Martin Smith, Managing Director
Kingfisher Safaris
- Office In:
-
United Kingdom
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- Botswana Guides Association
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,736 to $26,038 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
CR
Email Jonathan R Green | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Simply the BEST. Everything we had hoped for and much MORE. A dream come true
The initial contact and response to my enquiries was immediate. I stated what we hoped to see and Martin sent an itinerary which fit exactly what we were looking for. Other companies just sent a list of possible itineraries which was not what we wanted.
We specifically wanted an in depth experience with a private vehicle and guide which was part of the package offered. Our Guide, Pilot Manga, is born and raised in the Okavango and found all of the animals we were hoping to see, despite high grass. If Pilot cannot find an animal it is because it is not there! His skills in the bush are impressive and he imparts an incredible and personal experience that makes the unforgettable.
Our chef and camp manager were both equally delightful and looked after our every need with care and kindness. The service comes from their hearts and this is not something that is easily found in today's world. We did not want to be in areas with groups or crowds and did not want the luxury lodge option which does not, in my opinion bring you so close to nature.
We visited two different areas that contrasted and complimented each other and the planning, execution and running of the tour, travel between areas and all related details were meticulously taken care of.
If you are looking for an incredible and very personal experience, then look no further. THIS is the BEST option you will find.
Email Paul Smith | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent help and guidance from Martin in finding a Safari which met all our needs and aspirations
A great experience in Botswana which was delivered as promised, very good value for money, with first class guides at each location. We were kept fully informed and very pleased that what was promised by way of accommodation and experience was delivered. Game drives were professionally delivered by knowledgeable and interested Guides, all of whom took the trouble to find out what our interests were. Would certainly use the excellent service provided by Martin at Kingfisher again.
Email Julie Gale | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kingfisher Safaris know their business and are excellent at it!
First rate at every turn! Martin, who has so much personal experience of Botswana, guided us through our options and found a perfect fit to match our request and answered any questions we had incredibly promptly. We went for a Mobile Tented Safari for 10days covering three camps; Chobe, Khawai and Moremi. We were met at Maun Airport by our guide, Pilot, and his team and they collectively saw to it we had an experience we could never have imagined as it was out of this world! I don't camp but was prepared to sleep little to see the animals in their natural environment. I was expecting basic. However, I did sleep and on a bed, there was a shower with hot water and hot water in basins supplied whenever it was required. There was also a loo with seat! Meals were plentiful and delicious (a three course every evening - 4*). Drinks and snacks beside a log fire watching the spectacular sunsets whilst hearing the elephants in the bush next to you or the hippos in the water even lions in the distance. The safaris themselves (generally two a day) were conducted by Pilot. I cannot rate Pilot highly enough. So many years of experience, so much respect from the other guides, incredible knowledge about the bush, the animals and birds - he had a wicked sense of humour too. He taught us how to track and as a consequence of his tracking ability we saw ALL the animals. Tented, yes. Basic, certainly not. Spectacular, absolutely!
Email Melissa Merickel | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I have never experienced such good customer service as we received from Martin Smith of Kingfisher S
We were lucky to find Kingfisher Safaris on this site for our trip to Botswana. Martin Smith of Kingfisher Safaris was perfect in our communications, extremely prompt and very specific answers. His details in putting together our three camp safari was outstanding. It was our best trip ever, and I highly recommend Kingfisher Safaris. He could teach a course in customer service! Melissa Merickel
IL
Email Shlomit | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great trip to the Okavango delta with Pilot and his team
We did a 7 day mobile safary with Kingfisher/Pilot and the quality of everything was excellent. Pilot, who is the local provider, is a hugely experienced and excellent guide. He knows where the animals will go next... We had some amazing sightings of wild dogs and lions that we will never forget. The rest of the team, the camping, the food etc were all of an excellent quality. The vehicle was in good shape and comfortable.
Email Jim S | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extraordinary Tour by Kingfisher Safaris
Martin at Kingfisher Safaris developed a fantastic 3 camp Botswana safari for us on relatively short notice. Each of the three camps (Delta, Linyanti Expedition, and Khwai Leadwood) were different, enjoyable and unique in their own ways. All three were relatively small with warm, hospitable staff and superb safari guides.
What impressed us about this overall experience was the excellent and prompt communication with Martin. He responded with choices in the itineraries and once formulated proceeded to completion quickly and efficiently. I hope to travel in the future on a trip organized by Kingfisher.
DE
Email Lo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Honest and very helpful
Martin is the guy who you will write emails with. He responded very quickly and gave us an answer to a lot of questions we had. He was also very open and honest about the rainy season and our concerns.
He works together with the tour guide Pilot which we really really can recommand to everybody. Pilot is very friendly and eager to show you all the animals out there. We even sometimes had to tell him that we were very happy with the day and that it is fine that we leave now. He once got the tip that there are lion babys and we went to the same place 3 times and than the last time he really found them in the bushes.
Email Marilyn and Kathy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Outstanding. Far exceeded our expectations in every aspect. Staff, helpful, friendly, food amazing.
Everything amazing. Cannot fault. Value for money.
Email Paul | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent organisation delivering exactly what was promised
Martin understood immediately what we were looking for from both a budget and experience. The trip he suggested exceeded our expectations and was very good value. We went firstly to the Okavango Delta - the camp was a very authentic Safari Camp and the game viewing was brilliant- we even saw a very rare Pangolin and also our guide took us for a night drive and found a Aardvark!
The other 6 nights were Mobile Safari with a wonderful guide Pilot together with his team who could not do enough to make the trip so enjoyable! 2 different locations the Mababe and Moremi Parks. Pilot managed to find us 20 Lions who killed 7 Buffalo and 29 Wild Dogs together will numerous other excellent viewings. A perfect Safari!
SG
Email Hui Ping | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trusting and Reliable Tour Operator that provides us a Once-a lifetime Experience in Botswana!
It is Martin's words of assurance, his knowledgeable background about Botswana and his active communication that ends my months of searching for the right operator for our trip to Botswana. We told him what we hope to see during our 9 days 8 nights stay at Botswana and he crafted out 5 nights at Moremi and Khwai, followed by 3 nights at Mababe campsite. He took into consideration of my husband's medical concerns and suggested us flying into Xakanaxa and exit by Khwai and we were glad to be given the opportunity of our live time to ride the 5 seater plane by Mackair and we were simply thrilled. We even spotted a troop of elephants from the plane.
Once there, we were greeted by Pilot, an experienced guide and tracker who came personally to pick us and we started our game drive immediately. During our stay, his crew, namely Elena, Pauline (the talented chef) and Sruu took good care of us, ensuring that we were kept warm during winter times, making sure we have warm and delicious food and keeping our tent clean and neat whenever we returned from our game drives.
We listed what we hope to see at Botswana and Pilot gave us more than we wanted. His active communications with the other trackers as well as his years of experience of tracking animals made it possible to see more animals. His driving, to others, might seemed too fast and reckless but we knew that he did not want us to miss seeing the animals in action. That is what game drive is all about. He always checked on our safety during the rides.
We saw wild dogs, cheetahs and lions attempting to hunt, abeit failed, leopard cautioning us to stay away as he had an impala up on the tree, close encounter with herds of eleplants, cape buffaloes, impalas and visited a den of hyenas with a gamily of at least 11 living there. The list goes on. As we were staying in the tent, we had lion, elephant and hyenas visitations at night but that added further excitement to our experience. Over at Mababe, it was quieter as the animals spotted were fewer but Mababe gave us a totally different experience. The wide, vast plains were unique, raw and so remote that we felt we were the only humans walking on this side of the Earth. Over at Mababe, it was our first sightings of the African wild cat and Genet too.
Pilot and his crew gave us a treat on our last night, whipping out their local dishes, dancing and singing around the campfire.
Thank you for the unforgettable memories and excellent services.
