A client’s safari can be more diverse than you think

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Of course, the game drive is a classic experience that most clients will conjure up when they think of a safari, and Kuoni will have them forging deep into the African bush on a Jeep for raw encounters with African wildlife.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Clients can choose whether they do a small-group safari (up to six people), where they’ll share wildlife encounters with other travellers and bed down in four-star camps or lodges for a great-value, yet authentic, way to safari. Or, your clients might opt for a more intimate experience in their own private 4x4 vehicle, staying in luxury lodges that offer tranquil cocoons away from the excitement of wildlife-spotting. To start your clients off with a real wow moment, Kuoni offers a fly-in safari where they’ll take a light aircraft into the heart of a game reserve.

A safari can also easily be just one part of a client’s holiday. Safari and beach combinations make popular twin-centre breaks, with destinations such as the Maldives or Mauritius among the add-ons. If you have clients looking at East Africa for a safari, for example, one of Kuoni’s favourite beachside retreats is Matemwe Attitude in Zanzibar. Or, clients can pair their safari experience with a city break – Kuoni’s Safari and the City itinerary marries a South African safari with time in Cape Town.

Wild encounters

The star of any safari is the wildlife itself. And the experts at Kuoni aren’t short of inspiration when it comes to suggesting the right kind of wildlife experiences for your clients. Just by being in the African bush, clients will feel the heat and hear the sounds of the destination  – this is the continent at its most raw. The pinnacle for clients are those money-can’t-buy moments, whether they’re watching a herd of silhouetted elephants as the sun sets with a gin and tonic in hand or catching sight of their first member of the big five.

And Kuoni also meets the desires of clients keen to experience a safari away from the traditional game drive. River safaris offer a glimpse of a different side of the African wilderness – clients can paddle through the Okavango Delta in Botswana in a traditional dug-out mokoro canoe to spot hippos, crocodiles and lesser-celebrated wildlife like fish eagles and frogs. Balloon safaris, too, offer a whole new perspective on the African bush and its wildlife, as well as delivering unforgettable moments like seeing the sunrise over the Masai Mara.

Safari side quests

A client’s experience on safari doesn’t have to be wholly dedicated to the wildlife. Meeting the locals can be an unexpected highlight, whether through cultural encounters with Maasai tribes in Kenya or by helping give back to one of the many conservation projects that Kuoni supports, such as visiting an anti-poaching unit.

Kuoni also realises that safaris don’t always have to be about what’s on the ground – epic raised sleep-outs in the heart of the bush mean clients can literally drift off beneath the stars, while pristine coral reefs off the coast of Tanzania offer abundant snorkelling and diving opportunities. Clients will need fuel for all this adventure too, whether it’s the delicious bush cuisine they’ll tuck into in between game drives or tasting their way around the Winelands of South Africa.