeded our expectations in every way. We are immensely grateful to Carien and the DAS team for crafting such a memorable journey. If you're looking for a tour operator that combines thoughtful planning, excellent service, and unique experiences, look no further than DAS.

Reply from Desert Air Africa Safaris
Posted on Feb 24, 2025Dear Pascal
I am delighted by the amazing review. It was such an honor to arrange this trip for your family. It was very easy and straight forward from the word go. You knew what you wanted and it was very doable.
We are very much looking forward to hosting you and your dear family on a next visit to southern Africa soon.
Kindest Regards
Carien

Email Amanda | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional and efficient
Carien did a wonderful job planning the exact itinerary I wanted within the budget I wanted. She was super swift and efficient especially when I wanted to make last-minute changes during the trip itself. It was truly one of the most life-changing experiences I've had and am super grateful for having discovered Desert Air Safaris!
Email Barry | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great personal attention
I contacted Desert Africa Safaris to arrange a very last minute tour in Namibia. They immediately swung into action and after a few iterations they came up with a trip that was just right. I was struck by their professionalism and the fact they delivered in spite of it being the New Year period. I prefer to book with a company in the country I am visiting although it is a bit of a gamble. If you are visiting Namibia I can recommend this company.
Email Karen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A professional and highly competent operator with a thorough knowledge of Namibia
This was an exceptionally well organised trip for the two of us that saved us so much time and allowed us to experience the unique and beautiful sights of Namibia in 11 days.
We had a private charter from Windhoek to the Namib Desert for 3 days with our amazing pilot, Gerard, who went out of his way to ensure we had the best possible experience. Our accommodation throughout the trip was so luxurious and after our 3 day private charter, we travelled between places by shuttle flights which saved hours of road travel. Definitely worth doing this because the distances are huge.
Carien, who managed our itinerary and clearly knows Namibia well, gave us a very thoughtful mix of experiences. We walked the desert dunes, saw the desert elephants and wildlife, drove quad bikes, sailed off the coast and saw humpback whales, had some downtime in the town of Swakopmund to relax by ourselves, went out on game drives through Etosha. All transfers to and from lodges and airstrips were meticulously coordinated and we didn't have to worry about a thing.
The whole experience was fabulous. We were so beautifully looked after and I have no hesitation in recommending Desert Africa Safaris to anyone who wants to visit this amazing country.
Email Louise and Colin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The trip of a lifetime organised by Katja
Namibia has been on our bucket list for some time. I can highly recommend Desert Africa Safaris to tailor a trip to your specific requirements. Katja took care of all the details including my request for horse riding. We stayed at the Namib Outpost, The Strand in Swakopmund and Mushara Outpost in Etosha. We found the lodges amazing. Boutique in terms of size and top class guides and chefs. We found the right balance of excursions and downtime by choosing to stay three nights in each location and by travelling the entire trip by light aircraft. Not only maximising time but getting the most amazing perspective of Namibia from the air. Vast and diverse! We watched people come and go for one night only and do an activity then rush off to drive. Not for us! I loved climbing Big Daddy dune in the desert as well as my horse riding at Desert Homestead. Just me and the guide cantering through the desert. Then the catamaran tour on the coast as well as being able to eat out as local seafood restaurants. The riding there with Okagambe stables was brilliant. Three hours of vast open space and fast paced horse. Then finally the safari trips from Mushara. We did two evening and one morning drive. It’s hot and dry and long trip but the guide Petrus from the lodge was amazing. I’m sure we saw so much more than those on self drive. I would
Highly recommend using a guide. Overall this was a fantastic holiday of a lifetime and we have travelled to over 90 countries and stayed in many fantastic places. This ranks up there in the top 10.

Reply from Desert Air Africa Safaris
Posted on Oct 28, 2024Many thanks to you for booking this wonderful trip with us and afterwards making us feel proud to have hosted you on this luxury fly-in safari.
Yours in travel,
Desert Africa Safaris Team
Email Claudia | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Desert Africa Safaris – EPIC!
A five star rating is just not enough to decribe the utmost dedication, impeccable professionalism with a 24/7 service Katja and Carien provided us with.
We booked a 9 day high end air safari trip which we had to postpone on very short notice. Katja executed this huge challenge in a manner far from our expectations. We were even surprised by 2 unforgettable events that left us overwhelmed.
Our pilot/guide Hellmut was exceptional. Very caring in every way with many interesting conversations.
A perfect vacation, we felt like super stars and a BIG heartful thank you to all involved!

Reply from Desert Air Africa Safaris
Posted on Oct 24, 2024Thank you so much for trusting Desert Africa Safaris to host you in our beautiful country and writing this exceptionally brilliant review. We feel very humbled and are looking forward to hosting you again in future.
Best regards,
Desert Africa Safaris Team

Email Peter | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
11 out of 10
I find it extremely difficult to write reviews. This is mainly due to the fact that you never know who is writing them and what their standards are. That's why I never write one and I don't read much.
This time, however, I am making a conscious exception because I have never had such a perfect vacation as with Desert Africa Safaris.
We traveled as a family with two adult children, which has the advantage that you have the plane to yourself.
Katja Schneider organized what was possible within the framework of our given budget. She monitored everything in the background and our pilot Brandon from Desert Air not only got us from A to B perfectly and on time, he was also the organizer on site, anchor of stability, advisor and narrator. And all this at the age of 23. We didn't have to worry about anything, absolutely nothing. The lodges and hotels, which I don't want to go into here, were very well chosen for our needs - and that's what makes a trip individual. The most important excursions were booked in advance. If I could give Katja Schneider and Desert Air an 11 on a scale of 0 - 10, I would.
However, Namibia also makes it easy to feel at home there. Great landscapes, lovely people, fantastic wildlife and a vastness that is indescribable.
But you also have to do something yourself to make it perfect. You have to get involved, absorb the silence, appreciate the vastness and not always look for mistakes. Because they are part of it. Sometimes the meal takes a while, sometimes children make noise and the towels are not so fluffy. Sometimes you have to carry your bag yourself and spontaneously book further excursions on site. If that bothers you, you should stay at home. For me, perfect means going home with the feeling that you have to come back tomorrow.
Of course, I was worried the first time. So I had a queasy feeling when I paid the deposit because Desert Africa Safaris is far away in Namibia. But my trust was not disappointed. I also worried about malaria and snakes and scorpions. We didn't see any of those, in fact in August we didn't even see any mosquitoes - not even at the waterholes in Etosha. I can only advise anyone travelling in the Namibian winter to pack a down jacket and ski underwear.
(automatic translation from German)

Email Chris and Amy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Without a doubt, the best tour operator we've ever utilized worldwide.
We've very frequent travelers, and have been to 94 countries, and multiple trips to Africa. I had originally contacted Desert Air Safaris to arrange for private charter flights. I was contacted by Carien Rall Swanepoel, and she offered to make all our arrangements. Carien and the staff of Desert Air Safaris were without a doubt the most professional travel consultants we have ever utilized. Carien arranged our trip with military precision, and made great suggestions that we would surely have missed without her advice. She literally met us at the airport upon our arrival in Namibia. That alone is a testament to her dedications to customer service.
If you love Africa (and we do) I can't recommend enough the many advantages of a private air charter for your travels. First and foremost, you're not limited on luggage. Secondly, there is no time wasted on commercial flights. We were able to visit four countries (Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe) with only 15 days in Africa. This would have been impossible using commercial flights. Upon arrival at each airport we were quickly escorted through security and customs. Carien arranged for seamless transfers to our lodges. Even crossing the border at Victoria Falls was arranged in advance, and our guides (Zambia side) literally handed us off to their counterpart in Zimbabwe.
Flying with Desert Air Safaris is a treat upon itself. The pilots were wonderful, and getting to know them was part of the fun of our trip. We started our tour at the &Beyond Desert Lodge, then to Fish River Canyon, Moremi Mountain Camp, Shipwreck Lodge, then on to Little Ongava at Etosha. From there to Chobe Lodge in Botswana, and then to the Royal Livingstone Hotel adjoining Victoria Falls. Our pilots accompanied us along the entire trip.
We're already talking about our next adventure in Africa, and we will surely be using Carien Rall Swanepoel for all travel arrangements and those wonderful pilots of Desert Air Safaris.
Average User Rating
Rating Breakdown
- 5 star 29
- 4 star 0
- 3 star 0
- 2 star 0
- 1 star 0
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- All corporate and/or tour info is provided by Desert Air Africa Safaris , not SafariBookings