Who are we at "ZamSaf"?

We’re specialist safari operators with our head office in the United Kingdom and satellite offices in Johannesburg (South Africa), the Zambezi Valley (Zimbabwe) and Luangwa Valley (Zambia).  We're closely allied to ground handlers in Nairobi (Kenya) and Arusha (Tanzania).

The company started in 1995 on the shores of Lake Kariba when we took over the marketing, sales and admin functions of two safari operations and launched our first web site. Very heady days then as the first tour operator in Zimbabwe to offer consumers online access to safaris and one of the first in Africa to do online credit card transactions from April 1996...(a really big deal then!)

We boomed in the Zambezi valley and throughout Zimbabwe and Botswana in the 90’s until political chaos in the country caused our prime North American (70% of our business) and European markets to simply decide on going elsewhere. It was time to “migrate” our head office to the First World (with stable economies, safe banks, reliable communications and infrastructure that always works).

So 2000 saw a swift move to England with changes in climate and lifestyle for some of the team whilst the rest sweated things out at home. The last few years have seen some big knocks (Sept 2001 for one) but more good opportunities than we could have wished for too! 

• Zambia has taken off where Zimbabwe left off,

• our traditional southern African haunts (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi) are offering good value safaris,

• we're strong in Gabon, primates in Rwanda and Uganda are popular, East Africa is booming...

We’ve had the great fortunes of a resolute and enthusiastic team in the company, some strong alliances with a selection of owner-run and medium sized safari operations in Southern and East Africa plus resilient and adventurous clients who’ve been undeterred by some of the things that just get in the way of enjoying life.

So here we are, we’ve spread wings well beyond the early stamping grounds, our safaris are exciting, we're busy and still finding places to explore with old and new friends…

A bit about the company itself…the formal stuff...

• "Zambezi Safari and Travel Company Ltd" is a UK registered company (#3672841)
• Registered Offices: Cobourg House, Mayflower Street, Plymouth, PL1 1LG UK
• the company holds all necessary Professional Indemnity, public and product liability insurance required by EU and UK regulations
• is registered with The Travel Trust Association (R9717)
• is licensed by the CAA and holds ATOL T7158
• Our standard conditions 
• Our privacy policy
• Consumer protection
• the company complies with The Data Protection Act 1998   

What do we do? 

Our core business is safari marketing, consulting and sales. Quite simply we focus on planning and arranging tailor-made safaris in Africa for independent travellers and small groups.

• We earn our daily bread through commissions on the safaris that we sell directly to consumers.
• We act as wholesalers to a modest number of very competent agents in North America, Australia and Europe.

...our markets

• by every account, everyday people from every demographic sector who share a few things in common: independence, a spirit of adventure and a simple attraction to outdoor lifestyles

• …about a 1/3 from North America, 1/3 from the United Kingdom, 1/3 from Africa, New Zealand, Australia and small British and African expatriate communities around the world

...our competitors 

• a strong and able range of specialist safari consultants, mostly in the US, UK and South Africa plus a variety of new and old tour operators and suppliers
• a host of excellent adventure options in adventure destinations in South America, New Zealand, Australia and Asia

What makes us different? 

• We're largely born and bred Africans – we’ve experienced most of the very best and worst that Africa offers

• We have an intimate and current knowledge of what's happening on the ground wherever we operate

• We work exceptionally hard at building and maintaining strong relationships with business partners and allies - we support them, they support us

• We go out of our way to match the needs of our clients and taking special pleasure in the many close friendships that have formed over the years

• We’re passionate, honest and deliver what we say…

• We have more fun at work than most!

Find out a bit more about the team... 

Go to this safari primer, it'll give you an idea on how we approach going on safari...