Safari Consultants Review 2026: Is It Worth It, What It Costs, and Who Owns It
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 15 October 2026
Safari Consultants, the Suffolk-based Africa specialist trading since 1983, scores 87/100 on our six-criterion review of safari planners: full marks for destination breadth and ownership transparency, and 18 of 20 for independent reviews. Trustpilot rates it 5.0 from 439 reviews and AITO 100% from 493; it publishes its full booking terms, ATOL 3783 and ABTOT 5246, and prices for 18 itineraries. It loses points for having no office in Africa, for price ranges with no season or year, and for not promising one consultant throughout.
Verified 24 September 2026 · Safari Consultants' own pages and July 2026 terms · Companies House record 02094642 · Trustpilot, AITO and SafariBookings · Endole · MoneyWeek
Safari Consultants at a glance: the company record
Safari Consultants is Safari Consultants Limited, company 02094642, incorporated in January 1987 and based at Africa House in Great Cornard, near Sudbury in Suffolk; it sells only Africa and its islands. Every row below links to its source and was checked on the date shown.
| Field | Fact | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading name | Safari Consultants (safari-consultants.com; the .co.uk address redirects there) | Safari Consultants homepage | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Legal entity | Safari Consultants Limited, 02094642, active, incorporated 29 Jan 1987 as Safari Holdings Limited, renamed 29 Sep 1993; SIC 79120 | Companies House | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Trading since | 1983: 'African safari specialists since 1983' AITO calls it 'the oldest specialist Tour Operator dealing specifically with Africa in the UK' | AITO listing | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Office | Africa House, 2 Cornard Mills, Mill Tye, Great Cornard, Sudbury CO10 0GW (map); no other office | Contact page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Phone and hours | +44 (0)1787 888 590, 'during UK working hours' no response time stated | Contact page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| In-trip support | 'a consultant at the end of a phone 24/7 who can co-ordinate on the ground support' | Benefits of a safari consultant | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Owner, per the register | Robert James Slater, 50% to 75% of shares and votes, since 6 Apr 2016; William Baddeley Adams held the same band until 30 Jan 2019 | Companies House PSC register | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Directors | Robert Slater (since Apr 2006; secretary since Jan 2019); Michele Seamark (since Apr 2016) | Companies House officers | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Share capital | Share cancellation 2 Sep 2024 and purchase of own shares 24 Sep 2024 | Companies House filing history | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Charges | Three, all satisfied 3 Jun 2024 | Companies House filing history | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Latest accounts | Small company accounts to 31 May 2025; 12 employees in the accounts to 31 May 2024 | Endole, from Companies House | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Money protection | ATOL 3783; ABTOT 5246; IATA licence; AITO member 5107 with independent dispute settlement | Financial security page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Deposit and balance | Up to 40%, specified at booking; balance 10 weeks before departure; full payment inside 10 weeks | Terms, July 2026 | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Cancellation | 85 days or more ahead: 40%; 84 to 61 days: 80%; 60 days or fewer: 100% | Terms, July 2026 | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Amendments | £100 per party member plus any costs | Terms, July 2026 | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Insurance | Comprehensive cover required when the deposit is paid, with 24-hour emergency medical and repatriation | Terms, July 2026 | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Destinations | 14, all in Africa: 11 mainland countries plus Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles | Destinations page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Published prices | 18 itineraries on its Kenya and Botswana pages, per person sharing in US$ and £, from US$3,725 to US$39,895 | Botswana itineraries and prices | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Independent reviews | Trustpilot 5.0 from 439 (newest 14 Apr 2026); AITO 493 reviews, 100%; SafariBookings 5.0 from 2 (2015) | Trustpilot | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Press, confirmed | MoneyWeek, Feb 2019: 'Our trip was arranged by Safari Consultants' | MoneyWeek | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Press, per its site | 'No. 1 for safari in the Sunday Times Travel Magazine' (Oct 2019) | Reviews page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Team | 15 named: managing director Rob Slater, director Michele Seamark, five specialist consultants; Maddie Donnelly, social media and marketing | Meet the team | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Impact | 100% renewable electricity; eight named conservation and community partners; Chyulu Hills and Mai Ndombe REDD+ projects | Responsible efforts | 24 Sep 2026 |
Is Safari Consultants worth it?
Safari Consultants scores 87/100: it is an Africa-only specialist with more than four decades of trading, 932 independent reviews rated 5.0 and 100% on two platforms, and every term a buyer needs set out on its site. Managing director and majority owner Rob Slater has spent "35 years travelling to Africa" director Michele Seamark is, in the company's words, its "resident Zimbabwean" and its consultants "spend at least 5-6 weeks a year in Africa, usually spread over 3 separate trips". The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, in a line the company quotes, said "Ask directors Michele and Rob where to see wild dogs ... and not only will they tell you the prime spots, but they'll name the very best guides". It loses 5 points on expertise for having no office in Africa, 3 on pricing for giving no season or year with its ranges, and 3 on service for not promising one consultant throughout.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-hand African expertise | 20/25 | Owner and managing director Rob Slater has spent '35 years travelling to Africa' its consultants 'spend at least 5-6 weeks a year in Africa' and named staff describe their trips; no office in Africa; trading since 1983. |
| Independent review evidence | 18/20 | Trustpilot shows 5.0 from 439 reviews, the newest from April 2026; AITO shows 493 client reviews at 100%. Neither platform has 500 or more. |
| Destination breadth | 15/15 | 14 destinations, all in Africa: 11 mainland countries from Kenya and Uganda to Namibia and Malawi, plus Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles. |
| Pricing transparency | 12/15 | 18 itineraries on its Kenya and Botswana pages carry per-person price ranges in US dollars and pounds, with inclusions listed; no season or year is given for the ranges. |
| Service model and support hours | 12/15 | A UK office and phone line, 'during UK working hours' and 'a consultant at the end of a phone 24/7' one named consultant from enquiry to return is not promised. |
| Ownership transparency | 10/10 | Its site names managing director Rob Slater and director Michele Seamark; the register records Slater as holding 50% to 75%; its terms give Safari Consultants Limited, 209 4642, which is 02094642 on the register. |
| Total | 87/100 |
How Safari Consultants compares with other safari planners
Safari Consultants is a safari planner, like the seven companies below: it builds trips from lodges and suppliers it does not own. Our planner reviews were scored on different criteria at different times, so their scores are not ranked against each other here; every fact below was read from each company, or from the review platform named, on 12 October 2026. This record is its first appearance on Uncompromised Travel: it has not been assessed on our safari planner index, payment terms index or UK and US operator comparison, where its published terms and protection would be scored.
| Planner | Independent reviews | Deposit and balance | Client money | 24-hour line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safari Consultants (this record) | Trustpilot 5.0 from 480; Google 4.9 from 73 | Up to 40%; balance 10 weeks before | ATOL 3783; ABTOT 5246 | Stated |
| Go2Africa | Feefo 4.9 from 3,118; Trustpilot 4.8 from 181 | 30%; balance 60 days before travel | Money-Back Guarantee (supplier insolvency); SATSA bonding | Stated |
| Expert Africa | Google 4.9 from 306 | 20% or GBP 600 pp; balance 70 days before | ATOL 5206 | Stated |
| Yellow Zebra Safaris | Trustpilot 4.9 from 1,783; Google 4.9 from 243 | Amount not stated; balance 90 days before travel | ATOL 10614 | Stated |
| Micato Safaris | Trustpilot 3.2 from 1; no Google listing found | 30%; balance 120 days before travel | No scheme, bond or trust named | Stated |
| Extraordinary Journeys | Google 5.0 from 182; SafariBookings 4.9 from 35 | Amount not stated; balance about 100 days before travel | No scheme, bond or trust named | Stated |
| Abercrombie & Kent | Trustpilot 4.4 from 787 | Booking terms showed no text when read | Not stated; optional Allianz insurance | Stated, small groups |
| Scott Dunn | Trustpilot 4.6 from 278 | Set per trip; balance 90 days before | ATOL 2471; ABTOT 5222 | Yes, number printed |
Stated means the company says it offers 24-hour support but prints no number for it. Not stated means the company's own pages did not say it when read; it does not mean the company does not do it. Sources: each company's own site and booking terms, Google, Trustpilot, Feefo and SafariBookings, read 12 October 2026.
How much does a Safari Consultants safari cost?
Safari Consultants prices 18 itineraries on its Kenya and Botswana pages per person sharing, from US$3,725 for six nights on the Chobe River and in the Okavango Delta to US$39,895 for the top of its nine-night Best of Botswana range, and says typical safaris cost upwards of £8,000 per person without international flights. Its guide to safari costs puts 10 to 14 days in Africa at between UK£5,000 or US$6,000 and UK£25,000 or US$30,000 per person, adding "we do not offer budget safaris, but we do offer excellent value for money". Each itinerary page lists what is included: Big Game of Kenya, for one, includes full board, house drinks, laundry, light aircraft flights, airstrip transfers, park fees and guided activities. The ranges carry no season or year. Our Kenya safari cost guide and Botswana safari cost guide set these prices against the market.
| Itinerary | Nights | Per person sharing, US$ | Per person sharing, UK£ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chobe River & the Okavango Delta (Botswana) | 6 | 3,725 to 6,200 | 3,000 to 5,165 |
| Masai Mara and Kenya Coast | 10 | 4,300 to 6,000 | 3,450 to 5,000 |
| Big Game of Kenya | 7 | 4,850 to 7,000 | 3,900 to 5,850 |
| Masai Mara and Zanzibar | 10 | 5,050 to 6,500 | 4,050 to 5,450 |
| Desert & Delta (Botswana) | 6 | 6,300 to 8,000 | 5,040 to 6,665 |
| Thundering Falls & Big Game (Botswana) | 9 | 6,550 to 12,650 | Not captured |
| Victoria Falls & the Okavango Delta | 9 | 6,750 to 8,200 | 5,400 to 6,835 |
| Kenya Conservancy Safari | 10 | 7,950 to 10,195 | 6,350 to 8,500 |
| Rocky Hills and Migration Plains (Kenya) | 7 | 8,500 to 10,850 | 6,800 to 9,050 |
| Lewa, Mara and Kenya Coast | 10 | 8,895 to 12,000 | 7,115 to 10,000 |
| Exclusive Kenya | 8 | 9,000 to 19,950 | 7,200 to 16,625 |
| Kalahari, Okavango & Linyanti (Botswana) | 9 | 9,400 to 15,850 | 7,520 to 13,200 |
| Magic of the Okavango (Botswana) | 6 | 9,500 to 18,750 | 7,600 to 15,625 |
| Lewa, Mara and Zanzibar | 10 | 10,500 to 15,450 | 8,400 to 12,875 |
| Exclusive Botswana | 8 | 12,200 to 29,300 | Not captured |
| Best of Kenya | 10 | 13,795 to 16,695 | 11,050 to 14,150 |
| Waterfalls, Wilderness & Wildlife (Botswana) | 9 | 15,150 to 28,350 | Not captured |
| Best of Botswana | 9 | 21,500 to 39,895 | 17,200 to 33,250 |
Ranges as shown on its Kenya and Botswana itinerary pages on 24 September 2026, excluding international flights.
Who plans Safari Consultants trips?
Safari Consultants' team page names 15 people: its two directors, five specialist consultants, a flights specialist, sales support, finance, product and sustainability, and social media and marketing. Its site describes "a small company offering a very personal service" and says every consultant "travels to Africa three or four times per year personally experiencing camps, lodges, guides and game sightings" it does not promise one consultant from enquiry to return. The team page links to fuller profiles that could not be opened for this record.
| Name | Role | As its site describes them |
|---|---|---|
| Rob Slater | Managing director; majority shareholder | 'After 35 years travelling to Africa' |
| Michele Seamark | Director | Its 'resident Zimbabwean' a post on the page describes four days in Hwange National Park |
| Mary Grimwood | Senior specialist consultant | Named on the team page |
| Frances Woolgar, Joe Corder, Kelly Mattin, Joshua Lecompte | Specialist consultants | Named on the team page |
| Jill Bradley | Product and sustainability | 'over 20 years' in African travel, including chimpanzee trekking in Mahale, Tanzania |
| Jenny Christie | Finance | 'South African by birth and grew up in Durban' |
| Maddie Donnelly | Social media and marketing | Riding safaris in South Africa and trips to Namibia |
What do Safari Consultants reviews say?
Safari Consultants is rated 5.0 on Trustpilot from 439 reviews, the newest from 14 April 2026, and 100% on AITO from 493 client reviews, 487 of them rated excellent. Trustpilot reviewers say it "fully understood our requirements and offered us a value for money itinerary" and that "everything ran like clockwork" its AITO reviews page quotes clients such as "We were delighted with your super slick and 100% reliable organisation" (Namibia, June 2023). Its about page gives lower counts, "Over 300 Trustpilot reviews" and "Over 460 AITO client reviews". Our safari operator review index explains how we weigh platforms.
| Platform | Rating | Reviews | Newest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 5.0 | 439 | 14 April 2026 |
| AITO | 100% | 493 (487 excellent) | Not shown |
| SafariBookings | 5.0 | 2 | 8 July 2015 |
Safari Consultants' awards and press
Safari Consultants has no awards page; the recognition it quotes on its reviews and terms pages is "No. 1 for safari in the Sunday Times Travel Magazine" in October 2019, which could not be checked on The Times' site for this record. The one press mention confirmed at source is a MoneyWeek travel piece of February 2019, "On safari in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi" which says "Our trip was arranged by Safari Consultants". Its media page also lists The Telegraph, The Independent, Condé Nast Traveller, TripSavvy and Travel Africa, without dates. AITO's listing describes it as "the oldest specialist Tour Operator dealing specifically with Africa in the UK".
Where Safari Consultants goes, and its safari styles
Safari Consultants sells only Africa and its islands: 14 destinations, from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda to Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi and Mozambique, plus Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles. It says it is "not tied to working with specific safari operators, so our expert advice is always 100% independent". Its special-interest pages cover walking, horse riding, gorillas and other primates, Kilimanjaro, the migration, water-based and flying safaris, photography and birding, with self-drive, rafting and rail journeys among other activities.
| Region | Destinations with their own Safari Consultants pages |
|---|---|
| East Africa | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda |
| Southern Africa | Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Indian Ocean | Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles |
Who owns Safari Consultants?
Companies House records Robert James Slater, Safari Consultants' managing director, as holding between 50% and 75% of the shares and votes since April 2016. William Baddeley Adams, a director from before 1991, held the same band until 30 January 2019, when he left the board and Slater became company secretary. Slater has been a director since April 2006 and Michele Seamark since April 2016. The company was incorporated in January 1987 as Safari Holdings Limited and renamed Safari Consultants Limited in 1993; its site and AITO date the business to 1983, but neither names its founders. In 2024 it satisfied its three registered charges and cancelled and bought back shares.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Trading as an African safari specialist, per its site and AITO | AITO |
| 29 Jan 1987 | Incorporated as Safari Holdings Limited | Companies House |
| 29 Sep 1993 | Renamed Safari Consultants Limited | Companies House |
| 5 Sep 1995 to 28 Apr 2006 | John Andrew Campbell a director | Companies House |
| 28 Apr 2006 | Robert Slater appointed a director | Companies House |
| 6 Apr 2016 | Slater and William Adams each recorded as holding 50% to 75% | Companies House |
| 8 Apr 2016 | Michele Seamark appointed a director | Companies House |
| 30 Jan 2019 | William Adams leaves as director, secretary and shareholder of record; Slater becomes secretary | Companies House |
| 3 Jun 2024 | Three charges satisfied | Companies House |
| Sep 2024 | Share cancellation and purchase of own shares | Companies House |
| Jul 2026 | Current terms and conditions issued | Safari Consultants |
Safari Consultants' booking terms and financial protection
Safari Consultants' July 2026 terms ask for a deposit of up to 40% when booking more than 10 weeks ahead and the balance 10 weeks before departure; cancelling 85 or more days ahead costs 40%, 84 to 61 days 80%, and 60 days or fewer the full price. Its terms give ATOL 3783, name Safari Consultants Limited, registration number "209 4642" and offer AITO's independent dispute settlement service; its financial security page adds ABTOT membership 5246, which "provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included" and an IATA licence. Comprehensive insurance is required when the deposit is paid. Our guide to safari deposits and payment terms compares these with the market.
| Term | Safari Consultants |
|---|---|
| Deposit | Up to 40%, specified at booking (full price if booking inside 10 weeks) |
| Balance | 10 weeks before departure |
| Cancel 85 days or more ahead | 40% |
| Cancel 84 to 61 days ahead | 80% |
| Cancel 60 days or fewer ahead | 100% |
| Amendments | £100 per party member plus costs |
| Financial protection | ATOL 3783; ABTOT 5246 |
| Disputes | AITO independent dispute settlement service |
| Insurance | Required at deposit, with 24-hour emergency medical and repatriation |
What the public record does not show
Six things a buyer might look for could not be found or did not match on 24 September 2026. Each is listed so it can be answered; if Safari Consultants publishes or corrects any of them, this record will change with a dated note.
- Who founded the company in 1983: neither its site nor AITO names the founders.
- The season or year its price ranges apply to.
- Opening times and a response time: it gives "during UK working hours".
- One named consultant from enquiry to return, stated as a promise.
- Up-to-date review counts on its about page, which gives "Over 300" Trustpilot and "Over 460" AITO reviews against 439 and 493 on the platforms.
- Confirmation of the Sunday Times Travel Magazine "No. 1 for safari" at source, and of ABTOT 5246 on ABTOT's register, neither of which could be checked for this record.
Safari Consultants vs Expert Africa, Yellow Zebra Safaris and Scott Dunn
Against three UK safari specialists we have reviewed, Safari Consultants ties Expert Africa and Yellow Zebra Safaris on 87, scores higher than Expert Africa on reviews and lower than both on pricing detail.
| Safari Consultants | Expert Africa | Yellow Zebra | Scott Dunn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, founded | Great Cornard, Suffolk; 1983 | Richmond, London; 1994 | Kingston upon Thames; 2012 | London; 1986 |
| Best independent reviews | Trustpilot 5.0 from 439; AITO 100% from 493 | AITO 511, 99% excellent or good | Trustpilot 4.9 from 1,710 | Trustpilot 4.6 from 273 |
| Money protection | ATOL 3783 and ABTOT 5246 | ATOL 5206 | ATOL 10614 | ATOL and ABTOT |
| Pricing transparency | 12 of 15 | 13 of 15 | 14 of 15 | 11 of 15 |
How to price a comparable safari
The fair test of any quote from Safari Consultants is a like-for-like quote for the same camps, nights and season from a second specialist and a comparison platform. Ask each for the same lodges by name, the same room category and the same inclusions, then compare the per-person total with international flights excluded.
What changed
Five dated changes shape Safari Consultants' public record today.
30 January 2019. William Adams left the board, leaving Rob Slater as the only person with significant control.
3 June 2024. Its three registered charges were satisfied.
September 2024. It cancelled shares and bought back its own shares.
July 2026. Its current terms were issued.
24 September 2026. This record opened with a score of 87/100.
15 October 2026. Re-read against our 12 October 2026 planner database: the ranking against other companies' scores replaced with a side-by-side of facts, because those pages use different criteria. The score is unchanged.
Safari Consultants: the facts on record, read 12 October 2026
54 facts about Safari Consultants were read from its own website, the award publishers and the review platforms on 12 October 2026, and every one below says who stated it, where it was read and when. “Not stated on their website” means the right page was read and the fact is not there; “Could not access” means the page would not open; “No profile found” means the platform has no listing. None of the three means the company does not have it. The same form is kept for every safari planner on this site, so each line can be set beside any other company’s. Where a line here differs from an older line on this page, this one, read later, is the current reading.
Who they are
Trading name and legal entity
Safari Consultants Limited (footer: Safari Consultants Ltd); registered under the Companies Acts, registration number 209 4642; registered office Africa House, 2 Cornard Mills, Mill Tye, Great Cornard, Suffolk CO10 0GW. Privacy policy names the legal entity as Safari Consultants Limited.
Source: Company · Terms & Conditions July 2026 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Where it is based
Great Cornard, Suffolk, United Kingdom (Africa House, 2 Cornard Mills, Mill Tye, CO10 0GW)
Source: Company · contact safari consultants · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Year founded
Since 1983 ('Trusted Since 1983'; 'African safari specialists since 1983')
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Owner or parent
Not stated on their website: no owner or parent company named. Pages name Rob Slater as Managing Director and Michele Seamark as Director; a partner testimonial refers to 'Bill Adams (founding MD)'. Company register not read.
Source: Company · meet the team · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
What it is
Planner: tailor-made, no set packages; says it is 'not tied to working with specific safari operators' and works with partner camps in Africa. No own camps described.
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Team
15 named staff on the team page: 7 sales/specialist roles (Rob Slater, Managing Director; Michele Seamark, Director; Mary Grimwood, Senior Specialist Consultant; Frances Woolgar, Joe Corder, Kelly Mattin, Joshua Lecompte, Specialist Consultants) plus 8 support/other (Roland Evans, Michaela Liron-Spratt, Eloise Leney, Sam Cleverdon, Lorna Moretta, Jenny Christie, Jill Bradley, Maddie Donnelly). Frances Woolgar is listed with no profile text in the saved pages.
Source: Company · meet the team · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it sells
UK phone +44 (0) 1787 888590 (UK working hours); one office, Suffolk UK. Prices quoted in UK pounds or US dollars (enquiry form budgets in GB£ and US$). No separate US or other-country phone line or office stated.
Source: Company · contact safari consultants · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
In its own words
'We only specialise in Africa and are not tied to working with specific safari operators, so our expert advice is always 100% independent'; genuinely tailor-made safaris built from a blank canvas.
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Response time and named planner
Says it endeavours to 'provide prompt responses to all enquiries and questions' (no time stated); phone lines open during UK working hours. No single named planner is promised on these pages (testimonials name individual consultants).
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Reviews, by platform
4.9 from 73 reviews (listing: Safari Consultants, Great Cornard, England)
Source: Independent source · Google business listing · by hand · 12 Oct 2026
Trustpilot
Rating 5.0, 480 reviews; newest review dated in the saved page: 3 Sep 2026 (claimed profile since Oct 2019, paid subscription). Company's own pages say 'Over 300 reviews' (about-us) and 'Over 400 5* reviews' (reviews page).
Source: Independent source · Trustpilot · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Tripadvisor
Could not access: to be read by hand
Source: Independent source · not recorded · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Trustindex
No profile found: trustindex page returned a 404 in the crawl
Source: Independent source · Trustindex · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Any other independent platform
AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) client reviews: the company says 'Over 460 reviews' on the about-us page and 'Over 490 reviews' on the reviews page and home page (the two pages differ). Company also cites its own testimonials ('Over 500' on about-us, 'Over 1K' on reviews and home page) and partner testimonials. The AITO reviews page itself holds no figures in the saved pages.
Source: Company · reviews and testimonials · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it asks clients to leave reviews
Its site links to Trustpilot and to the AITO feedback site ('visit the Trustpilot review site or AITO feedback site to see external reviews'). The privacy notice says it asks clients to 'leave a review or take a survey' but names no platform.
Source: Company · testimonials · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Awards and recognition, read from the publishers
Every award, 2024 to 2026
Not stated on their website: no awards dated 2024 to 2026 on the saved pages. The only recognition shown is 'No. 1 for safari', The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Top 10 Tour Operators, October 2019 (outside the period). No awards page in the saved pages.
Source: Company · reviews and testimonials · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Advisors on named lists
Not stated on their website: no named-list advisor counts stated. The Sunday Times 2019 quote names directors Michele and Rob but gives no list count.
Source: Company · reviews and testimonials · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Certifications
Not stated on their website: no B Corp or similar certification stated. Memberships stated: AITO, ABTOT (5246), ATOL (3783), IATA licence; these are memberships and licences, not dated certifications.
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Money and booking terms
Prices published
Yes. Example itineraries with price ranges are shown: 3 on the home page and further ones on country pages (Kenya 3, Botswana 3), 7 different itineraries across the saved pages. Fuller 'itineraries and pricing' pages are linked but not in the saved pages.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Priced example trips
1) Big Game of Kenya, 7 nights, from US$4850 to $7,000 pp / UK£3,900 to £5,850 pp. 2) Lewa, Mara & Kenya Coast, 10 nights, from US$8,895 to $12,000 pp / UK£7,115 to £10,000 pp. 3) Best of Botswana, 10 nights on the home page (9 nights on the Botswana page; pages differ), from US$21,500 to US$39,895 / UK£17,200 to UK£33,250 pp. Season and inclusions are not stated beside these prices; flights excluded per the enquiry form.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Price per person per day
Not stated on their website: no per-day rate stated. Nearby: the Planning a Safari page gives a 'very approximate price range for a week on safari, not including international flights' of UK£5,000/US$6250 to UK£15,000/US$18,750 per person.
Source: Company · planning a safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Minimum spend
Not stated on their website: no minimum spend stated. Nearby: the enquiry form's lowest budget band is GB £5000-£7000 or US $6000-$9000 per person excluding international flights; the great-value page says it does not offer budget safaris, minibus tours or backpacker overland tours.
Source: Company · contact safari consultants · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
What the price includes
General statement: safari holidays are 'usually fully inclusive, with all meals, activities, house drinks, laundry, park fees and local transfers included'. No inclusions are listed beside the example itinerary prices on the saved pages.
Source: Company · planning a safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Deposit
Up to 40% of the full holiday price if booked more than 10 weeks before departure (amount specified at the time); full payment at booking if booked less than 10 weeks before departure.
Source: Company · Terms & Conditions July 2026 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Balance due
10 weeks before departure (stated in weeks, not days) for bookings made more than 10 weeks ahead.
Source: Company · Terms & Conditions July 2026 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Cancellation charges
85 or more days before departure: 40% of full price; 84 to 61 days: 80%; 60 days or less: 100%. Alteration fee £100 per party member; transfer charge £100 per party member.
Source: Company · Terms & Conditions July 2026 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
How client payments are protected
Says 'fully bonded'/'100% financial guarantees': ATOL licence 3783 covers holidays including a scheduled flight; ABTOT membership 5246 covers non-flight packages (UK-start, non-UK-start, and flight-inclusive packages starting outside the UK sold to customers outside the UK); refund if not yet travelled, repatriation for some. Bookings made outside the UK are protected by ABTOT only when bought directly from Safari Consultants. Also holds an IATA licence. ABTOT 24/7 helpline +44 (0) 1702 811397. Registers not read.
Source: Company · Terms & Conditions July 2026 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Currencies and card fees
Bills in UK pounds or US dollars; payment must be in the currency stated in the itinerary. Pays by Visa/Mastercard debit or credit card, bank transfer, cheque or bank draft; last-minute bookings by bank transfer. Terms refer to 'credit card surcharges' but state no rate.
Source: Company · Terms & Conditions July 2026 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
24-hour contact while travelling
Support stated: 'management team on hand 24/7' and '24/7 personal service whilst you are away'. No own emergency number is printed in the saved pages; the only 24/7 number printed is the ABTOT helpline +44 (0) 1702 811397 for use if the company fails.
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How the company is paid
Commission: 'Our profits come from commissions, not from extra charges on top.'
Source: Company · great value safaris · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Price against booking direct
States booking through it 'should cost the same as booking direct' and 'you will never pay more for a tailormade safari with us than by booking directly'; says customers often save money and that consultants help clients 'access exclusive discounts'. Passing on of lodge offers is implied, not spelled out.
Source: Company · great value safaris · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Licences and registrations
ATOL 3783; ABTOT membership 5246; IATA licence (no number given); AITO member (no number given); Companies registration number 209 4642. Registers not checked.
Source: Company · your protection · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it goes and how it works on the ground
African countries it plans
14 countries on its destinations page: Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi (Mauritius and Seychelles are Indian Ocean islands).
Source: Company · destinations · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Own offices or staff in Africa
Not stated on their website: no offices or staff in Africa named. The only office stated is in Suffolk, UK; consultants travel to Africa 3 to 4 times a year.
Source: Company · benefits of a safari consultant · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How it books on the ground
Not stated whether it books directly with camps or through local partner companies. Nearby: it describes 'partners in Africa' and 'safari operators' it works with, and the terms say 'other holiday arrangements' are contracts with the supplier.
Source: Company · our responsible efforts · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Own camps or vehicles
Not stated on their website: no camps or vehicles of its own described; pages describe working with partner camps and operators.
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda (permits stated: US$1500 per person per trek in Rwanda, US$700 in Uganda). Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda (Nyungwe), Uganda, Tanzania (Mahale and Gombe) and, per the activities page, Kenya.
Source: Company · safari activities special interest · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Beach add-ons
All four offered: Zanzibar (with Tanzania), Seychelles, Mauritius and Mozambique (Bazaruto and Quirimbas archipelagos) all have pages or are named as beach extensions. Also Kenya coast.
Source: Company · additional topics information · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Africa only, or other regions too
Africa only (and the Indian Ocean Islands): 'We only specialise in Africa (and the Indian Ocean Islands)'; all 14 destinations are African or Indian Ocean island.
Source: Company · about us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Who it suits and how it travels
Family trips
Could not access: family safaris guidance page is in the saved pages but has no itineraries or prices; the country family-holiday pages (for example /destinations/kenya/kenya-family-safaris/) are not in the saved pages.
Source: Company · not recorded · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Minimum child age
No company-wide minimum age. Says some camps and lodges do not take children under a certain age, 'often 12 years'; walking, canoeing, horse riding and primate tracking limits start around 12 and can reach 16; wilderness safaris with walking and canoeing suit children 14/15 and over; a gentle malaria-free South Africa safari suits children of all ages.
Source: Company · family safaris · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Teenagers and multigenerational trips
Teenagers: suggests Zimbabwe, Zambia or Botswana for 'older, very active teenage children'; Zambia is described as good for 'families with older children'. Multigenerational trips are not mentioned on the saved pages.
Source: Company · family safaris · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Honeymoon trips
Could not access: honeymoons guidance page is in the saved pages but lists no priced itineraries; it links to Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Seychelles honeymoon pages that are not in the saved pages. A Mozambique honeymoon blog (Aug 2025) is present.
Source: Company · not recorded · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Solo travellers
Not stated on their website: no single supplement or solo traveller policy stated. The terms mention 'additional single supplements' only in the cancellation clause for partial-party cancellations.
Source: Company · Terms & Conditions July 2026 · pdf · 12 Oct 2026
Older travellers and limited mobility
Not stated on their website: nothing stated about older travellers or limited mobility on the saved pages.
Source: Company · planning a safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
First safari
Planning page says South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania are popular choices for first safaris; a December 2025 blog 'Where should I go on my first safari? Why Kenya is the perfect destination' recommends Kenya; family page calls the Masai Mara as good as anywhere for a first family safari.
Source: Company · where should i go on my first safari why kenya is the perfec · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Private guide and vehicle
Optional: 'it is usually possible to arrange private and/or specialist guiding'; exclusive vehicle use costs extra. In northern Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia and Madagascar a private vehicle with driver guide is often necessary for logistics.
Source: Company · private specialist guiding · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Exclusive-use camps and villas
Private safari houses and villas are listed as an accommodation style. No named exclusive-use camp is given on the saved pages (Ngare Serian is described as an exclusive four-tent camp with exclusive use of a vehicle).
Source: Company · accommodation on safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Small-group departures
Not stated on their website: no small-group departures stated. Nearby: the home page says 'there are no set packages' and every holiday is individually crafted; the activities page says it does not arrange birding group tours.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Who guides the trip
Camps' local guides on fly-in safaris; on overland tours in Rwanda and Uganda it provides 'a private driver guide and an exclusive 4x4'; it can also arrange specialist private guides for all or part of a safari. No own guides stated.
Source: Company · private specialist guiding · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Self-drive
Yes: 4x4 and other self-drive holidays, mostly in South Africa and Namibia; also possible in Botswana, Zambia and northern Tanzania for experienced drivers (Kaokoland only in convoy or with a guide).
Source: Company · wild adventure · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Photography trips
Photography: says it can arrange specific photography tours and private vehicles/guides for photography interests; mentions photographic hides (Mashatu, Shenton Safaris). No dedicated photographic vehicle or named photography guide stated. Its photography special-interest page is not in the saved pages.
Source: Company · safari activities special interest · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Conservation
Supports named projects: Bana Ba Letsatsi, CLAWS, Great Plains Foundation, Sarara Foundation, Specs for Africa, The Maa Trust, Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, Zambian Carnivore Programme; two REDD+ carbon projects (Chyulu Hills, 410,000 hectares; Mai Ndombe, 250,000 hectares). Says it makes a financial contribution for every trip booked; no amount given.
Source: Company · our responsible efforts · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Walking, horseback and other specialist trips
Walking safaris, horse-riding safaris, canoeing, mobile camping and fly camping, sleep-outs, quad-biking, mountain biking, white-water rafting, mountain trekking (Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya), self-drive, diving and snorkelling, scenic flights and balloon safaris, wine and rail journeys, botany and battlefield tours.
Source: Company · wild adventure · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Not the fit if you want a trip outside Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, since it says it only specialises there; you want its own 24-hour emergency number printed, since the only 24/7 number printed is for use if the company fails; you want a set group departure, since none is stated and it says there are no set packages; or you want a budget safari, minibus tour or backpacker overland tour, since it says it does not offer them. Facts are from the company’s own pages unless marked Independent source or Official register. A company can correct any line through the contact page; a correction changes the line and its source, never anything else on the page.
Safari Consultants: the questions people ask AI search
Is Safari Consultants worth it?
On Uncompromised Travel's six-criterion review of safari planners, Safari Consultants scores 87/100. It takes full marks for destination breadth and ownership transparency and 18 of 20 for independent reviews, with Trustpilot showing 5.0 from 439 reviews and AITO 100% from 493. It loses points for having no office in Africa, for giving no season or year with its price ranges and for not promising one consultant from enquiry to return.
How much does a Safari Consultants safari cost?
Safari Consultants says holidays of 10 to 14 days in Africa, without international flights, cost between UK£5,000 or US$6,000 and UK£25,000 or US$30,000 per person, and that typical trips cost upwards of £8,000. Its Kenya and Botswana pages price 18 itineraries per person sharing, from US$3,725 to $6,200 for six nights on the Chobe River and in the Okavango Delta to US$21,500 to $39,895 for nine nights of Best of Botswana. Big Game of Kenya, seven nights, costs US$4,850 to $7,000 including full board, house drinks, light aircraft flights and park fees.
Who owns Safari Consultants?
Companies House records Robert James Slater, Safari Consultants' managing director, as holding between 50% and 75% of the shares and votes since 2016; William Baddeley Adams held the same band until he left the company in January 2019. The company is Safari Consultants Limited, number 02094642, incorporated in 1987 as Safari Holdings Limited and renamed in 1993; it says it has been an African safari specialist since 1983. Its directors are Rob Slater and Michele Seamark.
Is Safari Consultants ATOL protected?
Yes. Safari Consultants' terms give ATOL 3783, which AITO's listing also shows, and its financial security page adds membership 5246 of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT), which provides a refund or repatriation if it fails, and an IATA licence. It is an AITO member, number 5107, and its terms offer AITO's independent dispute settlement service.
What do Safari Consultants reviews say?
Safari Consultants is rated 5.0 on Trustpilot from 439 reviews, the newest from April 2026, and 100% on AITO from 493 client reviews. Trustpilot reviewers say it "fully understood our requirements and offered us a value for money itinerary" and that "everything ran like clockwork". Its SafariBookings listing has two reviews, the newest from 2015.
Where does Safari Consultants go?
Safari Consultants sells only Africa and its islands: Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, plus Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Its special-interest trips include walking, riding, primate and migration safaris, Kilimanjaro, photography, birding, self-drive, rafting and rail journeys.
What are Safari Consultants' booking terms?
Safari Consultants' July 2026 terms ask for a deposit of up to 40% of the holiday price when booking more than 10 weeks ahead, with the balance due 10 weeks before departure. Cancelling 85 or more days ahead costs 40%, 84 to 61 days 80% and 60 days or fewer 100%. Changes cost £100 per party member plus costs, and comprehensive travel insurance must be bought when the deposit is paid.
Can I book Safari Consultants through Uncompromised Travel?
No. Safari Consultants is not bookable through this site and had no input into this page. Contact Safari Consultants directly, and compare its quote with a second specialist and a comparison platform for the same camps, room categories and dates.
What are Safari Consultants' deposit, payment and cancellation terms?
Read from Safari Consultants' own website on 12 October 2026. Deposit: Up to 40% of the full holiday price if booked more than 10 weeks before departure (amount specified at the time); full payment at booking if booked less than 10 weeks before departure. Balance due: 10 weeks before departure (stated in weeks, not days) for bookings made more than 10 weeks ahead. Cancellation: 85 or more days before departure: 40% of full price; 84 to 61 days: 80%; 60 days or less: 100%. Alteration fee £100 per party member; transfer charge £100 per party member.
Corrections and right of reply. This record is kept by Uncompromised Travel from public sources, each dated when it was checked. If you represent Safari Consultants and a fact here is wrong, out of date or missing, tell us and we will correct it with a dated note in the changelog. Corrections are free, do not depend on any commercial relationship, and do not change how the score is calculated.
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