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
Email Tim Barry | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect experience in Namibia, thank you Ines & Indigo Safari!
Namibia has been on my bucket list for years. My girlfriend and I were planning a trip this summer and we were looking for a tour that would cover many of Namibia's highlights (Etosha, Skeleton Coast / Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, etc). I'm very thankful we worked with Indigo and specifically Ines. We ended up going with a 6 day wildlife & dunes tour which hit everything we wanted to see & more, was affordable, and had a truly badass guide (shoutout Tulimo L!).
Ines was super responsive and helpful throughout the booking process. Definitely recommend working with Indigo if you plan on visiting Namibia!
FR
Email Vincent B. & Sarah T. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
P-E-R-F-E-C-T !
My wife and I have booked the 4-Day Selous Ngalawa Safari with Indigo Safaris at the end of October 2019. Our contact was Corinne Bly and she was perfectly professional : efficient, clear and nice. Nevertheless, it's impossible to write a review beyond on Indigo Safaris. It was just the service provider for the booking. The one that has leaded our safari in Tanzania was Bush Routes. But, once again, the service was perfect.
Just on little critical on that point : the information about our service provider during the safari was not clear. Corinne Bly told us that our tour will be conducted by their partner, Ngalawa Camp (the place were we stayed for nights in Selous). Actually, the real service provider was Bush Routes. Corinne Bly also gave us the name and the phone numbers of two contacts from Bush Routes but there was a changing of last minutes for our guide and we were not informed. In short, even if everything was fine, it would be better to be clearer, more transparent on these information, just to reassure the tourists that just dont't really know who they're really dealing with.
For the rest, everything was just perfect. A chance for us, even if we're supposed to share the tour with other tourists , because of a lack of booking on this period, there were just the two of us, with the guide, Romani. He is a truely good person, and professional too. That was one of our best meeting in Tanzania. He was a really good guide, and we've learnt a lot with him. We had the chance to share all those four days with him, including meals at Ngalawa Camp. Discussing with him about everything, even about life in general, was really really interesting and precious.
The program of those four days was nearly perfect and in compliance with what was announced : on the first day, Romani took us at our hotel in Dar es Salam, and we've drived for nearly six hours, across the villages. It was contemplative. After a short rest in Ngalawa Camp, we took a boat for a safari on the river with other tourists from the camp. It was so peaceful, and still contemplative. We've seen a lot of animals and we've watched the sunset on a little island. And the second and the third day, we've driven all the day, from about 7.30 a.m. to 05.00 p.m. in Selous Reserve. How to summarize it : it was just wonderful ! Even if we've read that it's not the most beautiful in Tanzania, and even if there are not all the animals we are expecting to see (for example, no rhinoceros), Selous Reserve is not crowed of tourists, and it's really appreciable. And there are so many things to see ! Contemplative, again and again. A little disappointment about our last day, specially the walk in the reserve. Clearly, it is a truely touristic attraction. It's quite interesting to walk in the bush after two days in the car, learning about trees and animals prints, bones and... poops, but it too formatted. And it's quite unpleasant to face an insisting guide (not Romani, a guide from the reserve) asking for a tip. So, this part of the safari was not necessary, on our opinion. We had more fun on our way back to Dar es Salam . We had two car breakdowns, especially the brakes (!), but it was like a part of the "folklore" : Romani (that is an outstanding driver and also a mechanic) fixed it quite easily, and it was for us a time to stop in a village.
Finally, about Ngalawa Camp, there are only good things to say : when we book a safari, there as so many offers that it hard to know what is good or bad, specially when you have a little budget. However, even with a little budget and a booking for budget tented camp outside Selous Reserve, with no doubt, it was wonderful. Ngalawa Camp is lost in the bush and is a real peaceful place to rest. The view is also contemplative (again, again and again !), and the common places really lovely. At night or in the very morning, to sit on the terrace of the restaurant, having a drink, a dinner or a breakfeast, watching at sunrise or sunset, by candle light, discussing with other people, was truely precious. The staff is incredible and generous, from the manager to the cooker. The food (breakfast, lunch, dinner and water included !) was so good and in quantity. They make you feel at home. As for the budget tented camp, don't be afraid ! These are more bungalows than tented camp : the walls are tented camp, but on a cement slab, with private bathroom. A lovely place for an honeymoon !
We absolutely recommend Ingido Safaris, Bush Routes and Ngalawa Camp !
Email Tim | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable Safari
The whole 3-day safari was perfectly organised. We were picked up exactly as promised, and taken to Coffee Buzz, where breakfast and drinks awaited. After signing various disclaimers etc we were soon off on the 3-hour river cruise, which was really informative, and we got really good views of a wide variety of animals, with excellent commentary from our guide.
After an excellent lunch at Coffee Buzz, we then set off in our jeep for the main safari. Our driver - Lance - was brilliant, always smiling, and fully of useful information. Almost as soon as we entered the national park we encountered wildlife. Our first game drive lasted from 13:30 until 18:30, and we saw so many different animals on that drive, from the various antelope, to elephants (there are lots of elephants!), giraffe and a large pride of lions. The park is less crowded than ones in other countries, so when we saw something interesting we often had the whole view to ourselves.
The camp site, which was exclusively for the 7 of us on our safari, was basic, but the tents were good, and there were bush toilets - no fancy mod-cons here, so you get the real bush experience! The evenings were spent around the camp fire, eating excellent food (prepared by the hard working pair who stayed at the camp site throughout our safari), drinking wine and chatting/laughing a lot.
Two more game drives on day 2 revealed even more unforgettable sights - seeing a pride of lions feasting on a dead elephant was the highlight - and Lance has a sixth sense when it comes to spotting wildlife - we would be merrily cruising along and then he would grind to a halt and would point out something that we would never have known was there.
Day 3 comprised another couple of game drives and another river cruise, so all in all we really had value for money.
I cannot fault anything about this safari, and would highly recommend it.
Email Chris | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari at Chobe National Park
Ines did a great job accommodating our group of 11 with the limited time we had for a safari. From the initial pick-up at our lodge to the final transfer back to Zambia; the Botswana safari was awesome. She answered every question promptly here in the states prior to the safari and everything she said was true. Thanks Again
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
9 day Photographic Safari taking in three Nature Parks in South Tanzania organised and led by Chris.
This was a very intensive safari through 3 of Tanzania's Nature Parks at the end of the dry season led by Christopher Bartlett, who was a fountain of knowledge. I have only just got around to viewing some of the many stunning photographs obtained despite being a novice using a new and unfamiliar camera, I am very grateful to Christopher for his help and advice in this respect.
This tour was organised on a very tight budget so the accommodation was basic but adequate - quite an experience to have Elephants and other animals walking past the door in the middle of the night!
A very memorable experience and having now recovered, would very much like to go on another one!
Highly recommended.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unbeatable value for money
I went with Christopher on a safari in Botswana last September. I'd wanted to see the Okavango Delta for, oh at least 15 years, but could never afford the 'better known' travel agency prices... especially with a single supplement on top. Christopher, however, managed to design a fabulous itinerary taking in several national parks and included 3 nights in the much anticipated Delta. The camping on Chief Island in Moremi was very basic to be fair but it still felt awesome to BE there at looong last... there was no one else at all on that island and it made everything more intense.
The game drives were good fun too - like treasure hunts really. I'm an avid photographer, have travelled extensively all over Eastern & Southern Africa but it was refreshing this time to travel with someone who understood that lighting is everything in photography and knew where to position the jeep to avoid shadows or back-lit subjects (if at all possible of course as wildlife is unpredictable).
The Backpackers place he'd booked us in Maun was an absolute gem, with a en-suite permanent tent. The owner knew him well and it could be why we secured one of the very best tents, right by the river. When you think of what the top luxury lodges charge in this part of the world... the whole trip was amazing value for money.
I enjoyed it so much in fact that I'll be doing another TWO safaris with Christopher in 2014. The first one in Zambia over Easter. I'd mentioned when we were in Botswana that I'd always wanted to go to South Luangwa and within weeks he came back to me saying he would organise something there ! Can't beat that kind of service ;) He really listens and is a Maker of Dreams Come True as far as I'm concerned... after that I'll join his South Tanzania tour in Selous & Ruaha early Nov 2014... and I'm also hoping to go to Papua New Guinea with Indigo Safari, probably in 2015...
Too many places, too little time, too little money... but at least with Christopher one can easily get "4 trips for the price of 1.5" elsewhere ! For those of us who have more sense than money Indigo Safari is a real godsend...
Thanks again for everything Christopher and for all the thorough & well illustrated notes before we go away too. Keep on living your life to the full.... 'Travel like there's no tomorrow'....
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely fabulous trip!
I've been on one safari before (Tanzania), which was organised locally and was so so. The trip with Indigo Safaris however completely lived up to my expectations. I intentionally didn't want a "mass market" trip and that's exactly what i got. Christopher paid a lot of attention to making sure all seven of his guest's requirements were catered for before and during the trip and that we got on together (in a small group this could have been a real problem). The trip was organised to a very high standard, using excellent equipment and wasn't at all mass market: our itinerary fitted in an excellent selection of game spotting opportunities, some cultural moments (with a real sense of a relationship between Indigo and the tribes we met) and a lot of fun! I will certainly be going on other trips organised by Indigo and i'm telling all my friends about them, if only so other people can share Christopher's recipe for "plains game bolognese" :D. Overall a fabulous trip and one i'll remember for many years to come!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Wisdom of Animals
Christopher Bartlett with 7 passengers in 2 4WD's drove to excellent spots for viewing animals in their natural habitat, the amazing arid zones of the Namib. At night we often camped in wondrous solitude with stars and sort animal sounds for company. His cooking was superb and photography tips forever of value.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ruaha, Rufiji and Mafia Island Tanzania with Indigo Safaris
Having looked into a family safari holiday using large travel agencies we were troubled by the cost, lack of specific knowledge and inflexibility. We turned to Indigo Safaris, I had met Chris Bartlett on a diving holiday in Raja Ampat and was impressed by his first hand knowledge of the diving and safari world. Chris simply tries out the resorts himself and knows what he is talking about from personal experience.
He very quickly came back to us with suggestions for a tailor made 3 centre holiday at a very reasonable price. He supplied excellent and accurate information and pictures of each resort, what we would expect to find and see, and the logistics of travel.
The holiday was a great success in no small part due to Chris' organisational skills. The staff at the resorts and even the owners of the Safari Camps knew Chris personally which is a testament to his larger than life no nonsense personality and the fact that he has actually visited the places he recommends.
We would definitely use Chris again for another safari (or even a diving) holiday/s.
CA
Email Nicolaas van den Berg | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best ever
I contacted indigo safari about having a few days in safari and they definitely didn't waist any time got right to work 😑
Shannon is amazing and she really did great a wonderful experience custom made just for us because I have a few medical issues she worked around it and she delivered the best experience for me and my wife...Needless to say we are already booking with her again and can't wait to see what she comes up with next a big thanks to Shannon
