Private safaris in Africa

A private safari is a tailor-made trip to Africa with a focus on wildlife viewing. It is organised exclusively for you and your travel companions – without other guests.

Instead of following a fixed group programme, you decide on the route, trip length, accommodation and activities. On overland journeys you do not share the safari vehicle with other guests. This allows you to linger longer at a wildlife sighting or adapt your daily schedule. Your private guide accompanies you, shares their knowledge of nature, animals and culture, and responds to your interests.

You also choose the accommodation according to your ideas: from a small camp in the middle of the wilderness to a comfortable safari lodge. Whether honeymoon, family holiday, photo tour or adventure with friends – the planning is guided by what matters to you. A private safari combines the freedom of a tailor-made trip with the security and expertise of an experienced tour operator.

With a successful private safari, it is not only the big picture that is right, but every detail. From the slower-paced itinerary to the private bush dinner on your wedding anniversary. Our Africa travel experts have visited the accommodation we offer themselves, watched the herd of elephants from the safari vehicle, enjoyed the view from a hammock and drunk a gin & tonic at sunset. They have spoken with managers and guides, compared facts and felt the butterflies in their stomachs. They are specialists in their destinations. And can therefore achieve the best for you on site.

When planning your tailor-made safari, you can be as involved as much or as little as you like as a guest. Tell us about your dream and leave the rest to us. Or suggest the route and accommodation yourself and refine your trip with the feedback of our experts.

The goal is always the same: your dream of a tailor-made Africa safari at the best value for money.

Arrange a personal consultation here!

When the best time to travel is for you depends on what you want to experience. A private safari can be tailored to your wishes and the right travel period.

For many classic safari destinations in southern and eastern Africa, the drier months from June to September are particularly popular. The vegetation often thins out, and animals are easier to observe at rivers and waterholes.

The exact dry season does, however, differ by region; in parts of East Africa, January and February are also comparatively dry. Early game drives can be cool, while towards the end of the dry season it gets very hot in some places. In popular parks, accommodation is in greater demand during the high season. Booking early is therefore recommended.

Depending on the destination, the green season can also be a convincing choice. Its months differ, however: in many safari regions of southern Africa, the rainy season falls roughly from November to March. In northern Tanzania, by contrast, there is a short rainy season from October to December and a longer one from March to May. January and February are usually comparatively dry there.

The alternation of sun and rain creates green landscapes and good opportunities for nature and bird photography. In addition, many young animals are born at this time. The National Parks are usually quieter and travel is often cheaper.

So there is no single perfect time to travel for private safaris in Africa – your destination and your expectations are what matter. A tailor-made safari aligns the travel period and route accordingly.

For more detailed information on the best time to travel, we recommend our blog: When is the best time to travel for a safari in Africa?

Elefant-Tours offers private safaris in Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

These tailor-made trips with Elefant-Tours take you to some of the most fascinating safari destinations in southern and eastern Africa. The programme includes not only the well-known classics but also exceptional destinations off the usual routes.

What to expect in each region on private safaris:

• Tanzania – with the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and other world-famous National Parks.
• Kenya – home to the Masai Mara and Amboseli National Park with spectacular wildlife viewing.
• Uganda – unique gorilla trekking combined with classic safari adventures.
• Botswana – exclusive safari experiences in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park.
• Namibia – desert experiences and desert elephants, Etosha National Park with its unique salt pan, and fascinating indigenous cultures.
• South Africa – varied safaris, including malaria-free reserves and private game reserves.
• Zambia – ideal for experienced Africa travellers and intense nature experiences, including the famous Victoria Falls.
• Zimbabwe – impressive National Parks and the breathtaking Victoria Falls.

We can plan every safari in these countries individually and adapt it to your wishes and interests.

In doing so, you benefit from the many years of Africa experience of Elefant-Tours as one of the best safari providers, as well as our own subsidiaries in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.

Private safaris are only one of several ways to discover Africa individually. Depending on your travel style, level of comfort and appetite for adventure, Elefant-Tours offers various travel styles that can be flexibly adapted to your wishes.

The following types of tailor-made trip are available to choose from:

• Private tours – Beyond wildlife, discover Africa’s landscapes, cities and cultures together with a private guide. Route, travel pace and focal points are tailored individually to you.
• Fly-in safaris – Small aircraft take you to remote wildlife reserves. This way you spend more time in nature instead of on long drives. Ideal for exclusive safari experiences.
• Mobile Explorer safaris – For nature and photography enthusiasts who want to enjoy the wilderness especially intensely. You spend the night on private campsites in the heart of Tanzania’s wildlife reserves. Experience an authentic safari adventure with a high degree of privacy.
• Photo tours – Travel with an experienced photo guide in a 4×4 vehicle to the most spectacular subjects during the blue and golden hours. Receive the best support for unique pictures and enjoy an intense adventure among (amateur) photographers in southern Africa. These tours are initially designed as group tours but can also be offered as private trips.
• Self-drive tours – Explore countries such as Namibia, South Africa, Botswana or Zimbabwe independently by rental car. Enjoy maximum flexibility while benefiting from the experience and trip planning of our Africa specialists.

No matter which travel style you choose: every tailor-made trip is planned together with our travel experts at Elefant-Tours.

Look forward to tailor-made Africa trips with hand-picked accommodation, well-thought-out routes and unforgettable experiences – just as individual as your travel wishes.

Arrange a personal consultation here!

If you want to experience Africa entirely your own way, a private safari is the ideal choice. Unlike on a group tour, you travel exclusively with the people you have chosen yourself – whether as a couple, a family or with friends. The vehicle and guide are available only to you.

Itinerary, accommodation and activities can be tailored to your interests. On the road, too, you set the pace: perhaps you set off early for a game drive, stay longer at a wildlife sighting or stop spontaneously for a photo.

Your guide has time for your questions and can respond to whatever interests you most. This also makes private safaris attractive for families, honeymoons and special anniversaries. If you enjoy photography or watching animals in peace, you can linger longer wherever it is exciting.

While group tours impress with their fixed itinerary and shared experience, private safaris offer a maximum of flexibility and individuality.

A private safari suits everyone who wants to experience Africa according to their own ideas. You plan the route, trip length, accommodation and activities together with the Africa experts at Elefant-Tours. This creates a trip that suits your interests and the people you are travelling with.

Couples and honeymooners can plan special experiences such as a private bush dinner or a balloon flight over the Serengeti. Families appreciate a flexible daily schedule and breaks when the children need them.

Those who photograph or birdwatch can linger longer at a sighting and take time with their guide for the species that interest them most.

For first-time visitors to Africa, the company of an experienced guide and a carefully planned route are often especially valuable. Experienced travellers can explore more remote regions, choose unusual accommodation or include a bush walk in their safari.

Friends too travel together in their own safari vehicle without having to fit in with an unfamiliar group. Whether a milestone birthday or a long-cherished travel wish: what matters is what is important to you on this trip.

Yes, private safaris are excellent for families with children. Because the trip is planned individually, route, driving times and activities can be tailored to the children’s ages and interests. You also help shape the daily schedule: a game drive can start earlier, a break can last longer or an afternoon by the pool can be left free.

On overland journeys, in your exclusive safari vehicle you travel only with your family. Your guide has time for the questions of young and old, while Elefant-Tours recommends accommodation suitable for travelling with children. This leaves room, alongside the wildlife viewing, for resting and for shared activities away from the game drives.

One example is our Namibia family trip. It was put together for families with children aged six and over and can serve as a starting point for a trip to your own specifications. Game drives in Etosha National Park, hikes and time to relax show how adventure and relaxation can be combined.

Yes, that is exactly the idea of a private safari. At Elefant-Tours your trip is planned together with you and adapted to your budget, your travel style and your interests.

You decide on the route and trip length and choose accommodation that suits your ideas – from a small camp to a comfortable lodge. You also stay flexible on the road: perhaps you want to set off early for a game drive, stay longer at a special wildlife sighting or spend a relaxed afternoon at the lodge.

Special experiences can also be integrated into your trip, such as a balloon safari, a bush walk, a canoe trip or a private bush dinner. Personal focal points such as bird photography, young animals or remote National Parks can also be taken into account. If you wish, your private safari can also be combined with a fly-in safari.

How concrete your ideas already are does not matter. If you already have a preferred route or particular accommodation in mind, we build on that. If at first you only know what you want to experience, our travel experts develop suitable suggestions for you.

Yes, on a private safari several countries can be combined superbly. This lets you get to know different landscapes and cultures or experience a connected ecosystem on both sides of a national border.

Elefant-Tours plans the route according to your travel wishes, drawing on experience and our own subsidiaries on site.

Our multi-country trips can serve as inspiration. The route Kenya & Tanzania – safari highlights of East Africa links the Masai Mara with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. There you get to know two sides of the habitat of the Great Migration.

If you want to experience the diversity of southern Africa, you will find inspiration in Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe: from Namibia’s dunes and Etosha National Park via the Okavango Delta to Victoria Falls.

A longer trip through Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique & South Africa leads from Victoria Falls via Zambia’s National Parks and Lake Malawi to the coast of Mozambique and on to Kruger National Park.

The linked trips are group tours and show possible country combinations as inspiration. For your private safari, we put the route together afresh to suit your interests, your travel period and the time available.

Yes, a private safari combines well with a beach holiday. After days of game drives, you can let the trip wind down by the sea. How long you spend in the bush and on the beach is up to you.

In Tanzania, a safari in the Serengeti or at Ngorongoro Crater can be combined with beach days on Zanzibar. In Kenya, after wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara, a stay on the Indian Ocean at Diani Beach is a natural choice.

In South Africa too, you can combine safari days with Cape Town and the beaches of the Cape Peninsula. The coast there is particularly suited to beach days; if you want to swim in the sea for long, bear in mind that the Atlantic water is very cold.

Elefant-Tours tailors the route to your wishes and arranges suitable safari lodges, beach accommodation, transfers and domestic flights. This leaves enough time after the wildlife viewing to unwind by the sea.

Arrange a personal consultation here!