The Luxury Safari Company
- Located In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- Air Travel Organisers' Licensing
- Tour Types:
- Custom luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,009 to $3,785 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Claudia | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Solo Traveler Advised to Book Elsewhere: What's Wrong with my $58k?
So, after getting a quote, they apologize that their young operators think I should join a group and they can't fulfil. This after factoring in many single supplements, etc. Do they need a full vehicle for more tipping customers? What is up with this? I travelled all over the world for Conde Nast's Traveler, Departures,
Brides Magazine, Family Circle, Elle Decor, & about 40 in all. Never had my money asked to go elsewhere. Hmmmmm.
Reply from The Luxury Safari Company
Posted on Sep 7, 2016Dear Claudia,
We appreciate the time you have taken to write this review.
1 Within 24 hours of exchanging emails (during which almost all of that time was dedicated to your enquiry only) and phone calls with yourself we soon realised we were not a good fit for you - instead of continuing to waste your time we suggested another operator or group may be more beneficial for your safari plans.
2 None of the properties or Pro Guides we use rely on tips. The best staff are employed by our camps and lodges and therefore they are paid accordingly, without having to worry about tips making up their pay.
3 We secured waived single supplements at two out of four properties we were looking at (something which was done for us as a favour due to our reputation within the industry), something which we did due to your persistence - these supplements are there to cover the losses made by the lodges when a traveller is alone, they are not meant to offend or cause upset, and are not imposed by us. When paying a single supplement you still don't pay the full room price.
4 We will not take anyone's money, no matter how much, if we do not feel we can provide the type of experience the client is after. We prefer to work with that level of integrity, rather than taking bookings we know we cannot fulfil.
Reasons we feel we cannot provide a safari include:
Unrealistic expectations from the client, despite advice/us trying to manage these.
Demands by the client which are not possible in Africa/the World through no fault of our own.
Rude and unprovoked negative language/phone calls/emails put to any of our staff, who work 7 days a week all day and night for our clients and are very precious to us as safari experts and individuals.
Rose & The Team
IT
Email Clive Smith | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great options and did what it said on the tin
Thanks to The Luxury Safari Company, efficient and informative about suggested venues, and always immeadiately responsive to changes we wanted to make. Not much more that can be said that is not already said by other 5 star scorers
TH
Email Tony Newman | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Super efficient personalised service
We booked our recent 10 day trip to Zambia through Rose at the Luxury Safari Company. The service provided at all stages was superb, from the initial enquiry, to assessing / recommending various options, booking, and seamless ground handling during the trip. We were able to secure availability at short notice and with little flexibility in our schedules at top camps during the high season. I can't remember waiting more than a few hours for an email response at any stage. The trip itself was fantastic, taking in Vic Falls (Tongabezi), South Luangwa (Chinzombo) and Lower Zambezi (Sausage Tree). Would recommend Rose and LSC to anyone.
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Email Bernadette | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Bush to Beach Honeymoon
Rose arranged our honeymoon safari at Sirikoi (Lewa Conservancy) and Cottar's 1920s Camp (Masai Mara), with an additional week at Baraza (Zanzibar). We had dozens of questions as we started out planning (initially we weren't even sure which country we wanted to visit) and Rose was incredibly responsive. She provided multiple options in multiple countries, and helped us design our perfect itinerary. Multiple flights and transfers were seamless, and there were nice extras at some of the properties we visited. We had a great experience, and will definitely be back!
Email Mark | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exactly the help and advice we needed - and some amazing experiences
We knew we wanted to visit South Africa for the first time and then have a safari experience that we wouldn't forget and Rose delivered 100%. Although we organised the SA part of our trip Rose was very happy to make recommendations and they were all perfect. Kensington Place in Cape Town, Grootbos Nature Reserve on the coast and Babylonstoren near Franschhoek (particularly the last two) were exactly what we wanted. Then Rose took over and arranged flights from Johannesburg to Livingstone in Zambia where we stayed on Sindabezi Island which was just a magical location where we visited Victoria Falls and stayed in unbelievably beautiful rooms overlooking the Zambezi river. We then flew by private plane to Sausage Tree Camp which again exceeded all of our expectations. Situated overlooking the Zambezi river in the middle of a national park and open to the wild life. Elephants will regularly wander between the rooms and during the day you have the constant soundtrack of hippos barking across the water. At breakfast you can sit at the bar by the river looking out over the most amazing sights that become just normal and commonplace after a few hours. Crocodiles, hippos, water buffalo and birds of every type are wherever you look but you feel safe and secure at all times.
Rose was always available and her suggestions were invariably spot on. I would recommend her without hesitation.
Email Laura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable Honeymoon
I can not thank The Luxury Safari Company enough for arranging the best honeymoon we could ever ask for! We started our trip in Cape Town/Franschhoek, staying at an absolutely beautiful b&b - La Petite Dauphine. This (and the surrounding area) is stunning and the food (!!!) just incredible. Rose had amazing knowledge of where to stay and where to eat. She even pre-booked our meals and gave "spot on" directions.
We then travelled to Madikwe Hills Game Lodge in the north of SA - again all arranged by The luxury Safari Company. And again, all directions were easy to follow and completely hassle free. This safari experience was the most incredible place Neil and I had ever been... The lodge was absolutely beautiful. Out suite was spacious, with private plunge pool and two bathrooms!! One of which was outside over looking a watering hole. Being able to relax in the bath whilst watching a herd of elephants troop past was an experience I will never forget!
All in all we couldn't of asked for a better holiday. Thank you Rose and your team for all your hard work in making this a truly unforgettable honeymoon!
Email Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Personal, prompt service.
From the initial enquiry right through to a question during our stay, Rose was at the end of the ether replying within minutes. She listened to what we wanted and put together an appropriate itinerary, tweaking it to make sure that all camps we stayed at were going to be totally happy with an anaphylactic client... Which they were. Our dietary needs (GF and nut free) were really well catered for and my daughter, especially, felt very safe. The camps and hotels (Kigelia at Ruaha; Emerson Spice in Stone Town; Matamwe in Zanzibar; and Sand Rivers in Selous) were fantastic, exactly as they were described on paper, and all transfers worked seamlessly. Wouldn't hesitate to use this company again.
Email Graham | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Lifetime memories expertly planned
Rose responded very promptly to all my queries. Saruni Ocean on the Kenya coast and Sirikoi Camp in Lewa, Northern Kenya were both fantastic 5 star properties. Fantastic locations, wonderful buildings, furnishings and service.
We had a wonderful experience at Sirikoi, expert guiding, great animal viewing and wonderful hosts.
Transfer, flights, activities were are seamlessly arranged by Rose and her team, with a lovely personal touch.
Highly recommended.
Email CC Baker | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Overall this holiday exceeded our expectations.
The Serengeti camp was a wonderful experience even with bucket showers. ( which were actually amazing). Highlights were afternoon teas and the amazing breakfasts....
The safari itself was unsurpassed. We saw the big five on the first day and I wondered how we would fill the next three days... But I needn't have worried....lions hunting, cheetahs with a kill... The list was endless.
Transfer day was terrible. Coastal added in three unscheduled stops so we had a turbulent 12 hour day with 6 take offs and landings....we were powerless to do anything about this and the experience was awful.
However Fanjove Island quickly soothed us. Snorkelling was fabulous....Good diving and the boys loved the kayaking and paddle boarding...we were very sad to have to return to the real world.
Email Gary Reader | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Father and son trip to Botswana and Zambia
I first contacted The Luxury Safari Company through their website asking for ideas as to what I could do for a week with my son who wanted to quad bike and whitewater raft. Rose Hipwood came back almost immediately and quickly put together an itinerary that way exceeded my expectations. From the VIP greeting at Johannesburg airport ( which helped enormously to get through the early morning queues) to the tour of Soweto hours before departing for home, I don't think more could have been included. It is hard to pick out just one or two things as highlights - everything was excellent - the meerkat experience, quad biking on the salt pans of Botswana, all four safaries in the Okavango Delta, whitewater rafting on the Zambezi and the spectacular Victoria Falls. Camp Kalahari, Machaba Camp and Sindabezi Island were all outstanding - the accomodation itself was excellent, the staff at each camp could not have been more welcoming and helpful and the food was top quality. Am still recovering from seeing my son bungee jump off the bridge at Victoria Falls. Every aspect of the trip was perfectly planned and executed - hard to imagine a better trip. Thank you Rose.