Owners Ines & Christopher
Indigo Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United KingdomUnited States
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- ASTA, APTA, FGASA & DEMA
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,205 to $17,215 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
CA
Email Lynda | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Indigo Safari's Specialist Matthew Milward was professional, knowledgeable, responsive and friendly.
Matthew listened carefully to our needs and arranged for us to have a four day safari experience at Umkumbe Bush Lodge, on the Sabie Reserve, South Africa. Well done! This was a perfect match; we had wanted a smaller intimate family owned lodge.
Flight and transfer - The small Airlink plane from Cape Town to Nelspruit was on time and transfer to the lodge by the Oribis company driver was friendly and efficient.
Lodge - We found Umkumbe Bush Lodge well managed. Knowledgeable staff presented us with a warm welcome. They demonstrated a strong sense of teamwork; their schedules ran like a clock. We loved the Honeymoon suite. Located at the end of the property, it was quiet, luxurious and we saw impala, zebras, in the adjacent field and a curious baboon at the tent door. We made full use of the plunge pool. The bed was very comfortable and the bedding was soft high quality cotton. We appreciated the AC during the hottest parts of the day. All the meals were creative and delicious. The common areas were just as well appointed as our tent. We socialized easily with other guests. We left the main pool to younger guests who wanted to fry in the sun on off-drive hours.
Game Drives - Our guide, Peter, was fabulous - friendly, knowledgeable, very open to questions, and had a great sense of humour. We saw tons of animals. I wanted to see a rhino - we saw lots, including a couple who had recently had a run-in with a hippo and stomped and strutted in front of us, not wanting to give us the road. There were either only four or six of us on the safari vehicle on all drives; everyone had an excellent view. This safari was truly a memorable experience. Thank you Matthew and Indigo Safaris!
Email Daniela | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A travel agent who does not listen based on my experience
Super disappointed about the experience: a travel agent who does not listen, empty promises, long wait after 5 hours of drive, another 2 hours for a room ( triple for a person)
Definitely not an agency which I recommend, try and get someone who is really professional and tries to do something for you
No value for money, despite promises of a good experience, just excuses
Reply from Indigo Safaris
Posted on Oct 22, 2024This is one of the most surprising and untruthful reviews we have ever received. As the Managing Director of a company I have built over the last 16 years by providing tailor-made experiences to travellers of all budgets and backgrounds, I take any complaint very seriously and look into them with commitment. Thanks to our detailed communication systems, I have been able to look into all the communication that took place between the client, Cristina (not Daniela), and my safari specialist Michele, who looked after this inquiry.
Initially Cristina enquired about a budget accommodated two-night short Etosha safari at short notice, which we found availability for, then changed her mind on the dates, then came back asking for a one-night Etosha trip from Windhoek, which we do not offer as we consider it to be too short a time on site for what are two long transfers either end. Our advice was unheeded, and Cristina insisted one night would be fine. Michele found availability at Etosha Safari Camp, booked it, invoiced it, and sent a detailed digital itinerary with images of the camp and details of the routing. The accommodation was reconfirmed as being at Etosha Safari Camp and not Etosha Safari Lodge via WhatsApp. All Michele's replies were punctual and very timely, and did as the client requested.
Upon arrival at Etosha Safari Camp, Cristina messaged Michele that the drive had been five hours. This is as per the usual driving time, and as per the information provided in the digital itinerary. I find it very surprising that someone who works in Windhoek and who has a senior position at the University of Namibia doesn't know that Etosha is five hours away. Nevertheless, there is nothing we can do about making the point of departure and the national park closer together. Moving either of Windhoek or Etosha NP is beyond our powers :-)
The client then complained about having to wait to check in to her room, even though she had arrived prior to check in time. Again, as a frequent traveller, I am at a loss to understand why she thought there would be an early check in as none was ever discussed or offered.
Christina then requested an upgrade to Etosha Safari Lodge. Immediately Michele enquired an found a room was available, at normal check in time, for an upgrade fee, and informed Cristina, who refused to pay it. Cristina then contacted the lodge by phone, and tried to make them believe we had sold her Safari Lodge and that is what she had paid for. Having worked with us for many years, the lodge found this hard to believe, and asked her to pay the upgrade fee if she wanted the upgrade.
During this time, Michele tried t ascertain why the client wanted to change, having been provided what she had been offered and paid for, to whit a private room with en suite bathroom, to no avail. Why it a room designed and sized for three occupants is a problem for single occupancy remains a mystery, as after the trip I reached out to Cristina to have a chat to try and ascertain where she felt Michele had made promises we didn't deliver on, but was told that she didn't want to talk about it.
Regarding value for money, this is obviously a matter of personal perception. This trip, as a two-night, three-day Etosha lodge safari with transfers is, in my professional experience of nearly 30 years of Namibia travel, very good value and the cheapest option out there at 9425 NAD for single occupancy for two nights half-board with a half-day and full-day game drive into Etosha (or 8500 NAD pp based on two sharing a room). As a one-night trip, it does lose some of its value for money as the transfers make a large portion of the trip, and this was communicated from the outset. But when the offer was sent, with images of the accommodation and camp, Cristina considered it to be what she wanted and one would assume value for money. I have tried to find out why that was not the case once on site, and why she felt the need to lie about our contract with her to a tested and trusted service provider, but no answers have been forthcoming.
The conclusion to my investigation is that Michele did nothing wrong, other than allow herself to be persuaded to provide a trip that I consider to be too short in duration in relation to the transfer times, in order to please a demanding client. Michele has been involved in African travel in many capacities over four decades; scuba dive business owner, lodge manager, and safari specialist to name some of them, and has excellent reviews from our clients, some of which can be found in reviews as recent as September and August below.
As we are as committed as ever to providing quality experiences for our clients, for whom we handle around 800 trips a year, I have reminded my team of experts that one night trips are not to be provided, however good the intention is.
Christopher Bartlett, Managing Director.
Email Bess Thompson | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent!
Michele was wonderful to work with. She was patient with our large group while we changed dates and plans. She was able to guide us through the process and ultimately planned the BEST vacation for us. Every detail from transport, to celebrating my Mom's birthday at every turn, to accommodations, tours and more was clearly thought out! I would highly recommend Michele and Indigo Safaris! You will not be disappointed.
CA
Email Evangeline Smith | 65+ years of age
A great experience with Indigo Safaris in planning our visit to Cape Town.
I fell upon Indigo Safaris by chance while doing an internet search for our Africa trip. Our group of seven needed help in planning six days in Cape Town. We were connected to Kerry Wyatt, a senior specialist with the company. Our group has travelled all over the world and we have to say that Kerry met all our expectations. She was patient with our numerous requests, prompt in her replies and offered advice and her professional opinion on all our concerns. She was considerate of our budget, the average age of our group and dietary restrictions. Kerry booked us at La Splendida, a boutique hotel on the waterfront with spacious rooms and all the basic amenities. Breakfast is included. We were pleasantly surprised with the choice and quality of the breakfast at Sotano, the restaurant connected to the hotel. This restaurant has a fun and vibrant after work clientele and offers a great, and affordable, menu for lunch and supper. Kerry also, organized with care, tours for every day of our stay, from the Cape Town peninsula, to the vineyards, the museums and many other attractions of the city and surrounding area. On arrival to Cape Town we were greeted at the airport by a driver who took all seven of us to the hotel. The same attention was provided on our day of departure making sure we arrived at the airport at the proper time. I can’t say enough about Kerry and Indigo Safaris for taking care of all the details of our trip. Kerry arranged the car rides and day tours with the company African Eagle. Our guide Raegan Felix was a gem. We were, once again, very fortunate to have very knowledgeable and respectful guide who accommodated us in every possible way. Many thanks to Indigo Safaris for their diligent and very professional work. You made our trip to Cape Town one we will always remember.
Email Cheryl Rampelt | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Agents are knowledgeable, organized and excellent at matching travelers with the right destination.
I am a solo traveler, who was seeking a safe way to do some African safaris for the first time without a tour group. Indigo Safaris made suggestions and we created a trip based on my priorities. My accommodations in Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls and Botswana were unique, beautiful with good service and fabulous food! My guides were terrific. I literally felt like a princess, while at the lodges. All of my accommodations, including the cities, had dining so that it was not necessary for me to find places to eat. There was enough time built in for my pre-arranged transfers and for some explorations, meaning sight seeing not animal tracking, on my own, such as in Capetown and Victoria Falls. When I needed assistance a couple of times, Indigo personnel were responsive to that.
I have travelled quite a lot, and this was one of the best trips I have taken. I believe that one of the strengths of Indigo Safaris is that the agents you work with are so experienced. They personally visit the destinations and accommodations before sending their clients there. So, for example, they knew, where I would see many elephants, which are my personal favorite wild animal, but fewer tourists.
I felt the cost of my trip was very fair. I did voluntarily book my own airfares, which of course are a separate cost, but the trip cost included all of the land transfers and many of my meals. Indigo provided me with a digital itinerary, which would have been the perfect tool had I not had my cell phone stolen on my first day. Fortunately, the staff at my accommodations assisted with getting me in touch with Indigo and my family back home. I highly recommend Indigo Safaris for any sort of trip to Africa.
Email Jeremy Vines | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Chamelion is well organised with good equipment and Gideon was an excellent guide, driver, and cook.
Mathew was very efficient, understanding and quick to respond.
Namibia is a very young and interesting country. It seems to be well governed and at peace with itself. They also speak English, drive on the left, watch plenty of football, and rugby is a national sport.
The tour or safari took us North to Etosha National Park, West to the Skeleton coast and South to the giant dunes. About 2000 km of driving in 6 days. Everything went to plan. A lot of good tar road, but also plenty of 'African massage' on dirt tracks. We saw around 20 different mammals including lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe and rhino. Plenty of birds too.
The accommodation was good, particularly in the lodges where air conditioning was a blessing. Chamelion backpackers lodge in Windhoek was fun and very adequate. Food was good, and I was lucky to have great companions from USA, Singapore, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark and Japan. Gideon our guide, was excellent and very caring. I am 86 and probably the oldest visitor he has had to cope with!
All in all it was a great experience and good value for money.
Email Fiona Merriweather | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
Liked the personal touch, not just e-mails but also an introductory phone call which gave opportunity to ask questions. October is a good time of year to visit, no insects, and not too hot. Seeing all these amazing animals in the wild, close up, was truly magnificent. The lodges we stayed in were comfortable, not luxurious but homely and the staff were lovely. The food was simple tasty homemade fare and there was a bar for drinks in each site. The bush barbeque was very atmospheric, especially when a hyena came near. All organisation was very smooth safari is not cheap but the cost was reasonable.
Email Jody | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and experienced catering to our budget, wants and needs in every way possible.
From the very start of looking for a safari for my son and I, I wanted it to be a memorable experience for us both.
I had looked on several sites before finding Indigo Safaris and Kerry was the first travel agent who had made contact with me and asked if we could have a live chat over zoom. Kerry went out of her way to make sure that I had the best safari within my budget and that included all the experiences I wanted.
She had no doubt at all that I would see the 'Big 5' and that we would have the best experience. She talked of the safaris she had been on and even how she had been to the places she was suggesting, the layout, what would be provided with, the safari experience and in detail.
I couldn't find any reviews on TripAdvisor and Kerry provided personal references for reviews that I could contact and the people that I contacted were singing Kerry's and Indigo Safaris praises.
After a few different options I decided on Basecamp Explorer for our 4 night and 3-day Safari In Kenya.
We had a trip planned to go to Japan first before going to Keyna. Kerry made sure that she was in contact with us throughout our trip and leading up to getting to Nairobi.
Our Safari guide Simon picked us up at our accommodation in Nairobi and we drove 5 hours with two breaks in between.
Our accommodation at Basecamp Explorer was a glamping/camping style tent with yummy meals provided for breakfast, lunch and dinner and customer service that always went over and beyond our expectations. Our tent had hot running water, a flush toilet, and two twin beds which was super perfect and everything we needed. This camp is also know for being the place where Barack Obama and his family had stayed when they were in Kenya.
Within the 3-day safari we went out twice a day every day with our driver Simon and went out on a safari jeep with only my son and I in our jeep. There were times where we would see other safari vehicles with up to 12 people in one vehicle and we felt so happy it was just us in ours. It meant we had a really personalized experience with Simon, and he could work with us to see exactly what we were wanting to see and focus on.
Our hostess Esther thoroughly looked after us with every meal and made sure our stay was amazing. We even had personal security guards that would stay up all night and guard our tents.
We saw so many zebras, and warthogs and giraffes, it became so normal to see them every day. We also got to see Hippo's at breakfast one morning getting into the river. We saw Buffalo, a Cheetah with her little cubs, Lions just strolling around, Elephants with their babies, and a black Rhino as well which is super rare. We even saw Lions sleeping in a pack one day. Every interaction was so close it was surreal, to see these beautiful animals in their own environments living their best lives. Loved every single moment.
We enjoyed every single second and were so looked after the entire time by the Basecamp Explorer Team, Simon our Driver, and Kerry from Indigo Safaris. Couldn't have had a better time and would forever and a day sing the praises of Kerry and Indigo Safaris.
Thanks again Kerry for everything.
ES
Email Barbara Marti | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great personal atention from Lindie
We spend three days at the chobe Safari , first night in the OLD HOUSE, wonderful little hotel with a fantastic cuisine, and then 2 nights in camp with all commodities really, great food and attention from all the staff, and the game was just fantastic, big herds of elephants and giraffes constantly around us, we saw twice leopards and twice lions, many zebras, hippoes, and thousands of Impalas around. Best weather in August, NO FLIES NOR MOSQUITOES, in general fantastic, then 2 days at the falls in the Palm River Hotel, really top hotel, thank you Indigo Safaris for an amazing trip.
Super helpful and responsive
Whilst we didn't end up going on a tour with Indigo Safaris I wanted to write a short review to say how amazing and responsive Kerry Wyatt and the team were. We set them an almost impossible task and Kerry was on to it and came back with excellent options. From that experience I would have no concerns booking a tour with Indigo Safaris when we go to Africa.