Which safari operators are bonded or financially protected if they go bust?

These safari planners publish how client payments are protected. Most lines are ATOL licences, which cover flight-inclusive holidays booked in the UK; US and South African planners name bonds such as USTOA or SATSA instead. Each card quotes the planner's own line. These are the companies' own statements; Uncompromised Travel has not checked the licence numbers.

At a glance

20 planners, one line each from their own websites; the full cards follow.

• Africa Odyssey: 'We are ATOL bonded' (ATOL 5397).
• Africa Travel Resource: UK clients: ATOL licence number 5983 (ATR Safari UK Ltd); trips including flights booked and paid in the UK are ATOL protected with an ATOL Certificate issued after the deposit.
• African Travel Inc: 'Your booking is protected by a $1 million USTOA traveler bond'.
• Ampersand Travel: ATOL 6065 (Civil Aviation Authority) covers flights and flight-inclusive packages; £2.50 per person APC included in prices.
• Audley Travel: 'All the trips we arrange through our UK offices are protected by either ATOL or ABTOT.' ATOL (CAA licence 4817) covers flight-inclusive holidays where an ATOL Certificate is issued.
• Cazenove+Loyd: 'We provide full financial protection for our package trips.' Flight-inclusive packages are protected through ATOL number 3208 (Civil Aviation Authority).
• Discover Africa Safaris: 'we are bonded with industry-leading financial protection' and 'industry-leading financial protection'; says it is accredited by SATSA and affiliated with ATTA.
• Expert Africa: Booking Conditions clause 17 and the our-guarantee page: air holidays and flight-inclusive bookings are protected by ATOL (licence 5206, ATOL Certificate issued; checkable on the CAA "Check for ATOL" page); the Conditions say all flights and flight-inclusive holidays it offers are ATOL-protected.
• Imara Africa Safaris: 'KATO bonded, TRA licensed and audited'
• Journeys by Design: UK and EU clients: holds Air Travel Organiser's Licence (CAA), ATOL number 9680.
• Ker & Downey Africa: SATSA bonding scheme: 'covers any monetary deposits lodged with Ker & Downey Africa in advance of any services being rendered'.
• Mahlatini: 'fully bonded and regulated by industry bodies, such as ATOL'
• Natural World Safaris: 'Financial protection offered on all bookings'
• Original Travel: Flight-inclusive: ATOL protected, ATOL number 5922 (CAA), ATOL Certificate lists what is covered.
• Piper & Heath Travel: FAQ: 'fully-fledged members of the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation'; funds deposited in a Trust account from which suppliers are paid, protecting against insolvency.
• Red Savannah: ATOL number 10454 (Civil Aviation Authority) covers flight-inclusive Package Holidays and ATOL-protected flight-only sales made in the UK.
• Safari Consultants: Says 'fully bonded'/'100% financial guarantees': ATOL licence 3783 covers holidays including a scheduled flight.
• Scott Dunn: 'fully bonded tour operator... 100% financial security'.
• Steppes Travel: 'Your money is 100% protected': ATOL (number 6945, CAA) for flight-inclusive packages.
• Yellow Zebra Safaris: 'Fully accredited and bonded under ATOL 10614'; full member of ATTA.

Which safari operators are bonded or financially protected if they go bust?

Each card quotes the planner's own line on your money, so you can compare what each one offers before you ask for a quote.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 2 November 2026 · updated 2 November 2026