Best Africa Big Five Safaris for 2026/2027

My husband and I started planning our Safari in Sept to go in May. Vihann at Discover Africa was wonderful!! He setup a video call on our timeline to ask what we wanted and actually listened. He came up with a plan that we agreed to and the rest was easy. All of our accommodations were exactly as promised, flights and transfers all went off without a hitch, so we had nothing to worry about the whole time just a wonderful experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Can not think of one negative comment to add.

This was the most thrilling vacation I have ever taken. Justin at Discover Africa planned everything down to the finest detail so it was effortless, magical and perfect from start to finish. A trip of a lifetime and then some!

We booked our safari adventures in Kenya and Tanzania with Susan at Discover Africa. The trip was nothing short of amazing, one of the best safari experiences we have ever enjoyed. Susan was thoughtful and patient throughout the planning process and really took time to understand what we wanted in a safari. Her recommendations were perfectly on point for us and our travel needs.

All logistical elements were smooth, and the services and amenities at both lodges that Susan recommended were exceptional. Our stay at Nimali Mara was particularly special with guide, Benson, offering us not only great sightings, but amazing animal interactions – from curious lion cubs playing (some still in the den) to lions mating to a lion challenging hyenas to access a watering hole! Our big cat experiences were truly top notch.

Thank you Susan for arranging such a special and memorable vacation for us; we will surely be in touch to plan our next African adventure.

We booked our safari through Chrizaan and the whole experience was absolutely fantastic. From the very beginning, communication was smooth and easy – both via email and WhatsApp – which made the planning process stress-free.

Despite our limited availability, she managed to secure our flights, transfers, and an amazing tented lodge for the exact dates we needed. Everything was perfectly organized: confirmations, payments, and all travel documents were clear and sent well in advance.

During the trip, everything ran seamlessly, and we even had the incredible luck of seeing the Big Five, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, and so much more – truly unforgettable. The lodge itself was excellent: the food was delicious, and they even adapted meals to be gluten free for my partner, which was such a thoughtful detail and made a big difference to our stay.

The service exceeded our expectations, both in quality and in value for money. I would 100% recommend booking with Chrizaan – not only did we enjoy an unforgettable safari, but we also felt truly taken care of throughout the entire journey.

We had a wonderful experience with Discover Africa and, specifically, Dev Panaino. Dev helped us plan a dream vacation to South Africa and Zimbabwe and made the planning from our end effortless. We met with Dev via Zoom calls for the initial trip planning, and he regularly followed up with us via email. Dev was personable, easy to work with, and really listened when we outlined the experiences we desired on this trip. He designed an itinerary that met and even exceeded all our goals. With his knowledge of the area, he had great ideas for enhancing our adventure. Discover Africa provided us with comprehensive information on how to prepare for the trip down to the smallest detail. We left home with our travel documents safely in tow and the knowledge that we could reach out to Dev at any time should difficulties arise. And they sure did.

It’s worth noting that Dev arranged all our ground transportation at each leg of the trip as well as a private guide for several excursions. We traveled in unexpected luxury on the excursions with a knowledgeable, friendly guide who really added depth to the experiences. Dev also strongly recommended a safari lodge other than the more popular (and expensive) choices we had researched ourselves on-line. It turned out to be a true hidden gem, upscale yet cozier and more intimate than the others.

One of us had an unfortunate, vacation-ending injury on the fourth day of the trip (bad fall resulting in a broken kneecap requiring immediate surgery). We contacted Dev almost immediately in near-panic about what to do and how to get home. He really rose to the occasion, reassuring us that he would help and we’d be safe. Dev made many on-the-fly arrangements for us, from finding last-minute hotel accommodations and dealing with the local airline to arranging ground transportation and making all the necessary cancellations/re-bookings. Following our return home, he provided gathered helpful information to support our travel insurance claim.

Although our trip did not work out as planned, needless to say we highly recommend Dev Panaino at Discover Africa and would absolutely work with him again.

We had an absolutely amazing experience with this travel agency! Cayleigh was incredibly professional, friendly, and organized every detail of our trip flawlessly. All the transfers were perfectly arranged — we didn’t have to worry or struggle with anything from the moment we arrived until the end of our journey.

Even when we needed a last-minute flight change, Cayleigh handled everything quickly and efficiently. It made our trip completely stress-free. We felt truly taken care of every step of the way.

Highly recommended — we’ll definitely book with them again!