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
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.
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.
Email Lesley Hooper | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Passionate about delivering a top rate mobile safari
The trip was excellent in all respects. Pilot and the team were attentive without being intrusive, were friendly, fun and caring. They worked together really well and ensured that all of our camping needs were met. Pilot went even went over and above to borrow a suitable lead to charge Steve's camera in the car.
We appreciated camping in 3 very different locations. Water was not easily available at the 3rd camp but it didn't seem to pose any problems for us "guests".
Setting up and taking down the camp three times was a feat in itself. No complaining - even when the camp had to be taken down in the rain; our tent was always up first and down last.
Pilot
His organisation and desire to provide us with the best experience possible was clear. Pilot's passion for all things "animal" meant some long game drives, with no clock watching - we loved it! We even did a short game drive on the last morning as caracal had been spotted. We didn't see one but it was not for the want of trying and clearly we could not understand the message over the radio and would have been none the wiser.
His knowledge of animal behaviour was second to none and he also indulged us in our interest in birds. Pilot's knowledge of the game parks and the "road" system was mind boggling. His level of expertise in driving in conditions that we had never experienced before was evident. The trip back to the airport was quite something as Pilot was determined we would not be late.
Pilot was good fun to be with.
Paulina and the food
The meals were of great quality with fresh meat and salads, homemade bread and cakes cooked in the "oven" over the fire. Speaking to others with experience of "safari" in the bush, baking bread and cakes is definitley not usual! The meals were wholesome and plenty of everything.
There were also plenty of drinks - hot and cold, always on offer.
We noticed that hand washing (hygiene) among the staff was frequent - and provision of water and/or wet wipes when out was appreciated.
General
The early morning call with "your water is ready" started each day nicely. General ensured the car was kept clean inside and out. He sorted our bucket showers and presumably had the task of emptying the toilet cassette - we have a campervan and know what is involved with that. Guests with another company told us they had a "long drop" which was not so pleasant to use. The idea of a portable cassette toilet is genius.
Elena
Naturally warm, friendly and easy to chat with, Elena looked after us well. She took a lot of care making our bed and tidying up. Elena also took a lot of pride in setting the table (she makes serviettes into wonderful shapes), serving the food and drinks and preparing the "picnic bag" for tea and sundowners. She has an eye for detail and likes things to be done properly.
We would highly recommend a Pilot mobile safari.
Email Robyn McIntyre | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The experience of a lifetime in Botswana with a dependable and knowledgeable safari tour operation.
We had a wonderful time on our 8 day glamping safari in the Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai Concession, Botswana, with our guide Pilot and his 3 person crew! Somehow each day was just as magical as the day before and we now have fantastic collection of stills and video to remember our extraordinary animal encounters. Setting up the trip with Martin via email was so much easier than I had anticipated and he was always prompt to reply if I had yet one more question. We felt that we got great value for our money. Pilot was a wealth of knowledge and we always felt comfortable and safe with him. The rest of the team were formidable too- always helpful and polite, and a pleasure to be around. I still don't know how Pauline turned out those wonderful meals over an open fire!
