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
Email Dave & Jennifer Sutherland | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Helpful and knowlegeable - and went extra mile!
Early in 2018, Kingfisher helped us set up a trip to Kwando safari camps in Botswana. Martin, our agent at Kingfisher, was extremely helpful and provided a wealth of information and suggestions. And - without going into details - Kingfisher was wiling to go to extra lengths to make sure our trip worked out (beyond what we expected). At every step of the process we felt supported. We set up many aspects of the trip on our own, but Martin still provided thoughts and sage advice about those portions of our trip that were not booked through Kingfisher. Communication was prompt despite the time zone difference and we appreciated the travel tips document he sent us before we packed. We would happily use Kingfisher again if we are fortunate enough to go back to Africa!
Email Sue | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great!
What a fantastic trip to Namibia … what a country, what land, what a fabulous experience.
The tour was superb. The guide was a dream - knowledgeable, enthusiastic, a great ambassador for his country - a joy to be with. The places we stayed were great … some glamping, a hotel and an upgrade to a safari lodge (altho we would have prefered the tented camp as per the itinerary). The food was excellent, prepared by excellent cooks. The service was superb and the absolute pinnacle was finding hot water bottles in our beds in the bitterly cold desert nights. In Damarland, we tracked desert elephants and came across a herd of eleven; we tracked a rhino and baby for about 90 minutes - very exciting - but didn’t find them; we saw desert giraffes … again very exciting. And it was brilliant to be in remote, empty places with no phone connection, no internet and just be consumed by the land and the here and now. At the lodge when we were having an early breakfast, a male lion appeared at the waterhole … and when he’d finished we could hear him roaring in the bush.
I would book through Kingfisher Safaris again - Martin was always at the end of the email, always helpful and knoweldgeable. I would also go on a trip with Wilderness Safaris again - thorougly recommend Diverse Namibia tour.
Nightmare Honeymoon
So much went wrong in this 15 day trip I don't even know where to start. I am at the point where I think all the other reviews must be fake. It was sketchy from the very beginning and I would have surely cancelled if it weren't for the large deposit we had already paid. This was our honeymoon. The suggestions we were given were poor and provided little to no information. There were huge miscommunications between the travel agent and the local guide - honestly I don't understand how they can do business together. We were supposed to have a full serviced 15 day 'luxury´ camp, but on the last days of the trip WE ENDED UP SETTING CAMP AND THE TENT OURSELVES including cleaning the tent and DIGGING THE TOILET HOLE!! because they just abandoned us in a horrible island without any staff except for a chef. We were told there would be 2 games drives EVERY day, it turns out that on the day we changed camps there was no game drive at all because even though those drives were supposed to be considered game drives, the driver was not even stopping for us to have a look at animals. The evening drives on those days weren't even performed. We ended up having 6 game drives less than promised. We were not served alcohol due to COVID restrictions - which we understand- but the agent didn't provide us with any warning whatsoever beforehand, surely because he didn´t want to loose us as customers. Imagine finding out you won't even be able to have a glass of wine during your 15 day honeymoon once you get to the first camp and are in the middle of nowhere with nowhere to go. Additionally, no other activity or extra service to compensate for the price of the alcohol that wasn't bought was offered, so they basically stole 300 USD from us. The guide kept promising 'we will see rhino and wild dogs GUARANTEED in the next few days' and then we never saw them. Really, how unprofessional can you be? We never had the expectations of seeing them in the first place, but we did after his empty promises. When we asked to make some changes to the trip, the guide came with a ridiculous price, which didn´t make sense at all....yet another excuse to steal our money. On a couple of occasions we asked the guide to go check out specific things (like a dead elephant in the area) and he would say no because he just wanted to go chase whatever he felt like, thus we missed out on amazing sights. On more than a couple of occasions we were told to meet at a certain time to leave for the game drive, and they left us hanging for 30 min or more. The guide would sit with us every dinner and wouldn´t even talk to us, he would only talk to his staff in his language. Why even sit with us and ruin our dinner in the first place? All in all, it just felt like they manipulated and lied to us to take our money. And so many things more. Feel free to contact me and I can share more info and or photos of the disastrous camping setup. We felt and we feel robbed.
Reply from Kingfisher Safaris
Posted on Sep 30, 2021Thank you for the review. Unfortunately this review does not reflect the experience our guide and booking agent had with these clients. They were determined from the outset not enjoy their safari and find ways to somehow complain about everything and it started from the moment they arrived in Botswana.
Firstly i communicated with our guide throughout their stay via satellite phone and an internet connection (whatsapp) at the national park gates. I was in constant contact with our guide. At no point did they have to set up their own tent and at no point dig their own toilet, it is simply untrue.
They booked this trip through Safari Bookings and were well aware our mobile safaris are described as 'Budget', and at no point was the word 'luxury' used for these mobile safaris. They are still very nice and comfortable, however.
We decided to have them collected from Zambia in the morning to get them to Botswana as early as we could as we had no idea what the border would be like and how long it would take to cross due to the covid situation. This led to a slight delay in Kasane as the shops only opened late on the Sunday. They sent an immediate email asking for compensation, not the first time this would happen.
To address the alcohol claim that we didn't inform them or compensate them, this is untrue. They were informed prior to departure and made NO complaint. Whilst on safari they wanted 'compensation' for this and we offered a 2 hour Motorboat Cruise on the Xakanaxa Lagoon, which was rejected as they had already been on a boat in Victoria Falls! I have Whatsapp messages and email messages should you wish to see them that prove this.
To address the game drive comments: these clients decided that they wanted to be out in the vehicle ALL DAY and while this is fine, we're happy to compensate, it was they that did not listen to our guide, of 35 years experience in Botswana, and instead effectively forced the guide to follow sightings of others travellers who claimed to see things in other areas, thus chasing sightings, sometimes which were two hours away and the day before. In the end our guide decided that he would just follow their instructions and the result is they still saw lots and lots of wildlife just not the African Wild Dogs they wanted to and were desperate to see, despite their comments. Unfortunately they had unrealistic expectations and no guide in Botswana or anywhere else would GUARANTEE a sighting, that is patently ridiculous and they DID receive all game drives they paid for and were on the vehicle much, much longer than most clients on some days for 12 hours which is 4 hours more than we would normally expect.
I also need to address the 'change in itinerary' which would have meant heading to the Kalahari, a 6 hour drive from the Moremi where they were. Everything in their trip had already been paid for, national park fees, food, campsite fees, fuel, vehicle permits, all of which at that point cannot be refunded or recovered, thus the price we quoted was the same price as booking a new trip as all the same costs are associated. The idea were trying to steal, again, is a malicious attempt to do damage to our business and totally untrue.
Sightings:
The suggestion they had to put up their own tents and dig their own toilet is simply untue, i have no idea where this idea comes from.
They refused to pay a tip, which is fair enough they are not mandatory but decided that it was up to me, the booking agent to pay this instead as they hadn't chosen to do the Motorboat Cruise and have then made threats as follows:
"I'm giving you a last chance to confirm (the Chef) has received her money. I want a confirmation and evidence she has received it.
If I don’t get an answer I will make all in my power to make sure no one books from you again."
As you can see from these comments that the client emailed to us it is her intention to destroy our business, which is premeditated and despite me offering to match the funds if she offered to pay the tip, she has decided instead to try and ruin a business, which is owned by local people in Botswana who have suffered greatly due to the lack of travellers from abroad.
Please see all our other, independently verified, reviews as these are a true reflection of the level of service we offer. To be clear they received exactly what they paid for and got much more than that besides but they were determined to be unhappy right from the start and it's sad to see this kind of response when our guide did everything he could to make sure they had a great safari.
Here is part of the sightings report from our guide and you'll see they saw plenty:
Morning drive 10/08/2021 we saw:
African serval, kudus, impalas, gnus, zebras,
Afternoon drive we saw:
hyaenas with pups by the den, ostrich, steenboks, dwarf mongooses, Banded mongooses, white tailed mongooses, lots of birds,
Morning drive 11/08/2021 we saw:
15 lions on the kill gnu, I big male lion on the road, one female lion with 2 young cubs 2 months old, Black baked jackals, Giraffes, Ostrich, warthogs,
IT
Email Roberto Fattori | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Super mobile camping in Botswana
We have just returned from a no fence mobile camping safari in Botswana organized by Kingfisher Safaris. It was literally a magnificent and fantastic experience, we stayed 3 days in Moremi Game Reserve in Khwai area, 3 days in Chobe National Park in Savuti area, 3 days in Moremi Game Reserve in North Gate area and 2 days in Makgadikgadi National Park. It was a beautiful journey full of incredible sightings. But our experience wouldn't have been so rewarding had it not been for the staff led by our excellent guide Pilot Manga, who made us feel right at home. Exceptional food, always clean tent, very nice staff, very kind and very cordial. Last but not least we would like to thank Martin of Kingfisher Safaris, because he waited for our country to loosen the anticovid ties allowing us to travel abroad and freezing our trip for 2 years. I highly recommend everyone to try the magnificent experience we had with Kingfisher Safaris and the Pilot Manga staff because they are exceptional people who will make you live a true and unique African magic.
BE
Email Zeger Van den Broele | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unpretentious luxury with an excellent guide
Our experience with Kingfisher Safaris got off to the best of starts, even before we had formalised our booking. Martin is prompt and very precise in all his communication over e-mail. Even before we arrived in Botswana, we felt well looked after. This would be the theme throughout our 7 day safari in Moremi (Khwai Sector) and Chobe (Savuti Sector).
Pilot and his team (cook + camp hand) work like a well-oiled machine. The food is exquisite and non-repetitive: how Thaelo manages to squeeze this much out of a small cold box in the car is beyond us. Evening meals are three-course affairs, and lunch is refined splendour with lots of hearty and fruity dishes. Sleeping accommodation is simple but comfortable, in tents with a bush shower en-suite and plenty warm duvets to warn off the chill at night. The warm water bottles were a nice touch we greatly appreciated.
The main attraction of course is Pilot's guiding. He is an excellent spotter and knows the region like his back pocket. In addition, he is a true peoples person with an enormous network amongst the local guides. Everyone with a radio trips over each other to pass on exciting sightings to him, which makes him unbeatable when 'hunting' for lions at a kill or a well-hidden hyena den. In addition, he has an excellent eye for photographic opportunities and animal behaviour, always positioning his personalised LandCruiser in the best vantage point.
If we had to name one small minus, it would be that if you are a small group (one couple) the days that include transfers, are really transfer days without much else. This because all the gear needs to be packed and transported in the safari vehicle. With larger groups, there is a second vehicle doing all the breaking and setting up camp while you go on another game drive. The one night-drive in Khwai (where we stayed 3 nights) we did gave us such beautiful sightings (serval!), that we would have loved more opportunities like this. However, in the grand scheme of this safari, these remarks are mere details. We would recommend Martin and Pilot with his team to anyone who wants to have an authentic and well-tailored safari in Botswana. Pilot's campfire stories and attention to detail and safety will endear him to guests of all ages, including children.
Email Sheila Cosford | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Everything worked like clockwork
extremely happy with the organisation and the time spent in Botswana.
Organisation was faultless. We can recommend Kingfisher Safaris.
CA
Email Rose and Les | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Martin is prompt and efficient; a pleasure to work with.
My partner and I have taken many safaris in East Africa but this was our first time to Botswana and we loved the country and our safari. Sleeping in the tents on the mobile safari was thrilling with the sounds of hippos and lions at night. The food was varied and excellent. We seemed famished after a morning of photography and fell on the skewers of beef and potato salad like hungry leopards. Everything on the tour was well organized. This was our first mobile safari trip and we were astounded at the value and high level of guiding. Pilot, Kingfisher’s chief guide really throws his heart into searching out unusual wildlife sightings. He knows the landscape of the Okavango Delta intimately.
CA
Email Melissa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded our expectations! 10/10
Martin who arranged the trip responded quickly to our inquiry. We told him what we were looking for/ budget and he put together an itinerary that was perfect. We did a 9 night mobile safari at 3 different camps in Botswana. As outdoorsy people, we're used to camping but we were pleasantly surprised by well organized it was and the excellent service we received at camp. The food was delicious and they we're happy to accommodate my lactose intolerance and made me separate meals when necessary which I really appreciate. We had the larger tent which was really nice when we had downtime in the middle of the day and to spread out our luggage. Pilot, our guide, went above and beyond to make sure everything and everyone was take care of and his expert knowledge of the area and animals was what made the game drives so special, we saw all the animals we wanted to and more. He was also very respectful of the animals space and made sure we felt safe the whole time. We finished the trip at a hotel in Victoria Falls and they had all the transfers arranged so we didn't have to worry about a thing the whole time. Overall 10/10, great value for the money and we loved our experience in the bush.
PS. it's colder in the mornings in the open vehicle than you might expect so pack some warm clothes, I wore my wool hat almost every morning
Email Nate | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Second Safari Just At Memorable As The First
When booking my July 2024 Botswana mobile safari with Kingfisher Safaris, I knew it would be great. I didn’t think it would rival my October 2021 mobile safari with the same operator, though. The guide, staff, and fantastic wildlife sightings made that trip incredibly memorable. Sometimes, things we do the second time are better and more valuable.
For the July 2024 trip, my 11-night itinerary included:
-Two nights at Discovery Bed & Breakfast in Maun
-Three nights in the Chobe National Park’s Mababe region
-Three nights in the Khwai Concession
-Three nights in the Moremi Game Reserve’s Xini area
Discovery had a friendly, community-oriented vibe. Communal meals were served in an open-air dining area, and I saw bushbabies both nights. My safari accommodation was a 3x3 dome tent with an ensuite bathroom. The camp staff was terrific, cooking fabulous meals and providing superior service.
I was rewarded with many, many wildlife sightings on safari. The most striking were serval, genet, lions at sunset, honey badgers, leopard with kill in a tree at sunrise, four-cheetah coalition at sunset, malachite kingfisher from a mokoro, giraffe tower at sunset, hyenas with pups in the den at sunset, and wild dogs hunting at sunset.
For me, the wild dog hunt highlights why Kingfisher excels as a Botswana mobile safari operator. The dogs were denning in Xini, but a lion attack forced them to mobilize. They hadn’t been seen in over a week in Moremi, we were told. Kingfisher guide Pilot, who has three-plus decades of experience, found the dogs stalking an impala. Two other guides arrived shortly after that. When the dogs gave pursuit, the impala skirted a large hill. The hill caused the vehicle track to split, with one road going left and the other right. Both other guides – one representing a prominent mobile safari operator and the second a luxury lodge – rushed to follow the chase. Pilot took the opposite track, going away from the action. It was a split-second decision, which may appear to be a poor choice for the novice. After rounding the hill, we had a private viewing of a large wild dog pack feeding on the impala at sunset! The other guides arrived about a half hour later, but it was virtually nightfall. Their guests saw dogs, but in virtual darkness. Later, Pilot said he saw one dog on the opposite side of the hill -- the way we went -- a sign the larger dog pack may attempt to drive the prey that way.
Like my 2021 safari with Kingfisher, I was lucky to see wild dogs in camp on this safari. During the night, there was a sudden bang and the bathroom section of my tent shook. Wild dog noises were heard all around. At sunrise, the pole supporting the bucket shower at the tent’s rear was knocked over. It was concluded that an impala attempting to outrun wild dogs may have struck the pole. The impala’s remains were meters away.
I found Kingfisher Safaris by happenstance years ago on a safari-centric message board. I’m grateful because trips with them have been my favorite holidays to date. Martin is incredibly prompt, and Pilot is a superior guide.
Email Wayne | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Simply outststanding! Highly recommend.
Outstanding service and what an amazing "once in a lifetime" experience.
I cannot thank Martin and his team enough. Despite having a very narrow time window and a restricted budget, Martin managed to find a way to deliver the fantastic canoe safari experience I hoped for. I also needed to make significant last minute timing changes and Martin deftly managed to rearrange all arrangements accordingly.
The canoe safari was terrific. The itinerary, guides, food and equipment was exactly as communicated. Canoeing on the Zambezi is an amazing experience. The scenery was straight out of National Geographic and we got to see loads of animals and birds. It was such a privilege to be immersed in nature taking it all in. Simply amazing.
Martin was very helpful in planning the trip. I had lots and lots of questions and Martin was always open, courteous and quick to respond. The information he provided was spot on and made the trip for me.
The experience was great value for money.
Highly recommend.