Safari Guru Avis 6

Great experience, great place, and many memories. Exceeded my expectations. Thank yo,u Deon and Team.

The team provided excellent service, offered alternatives, planned everything to perfection, were available any time for support and answer questions. Dion and Ashley were fantastic

I was introduced to Deon by a friend who described him as a South African with deep operational experience running safari camps in Africa—someone who “saw the light” and came to Australia. He now focuses on customised boutique tours for clients in Australia and the US. My mate described him as a good bloke who knows what makes a visit to Africa truly great.
Based on that recommendation, I asked Deon to put together a two-week trip for my wife and me that would include the gorillas in Rwanda and two safari camps of his choice.
We have just returned from that trip, and it was one of our best ever (and we do a lot of trips). We were able to secure points flights to Johannesburg and back. Once we arrived in Johannesburg, everything Deon had organised worked beautifully. At every airport, we were greeted at the aircraft door by a guide who escorted us through the VIP queues in customs and immigration to an awaiting driver with a beautiful car to take us to our hotel. For transfers, we were picked up by a driver and taken seamlessly to the airport or our next hotel. As a result, we never had to think about any of that logistical stuff—in a country where we don’t speak the language and where things could easily go awry if you’re unfamiliar with the place. There were no hitches across multiple transfers over the two weeks.
To help manage costs, Deon gave us great options for hotels and safari camps, along with excellent advice—based on his local knowledge—on where to splurge and where we didn’t need to. He guided us on what to take, what to wear, which vaccines we needed (and which we didn’t), and prebooking the activities he advised were not to be missed in each location. Hardly a day went by without one of us saying, “Thank goodness we had Deon’s advice.”
The gorilla experience in Rwanda was both amazing and unique. The guides and porters who helped us trek up the muddy mountain trails were fantastic. Seeing gorilla families in their natural habitat—so close—was unforgettable. And having a driver who helped remove our muddy boots and gaiters, handed us slippers, and then returned us to the hotel for a foot rub before heading to the room was absolutely perfect.
Deon arranged for us to have the same driver for the five days we were in Rwanda, which gave us control over our itinerary and allowed us to discover things we’d never have seen otherwise. Through our driver/guide, we gained real insight into what life is like for locals in Rwanda.
The side trip to the Genocide Museum in Kigali was also incredibly informative. I thought I might be depressed for months afterwards, but while it was a terrible tragedy, the way the story is told and displayed at the museum is moving, respectful, and not to be missed.
From there, we spent three days each at Tembo Plains and Mpala Jena—both Great Plains-operated camps with a strong emphasis on conservation. Situated on the Zambezi River, these camps gave us the opportunity to see wildlife from both the river and on game drives—two very different and equally spectacular perspectives. At the second camp, our guide was licensed to take us on foot into the bush, offering yet another completely unique experience.
Both camps were luxurious, and the level of service made us feel like we were living the lives of the rich and famous—at least for a few days.
Deon was supported by Ashley, who was based on the ground in South Africa and in the same time zone while we were travelling. Because the trip ran so smoothly, we rarely needed to call on her. The only time we did was when I wanted to purchase some South African-made merchandise available only in select Johannesburg stores. Ashley bought the goods herself and had them delivered to our hotel, allowing us to reimburse her later.
It was an incredible experience that created so many memories and stories. The experiences and sights of Africa are completely unique, and while they remain wild and accessible, we should all make every effort to see them. Deon will make sure you get the most out of your time there.
We’ve already asked Deon to book another trip for us, two years from now, to a different part of Africa.
Thank you, Deon and Safari Guru, for an unforgettable journey.

We had been recommended Ashley and Deon by friends of ours and the 3 week holiday of a lifetime ( not a term we use lightly ) was amazing.
From our initial conversations with both of them where they really listened to what we wanted out of the holiday, to the many questions we had during the planning process and the information provided about luggage, packing and tipping- all was expertly handled and nothing was too much trouble. Our holiday which was my husband, myself and our 22 year old son consisted of 2 safari bases in Botswana( the Delta and Chobe river), Victoria falls and an idyllic beach resort ( very remote) in Mozambique with a
hotel in Johannesburg airport as the stay between each part.
Everything was professionally curated with no glitches at all and the safaris were exceptional and hotels all great.
We would highly recommend using Safari Guru and definitely intend using them again in the future.

We had the most incredible safari experience across Botswana, South Africa, and Vic Falls, all thanks to the amazing team at Safari Guru. Huge thanks to Deon, Ashley, and Allan for planning such a well-organized and unforgettable trip — everything flowed perfectly from start to finish.

The accommodations were stunning, the experiences were beyond anything we imagined, and the transitions between countries were seamless. It was clear that a lot of thought and local expertise went into every part of the itinerary.

What really stood out were the little personal touches and thoughtful details that made the whole journey feel extra special. We felt completely taken care of and could just enjoy every moment without any stress.

If you're considering a safari through Southern Africa, we can't recommend Safari Guru enough. They truly go above and beyond!

We highly recommend Deon at Safari Guru! The trips he painstakingly organizes are the best. Whatever your budget he will make your African safari magic! You will feel safe from the first moment you land to when you take off for home. No detail is overlooked. The lodges and game viewing are of the highest quality. Before you go, consult Safari Guru.