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:
- $1,735 to $26,018 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
BR
Email L.S.E | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing sightings, responsive staff, felt safe in their hands
We have done many safaris before but this was our first time in Botswana and would be the first mobile camping... Martin assured we would enjoy it... and we did! We found Kingfisher Safaris searching in Safari Bookings. We decided to do this trip last minute and contacted many companies but Martin was the most responsive and, to be honest, offered us a great tailored itinerary and we always prefer to deal with small, specialised businesses. Jack pot! The ground team is great and we felt safe in their hands. Pilot is very experienced, knowledgeable and a great driver. Elena was our main hostess on camp, very sweet and efficient. We loved Pauline's breads and cakes and the way she announces the menu. Toby and Onks (not sure the spelling) work hard to ensure the camp functions well. We visited three locations in the Okavango region:
-Khwai River concession (which is beautiful but sometimes too many cars at the sightings, especially around leopard and lions);
- Mababe (Chobe National Park), quiet, good for birds, loads of giraffes, we didn't see much of the main predators (probably because it was a cold spell) but we loved the sunrises, sunsets and the fantastic sky (stargazing was amazing in all areas).
- Xiini (Moremi Reserve) - fantastic sightings, beautiful scenery, quiet, we loved it.
We spent 3 nights at each location, time went far too quickly. We saw wild dogs with very young puppies, a pride of 9 lions encountering elephants in their path, lion cubs feeding on zebra, cheetahs and cheetah cubs feeding on impala, leopard very near (few meters) from our camp in Xiini (also catching a young owl from its nest in the evening), big herds of elephants and giraffes both with young ones, buffalos, hippos, hienas, jackals, many fantastic birds and more. So many great moments to remember forever!
The mobile camp is an experience in itself but we adjusted easily. We had a nice bed and at the back of the tent, we had the toilet (the ones used in motorhomes) and a bucket shower. We were there in late July and some days were quite cold early in the morning and in the evening. You can set a time for your shower and the crew will provide the hot water), they also provide hot water in basin in the morning and evening for you to wash hands/face. There is a separate tent for meals and after the afternoon drive you arrive in camp always to find a very nice fire, nibbles and a drink before dinner.
The process of packing up to move to a different site was the time we liked less, as it can take a while for staff to take everything down and pack the cars. It can be a bit boring as there's not much for us to do. It would be nicer if we could go for a short drive while the rest of the staff deal with dismantling tents and the essentials packing, so we could make the most of the limited time we had in Botswana.
Overall, a great experience!
Email SM | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Seamless and responsive safari operator & experience
What an incredible trip to Botswana. We have memories that we will cherish for years to come. So appreciate Martin's prompt replies and availability. He was incredibly responsive and detailed in his replies to our many questions while also providing honest context on animals/terrain, travel prep, etc throughout the few months between booking and our travel dates. I had been in contact with a few tour companies before booking with Martin, but he was the most detailed, personable, and responsive in all of our email communications that it was the right choice.
We stuck with a more classic 7 day safari itinerary given our time was limited, but it felt like a truly immersive trip regardless and we felt at ease the entire time. The mix of accommodations were fantastic as well! We enjoyed the variety of activities - mokoro, game drives, night drives, and walking safaris. It was seamless having everything taken care of by Martin and the local operator so we could just focus on the experience. Sad to be back from our trip, but we look forward to visiting Africa again soon.
Email Paul | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An excellent tailor made Safari in Botswana covering desert, salt pans and delta, brilliant!
Well planned, understanding what we wanted and delivering.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
South Africa - A luxury trip
We asked Martin at Kingfisher to put together a trip for 4 of us travelling from Cape Town, along the garden route & to include a visit to a Game Reserve. We let Martin make suggestions based on his knowledge of the area & of us & did not need to make any changes to his suggested itinerary. Our booking was handled efficiently & we were kept advised of everything at all times. The choice of places to stay & the accommodation arranged for us was beyond my expectations. They were diverse enabling us to enjoy a lot of what the Cape & Garden route has to offer, & all accommodation was top quality. This is the 3rd time I have used Kingfisher Safaris for my travels to Africa & I would have no hesitation in using them again.
Email Bob and Ei | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Superb planning - we have holidayed all over the world but never felt so 'looked after' before.
We had never travelled to South Africa before so wanted to experience a safari but also to visit other parts of the country. We picked Kingfisher Safaris as we would be dealing with people who had actually lived and worked there. Our experience was was extremely positive from beginning to end, with Martin's suggestions and planning producing a well balanced trip that not only appeared exciting, but in the event exceeded all our expectations. All our accommodation was first class and arrangements fell into place like clockwork.
We have holdayed allover the world but never felt so 'looked after' before, with Martin even contacting us during the trip to ensure all was going to plan.
We visited ancient forests, national parks, intriguing villages and beautiful coastline but the highlight must be the safari section. Superb facilities were matched by an absolutely excellent guide with an encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject. Game viewing was brilliant and even included a successful lion hunt - apparently seen by very few.
Would we recommend Kingfisher Safaris? Absolutely. The thought and planning that went into our trip surpassed anything we have previously encountered. There's no doubt that real local experience and knowledge pays off, and in our case resulted in the best trip we have ever taken
Email Wendy Sundquist | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The adventure of a lifetime!!
We had hoped that this safari would be wonderful, but it far exceeded our expectations. It was the trip of a lifetime for me and my friend. it started with Martin at Kingfisher Safaris. He helped us to book the trip we wanted - 12 nights in the bush on a luxury mobile safari with Pilot. Martin answered all our questions, was incredibly responsive to our questions and made sure we had all we needed for the trip as well as guidance in transportation.
My friend had taken a safari with her daughter 20 years earlier with Pilot as their guide so we knew we wanted him again on this trip. Pilot has many years of experience; he is definitely safari guide extraordinaire. His number one priority is to keep every one safe - I never felt scared. Pilot is very bright, skilled and determined to find the Botswana animals, birds, etc as well as taught us about animal behavior, tracking and when to give a wild animal their space. He loves what he is doing. He is warm and has a wonderful sense of humor which made the trip very fun as well. His staff work as a team and really enjoy people and each other. He does not have a cook - he has an amazing Chef - KG. She prepares food over a fire and bakes in a metal box with coals which included homemade bread every meal. Beef, fish and chicken are the main entrees prepared in different ways, salads, fresh cooked vegetables etc and incredible desserts such as bananas foster, brownies, cake and crème caramel.
Elaina was our hostess who looked after our needs and wants such as hot water bottle for the cold nights, our tent and bathroom needs, served us those delicious meals as well as helping the other staff. Toby prepared our warm water for our shower and washbasin, helped to take down and put up the tent, pack and whatever else needed to be done.
Value for the money ? Oh my gosh yes!! We both think we got a deal. We are so glad we did the mobile safari - we went to 4 different camp sights to see and hear a variety of wild beings. One afternoon we were sitting in our chair between game drives and had an elephant walk past our tent on his way to the other side. And saw a lioness walk on the road right outside of our campsite - she was looking for her sisters and could have cared less about us.
The trip was the most exciting, fun adventure I have ever had. Would I do it again? You bet!! Thank you so much Martin, Pilot and your staff.
Email Paul | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Thoughtfully planned giving different experiences of Desert, Delta and Salt Pans. Brilliant trip!
Excellent service with careful planning to meet our needs. The choice of Camps meant we saw different parts of Botswana, each special and very worthwhile. Expectations were exceeded and we met very knowledgeable guides and staff in the 3 Camps. Seamless transfers by light aircraft ensured trouble free travel. We will certainly return and trust our tour to Kingfisher who clearly have used their on the ground experience to best advantage, definitely hitting the spot for us! Thank you for a relaxing and rewarding holiday.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly recommended
We approached Kingfisher online somewhat at the last minute to help us plan a two-part safari in Zimbabwe and Botswana, and were extremely satisfied with the service we received. From the very beginning Martin was always available via email or phone to answer any questions we had or make suggestions. He helped walk us though a number of logistical snags early on and was patient and accommodating. We were very happy at the lodges he booked us in within Zimbabwe (Kanga and The Hide) and even when we were in Zimbabwe he was always immediately reachable to answer questions on his phone. At one point a family member back at home was worried about us and contacted him to reach us, and he immediately helped her find us and put her mind at ease. She was so impressed by him and said that if I did ever write a review, I needed to mention that she thought it was the best customer service she had ever received.
We also asked Martin to put together a mobile camp safari for us in Botswana for the second half and really enjoyed that as a change from the luxury lodges. Although there were a few snags (late arrival for our pick-up at the border, things taking longer than expected), Martin was always available via phone and once we experienced the roads in Botswana everything made sense! Our mobile camp was a great time, and we especially recommend our guide Pilot to anyone going to Botswana - he really made the trip there for us. It's definitely not luxurious, but plenty nice for people used to tent camping and really special to be out in the bush surrounded only by nature! We heard animal noises all night and woke to lion and hyena paw prints by the campfire! The food was good and the staff worked hard to make sure that our desires were met. Our kids (ages 13, 11, and 9) had a blast, were very comfortable, and felt like they were on a real adventure.
All-in-all I would say don't hesitate to use Kingfisher to help you plan and execute whatever you're looking for in your dream safari.