Should I book with a local company or with a 'well known' travel agent?

It's hard to decide sometimes if booking a safari with a local company or booking with a recognised overseas 'big' third party travel agent is the best option when going on safari.

It really comes down to your personal preference and what you feel more comfortable doing.

We personally like to book with local companies as it supports sustainable tourism and also often reduces your costs drastically, as you are cutting out the third party! Big-third party overseas travel agents that 're-sell' safaris can often cost a lot more and are less likely to contribute to the local communities and projects.

However, there is no doubt that travelling to Africa does raise questions about safety and scams and it can be a complicated process particularly ensuring you have selected a reputable company.

To give you an example, the safari that we booked for Tanzania (in Feb 2024) cost us US$4500 booking directly with a local company. If we had booked through a well known travel agent for a similar trip it would have cost us DOUBLE the amount! We literally would not have been able to afford a safari if we had booked through a big, overseas well-known travel agent.

That said, if safety is a huge concern and you want to ensure that a safari company is working in partnership with a big tour company, then booking through a tour company may be the best option for you. Ultimately it's a decision only you can make.

Important considerations when booking directly with safari tour operators: Payments are typically made into foreign business bank accounts, so payments can be a bit more complex and we recommend using trusted, reputable, tour operators. Unlike traditional travel agents, there often isn’t financial protection included (like ABTA ir ATOL here in the UK) , so it’s important to take precautions when planning your safari, use secure payment methods and ensure you have sufficient travel insurance in place

Below we list the pros and cons of each option and points you should consider:

Booking with a local safari company

Pros:

• You are supporting the sustainable tourism and the local economy

• The price will likely be cheaper in comparison to an overseas travel agent that re-sell safaris

• You will be able to tailor your tours more specifically to what you want

• You get a more personalised service

• They usually have a deeper knowledge of the areas and the best safari routes to suit your preferences

• It may make a safari 'affordable' within your budget

• Reputable safari companies will be donating a portion of their income to support local communities, grassroot projects and inititaives.

Cons:

• Working out if they are legitimate and reputable can be a challenge - It requires more research and time!

• Payment methods could be a little more complicated and there is no financial protection offered.

• Some saafri companies may not have such a robust cancellation policy in place. (Another reason it's important to obtain travel insurance!)

Booking through a well-known, third party travel agent

Pros:

• It takes a lot of the hassle out of planning, especially for complex itineraries

• Payment may be easier to arrange and sometimes provides financial protection

• There may be more 'protection' over the trip if any cancellations occur

• It's more convenient

Cons:

• You could be paying a lot more for your safari!

• There may be more limited options available

• It doesn't support sustianble tourism in the same way booking dircetly does and it may not be supoprting local companies

• Not likely to be donating a % of their income to local grassroots projects.

• If they are using a local operator to conduct your tour, you are likely not going to know who that operator is.