Xugana Island Lodge

Claire's advice for our trip to Rwanda and Kenya was excellent. It was reassuring to know she had first hand knowledge of the places we were travelling to and the tour operators who would be looking after us. It was also reassuring to know that if anything went wrong, we could call her directly to sort it out. She prepared us well for what to expect and overall the trip went very smoothly. Claire advised us to book two gorilla treks if we could because sometimes people get so caught up in taking photographs that they forget to just "be" in the moment and you only have one hour with your assigned gorilla family. We are so glad we did, not just because they are incredible animals to see in person but because our experiences across those two days were quite different in terms of the behaviour of the gorillas themselves and the mountain terrain. On our second trek we had to hike through farmland to get to the forest. This was an unexpected opportunity to learn more about the local way of life as we passed people working in the fields and to interact with some of the village children, who were always keen to wave and shout hello. For our safari, Claire advised us to stay on a Maasai Mara conservancy for a less crowded, more authentic experience. We stayed at Lion Camp on the Olare Motorogi Conservancy and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. Our Maasai guides were knowledgeable and great company. We saw all the big cats on our list in a way that felt personal, safe and respectful. Thank you again Claire for organising what has been such an unbelievable experience.

Our trip was wonderful... exhausting at times but such an amazing adventure! We loved the landscapes of Namibia, the animals of Botswana and the beauty of Vic Falls and Cape Town! Africa is such a magical place. Everything was organized well and went off without any issues. Claire and the team did a fantastic job! I would highly recommend African Safaris to anyone.

We have just returned from the most incredible and special trip to Africa, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Claire’s local knowledge, contacts, advice and attention to detail meant that every aspect of the trip was exactly what suited our family. Our safari experience was truly a dream come true. Thank you so much, Claire, for making it all so special. We will definitely be back when it’s time to plan our next African adventure!

My husband and I had the most amazing experience with our visit to Malawi thanks to Claire

We recently returned from a visit to Victoria Falls and a Botswana safari. All went very smoothly, and we got to view all the animals we had hoped to see. We had a good bunch of fellow travellers, and a great guide who with his awesome team looked after us very well. Thank you Claire for arranging our African adventure - an experience that will remain with us forever.

Our Kenyan safari exceeded our expectations in every way- so many amazing animals and great camps with amazing staff. Can’t wait to go back!

Claire has incredible knowledge of African safaris. She took the time to listen to what we wanted and created the perfect itinerary for our requirements and budget. Our experience was outstanding and we’re dreaming about the next trip. I would recommend anyone considering going on a safari to Africa to talk to Claire.

Our time in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania was exceptional. Claire's planning and organisation made life easy for us and worry free. There was always someone to meet us and escort us at each stop. We couldn’t fault anything. We would definitely recommend African Safaris to anyone wanting to travel to Africa.

Claire is very knowledgeable and made our first safari smoothless

We have just had a great safari trip to Victoria Falls, Chobe River and 2 fly in camps in Botswana, fantastic sightings and lovely accommodation, people and smooth travels, all organised by Clare.’This was the second trip she has organised for me and I highly recommend her experience and professionalism

We had an amazing Africa experience curated by Claire Vial from African Safaris. A true Africa specialist with in-depth local knowledge and personal guiding experience. If a safari in Africa is still on your bucket list, you have found the right agent for it.

It was a dream dealing with Claire at African Safaris Ltd. She was across all the details and we were fully informed and prepared for our Transkalahari Adventure from Capetown to Victoria Falls, unlike most other participants who had booked through traditional travel agents. This meant we had optional activities locked in and prepaid and all our visas sorted in advance. We were a family group of four adults from New Zealand and it was our first time in southern Africa. We chose the Transkalahari Adventure to get a range of experiences and landscapes as well as game drives and river cruises in national parks. A full on safari is not ideal for everyone and this was the perfect solution, enjoyed by all of us. We visited Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Augrabies Falls, Kgadigali Transfrontier Park, Fish River Canyon (2nd largest in the world), Sussosvlei and Deadvlei, Swakopmund, Etosha NP, Okavango Delta, Chobe NP and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Thanks to Claire for all her help.

My wife and I booked a 10 day Safari trip from in Southern Africa for our honeymoon. Every detail of the trip was lovely and ran smoothly. Our accommodations were excellent and we felt very spoilt in the best way possible. I am one to normally book all details of a trip myself but in this case having a specialized travel agent makes all the difference. I never would have been able to book such an amazing and smooth trip on my own. A must go to for booking a Safari Holiday.

Claire organised a trip of a lifetime! The experience of Africa is one I’ll never forget. Claire made sure she understood our requirements and took the time to quote different options which were thorough. Once we decided she organised everything and took the hassle away from doing it yourself. If anyone knows Africa it’s Claire! The whole trip was seamless and easy from airport transfers, accommodation to safari camps and the flights in between. We started in Zimbabwe Vic Falls and finished in the Okavango Delta. It was a well thought out trip with a range of everything from popular game drives with expert rangers, mokoro trips and options to do boat cruises. We got to see everything we dreamed of and more. I would highly recommend using Claire for any Safari bookings :)

Our safari was even better than we hoped! We had an amazing 12 days in Kenya. Everything was amazingly organised from start to finish. The camps were incredibly comfortable and the wildlife so much better than we expected. We were amazed how close we got and the variety of animals that we saw. Claire's expertise was so hugely appreciated. We really didn't know where to start, and her advice was invaluable. Totally recommend!

Can highly recommend Claire and her team. We got great advice about the trip and had a fabulous time on the 22 day Transkalahari Adventure. Also the African Safaris website is excellent. Would definitely plan another African trip with this company.

Our safari adventure is over and we have had the most marvellous time. From the moment we landed in Victoria Falls Claire’s expertise in safari organisation kicked in and was faultless. It was the most amazing travel experience of our lives. The animals, the people, the scenery, the food, the quality of the guides, the standard of the camps we stayed in - particularly Kanana Camp - all contributed to an outstanding experience. Being accommodated within a concession area made a huge difference to the experience. It was a big bucket list ticket for the 4 of us. Claire - we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your guidance, for your African knowledge, your connections and all the helpful information you have compiled and shared with us as travellers. Vicki and John, Robert and Janice

An epic adventure in Africa. I very much appreciated Claire's knowledge and the pre trip information provided which meant smooth sailing through borders and no snags to take the gloss off the experience. Special moments for me included two days "in the bush" in the Okavango Delta and seeing a 4-5 day old baby elephant on my last day. Lots of great experiences and memories

Claire at African Safaris arranged a comprehensive itinerary for our group of two couples after thoroughly researching our expectations. Accommodation included Lodges, Mobile Safari, a houseboat on The Chobe River and a hotel, the latter in Vic Falls. Our main destination was Botswana where our expert guides ensured that we saw a multitude of game including lions, cheetah, leopards, hippo, elephants, giraffe, birds etc. We used Mack Air for internal flights and the various elements flowed seamlessly together.

Our safari in Kenya was simply amazing! Claire listened to what we wanted and her experience and organisation contributed to a trip that exceeded our expectations in all ways. An African safari has been a dream since early adulthood and ended up being a life-changing experience. We highly recommend African Safaris to anyone who is thinking of doing a safari.

Incredible experience thanks to the impeccable organization from Claire. Every flight, accommodation, pick ups, drop offs were always on time. Would highly recommend, especially the Porini Camps which are small and intimate. Beautiful Kenyan people made it so special. Don't forget to add on a few nights at Chale Island on the coast, paradise.

The whole trip was very organised. Around 20 pickups and flights and all done amazingly well and on time!!! Well done!!! The guides were well spoken, knowledgeable, patient in giving us all we wanted. Meals & accommodation were outstanding. We saw all the big 5, the ugly 5, and many more!!! We are very happy!

Recently my wife and I went on a Safari in Kenya with African Safaris Ltd. What a great trip we had, total well organised with fantastic hosts in the camps and brilliant guides while out looking at animals. We also saw all the top key animals and enjoyed the wonderful scenery of Kenya. We felt totally secure while on safari and also with the Kenyan Masi people. We can recommend this to trip to anyone - Nick & Felicia

My husband and I have just come back from 25 days in Botswana and Namibia. The lodges were amazing, the wild life incredible and all lodge guides, chefs,and staff so personable. All transfers..of which there were a few,went perfectly..thanks to Claire's organizing and her partners in Africa. Would highly recommend Claire 👌

Our 10 day wild camping safari in Botswana was fantastic. Camping in the parks was very special as we were able to hear the lions roaring, hippos grunting and hyenas (and many other night noises!) at fairly close range, giving an element of real wilderness and adventure. Our guides were excellent - they work so hard from dawn to dark every day looking after our needs, and with a smile on their face also. We felt safe and all we needed to do for help with tents, a shower or just a cup of tea - was just to ask and it was seen to. This was our second safari with African Safaris Ltd, and quite possibly will not be the last. My husband and I are in our late 60's now, so if you are fit and healthy enough, don't let this stop you from doing the wild camping safaris! And thank you to Claire who organized the safari for us, answering all of our questions promptly and also a shout out to Philip Webb from NZ Travel Brokers who organized all of our air travel. Here are a couple of photos (so many to chose from) of our safari.

We made a last minute decision to take the safari we missed because of COVID and gave Claire a difficult brief-please find us a safari in Kruger national park in the next few months. She did a fantastic job, spending time with us to find out what we wanted. She responded well to our feedback and communication was prompt and friendly. She had everything arranged very quickly. We had a very exciting trip, saw the "big five' twice over in six days and it was the best holiday ever. We were very happy to know that she was available if we needed her. We highly recommend Claire

From the very first conversation to the final flight home, our experience with Claire at African Safaris was nothing short of exceptional. We had a dream of exploring Africa, and Claire turned it into a flawlessly executed reality. The level of detail in her planning was truly next level — from immigration and border crossings to flight transfers, lodge pickups and drop-offs — not a single hiccup along the way. Every step was seamless, with perfect timing and zero stress. It’s clear that Claire poured immense care and expertise into creating this journey, and we felt supported and confident every day of the trip. Africa is a wild, beautiful, and deeply soulful place — one you truly need to experience for yourself. And when you do, make sure Claire is the one to help guide you there. Her knowledge, calm professionalism, and passion for what she does are bloody brilliant. We can’t thank Claire enough for crafting such an unforgettable adventure. Jo & Hannaka

I enjoyed a fantastic trip with African Safari to Tanzania in February 2025. Everything went smoothly, the wildlife and cultural experiences exceeded my expectations. The accommodation was great and the tented camp was perfectly situated for maximising the wildlife experiences. My guide/driver, Erasto, was with me for the entire trip and I could not have asked for anyone better. He was considerate, knowledgeable, and attentive to my desired outcomes. He somehow always managed to put me in the perfect position to capture the many amazing photographic moments we experienced. Finally the company made sure even the smaller details that make a trip run smoothly were not neglected. For example they provided an unexpected lunch stop to fill in time before my return flight home.

Claire was just fantastic in helping us make the most of our trip to Botswana and Victoria Falls. Her knowledge enabled us to make the most of our time and to see a wide variety of places from semi arid desert to water camps. Would thoroughly recommend African Safaris.

I've recently returned from a 14 day safari trip, staying at three tent camps in Kenya which was truly beyond all my expectations. Claire's initial process of talking with each prospective customer and finding out exactly what they are looking for in a safari holiday is worth gold. I had already picked out a package from African Safaris NZ website which looked ideal, but when I told Claire that wildlife photography was my main goal, she explained that there were better options available. The decision was made to go with tent camps in private conservancies and fly between each camp. The result was a trip of a lifetime that exactly suited what I was looking for. Fewer people, less restrictions for game drives and less time spent travelling between camps. I was travelling alone this time which made me a little anxious, but I needn't have worried as everything was so well organised right from being picked up at Nairobi airport and dropped back at the airport after the holiday was over. Even when the rains came early in one area and I missed my flight out due to wet track conditions around the camp, everything was organised ahead of me including new flights the following day and overnight accommodation in the national park lodge. The camps were just perfect with a mix of very comfortable accommodation, wonderful staff, great meals and all in the middle of wildlife habitat with no fences. I'll never forget all the noises at night just outside my tent, including a pride of lions which camped close by one night. The variety of wildlife was stunning including birdlife (a passion of mine) and the guides were great in getting the vehicle in the right spot for photography. Its going to take me many months to edit the photos, but that's half the fun, and the memories will remain with me forever. I highly recommend Claire if you are looking for a safari holiday that gives you what you want, rather than a package that perhaps suits others.

It has been 30 years since I had travelled through Africa and now as a 50 plus year old it was great to have fantastic New Zealand based African Safari's and Claire's network (organising flights etc.) to take all the hassle away and organise my journey to Tanzania. I was able to concentrate on getting fit, getting on the airplane and successfully climb 5,895 metre high Mt Kilimanjaro, all hassle free. Thank you Claire for organising a trip for me I will remember for ever!! :-)

We have just got back from our adventure in Kenya and we were absolutely blown away by the whole experience. Everything far exceeded our expectations and the whole family had the time of our lives. I’ve never seen my grown up kids so excited for a 5:30am wake up call! We saw so many animals in so many different situations and so close up! Our guides were knowledgeable and fun and knew exactly how to engage everyone. The staff in camp were amazing too…it was just wow, wow, wow all day long!

My sister and I recently returned from an amazing 5 week trip to Southern Africa, where we explored Cape Town, Johannesburg, Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls. Claire’s extensive knowledge and experience with the Region were invaluable in planning our journey. She took the time to understand our safari preferences and offered a range of options. Her meticulous planning and attention to detail were exceptional. We had an amazing adventure with safaris in both Namibia and Botswana, experiencing diverse landscapes, stunning sunsets, and plenty of wildlife sightings. We highly recommend Claire.

AMAZING - First time to Africa and Claire helped organize the most amazing time for us - starting in Jo Burg and then a safari through Botswana, to houseboat on the Chobe River, and then moving on to Zimbabwe and Victoria Fall. Claire happy to answer all my questions and take into account what we wanted to get out of our holiday. We loved our time and already thinking about doing it again. Thanks Claire.

A fun filled three week tour that took us from South Africa to Zimbabwe, from canyons to sand dunes, wildlife up close to sundowner river cruises and everything in between, an amazing unforgettable adventure that we can highly recommend.

We have just completed another amazing trip to Africa - to Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana - again organised through African Safaris Ltd. The was well organised through very reputable companies who were friendly and extremely helpful. Claire gave us lots of tips, and was able to answer questions pre- and during travel. The whole trip was extraordinary, with each country providing new experiences from the incredible animal sightings to the lovely people we met, and places visited. The accommodation and guides we had were outstanding. Our safaris in Kenya, Namibia and Botswana in particular delivered incredible experiences and we now regret that it is now all over! I would highly recommend Claire and African Safaris for any African travel.

My partner and I have just returned from a truly superb extended trip through Southern Africa, all organised by Claire at African Safaris. From our first contact Claire was keen to understand our objectives and tailor our adventure accordingly. She certainly did. Her deep knowledge of all things Africa, coupled with extensive experience 'on the ground' and connections were invaluable. Claire put together a fabulous trip for us. Every day was a unique experience, and it couldn't have run more smoothly. Thank you Claire. If you are planning on visiting Sothern Africa and want to ensure that you have the best possible trip, I cannot recommend Claire enough.

Claire from African Safaris helped us to plan 2 months of travel through Namibia & Botswana, with a touch of Zimbabwe and Zambia. Every day of our trip was awesome. We had brilliant guides, stayed in a range of camps (luxury to mobile tents, houseboat to bed and breakfast), and were well looked after. The food was amazing. Our whole trip was superbly organised and the transitions between camps and countries were seamless. These touches made it the easiest holiday we've ever had! The landscape we drove through, dunes we climbed, flights we took, places we stayed and wildlife experiences were beyond anything we could have imagined before we went. I absolutely recommend working with Claire to have a trip of a lifetime. We certainly did!

I had a fantastic 4 weeks in Namibia, Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls) and Botswana. Claire, from Africa Safaris put together a seamless program that ran like clockwork. All of the connections were on time, the safaris were well run and the accommodation was comfortable - even the camping segment! The guides we had were both wonderfully knowledgeable and helpful. The photos below are a small selection from the 100s I could have posted. Thank you Claire for organising a truely memorable journey👍😊

What an amazing trip made easy with Claire's fantastic organisation and tips and tricks. We were way better prepared than many we met on both the Rwandan Mountain Gorilla trip and the Kenyan 12 day safari trip. Loved that we had such and individualised programme with such wonderful guides/spotters/drivers/staff - we had a great range of extra activities suggested to us and could tweak programmes to suit ourselves in some ways. Would not hesitate to recommend Claire and African Safaris NZ to anyone. Thank you Claire!

I’m just back from a group climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, organised and booked through African safaris Ltd. What a great time we had! A well planned itinerary, down to the detail with local operators and guides exceeding expectations throughout . Well done!

Absolutely brilliant service from African Safari team here in NZ Our trip was amazing!!! No hiccups with flights and everything went very smoothly The Wildlife Horizons were also very efficient in Vic Falls to get us out to The Hide Safari lodge. thanks to Claire and her team!! Top service

We went on a safari in East Africa last month. It was the most amazing experience ever. We got within a metre of some animals. Claire from African safaris couldn’t have recommended a better experience. Our guides were amazing. Thank you so much Claire.

Exceptional service from Claire and her team in NZ as well as Africa. We were spoilt rotten and everything went very smoothly. Thank you Claire for assisting us to build our own customize itenary. Your expert advice (Claire Lived in Africa for many years) ensured we had a holiday of a lifetime!

We have recently returned from the Kenya 12 day Classic Wilderness safari. We loved everything about it - the staff at the camps were so welcoming and attentive; we appreciated the lovely little things they did like placing hot water bottles in our bed while we were at dinner. The food was excellent, with plenty of choice and some local specialities. The guides were so knowledgeable and taught us all so much. There was no rushing around and we could spend as much time as we wanted viewing whatever was our fancy. They also understood the lighting needs for photographers and took time manoeuvring to get the best positions. The connections were excellent (except where weather intervened - that's just Africa, nobody's fault), and the staff involved were very friendly and efficiently got us from place to place. We loved all three places (Selenkay/Amboseli, Ol Pejeta and Otare Motorogi/Masai Mara) and saw just as much in the conservancies as the adjoining national parks. The lack of crowds made wildlife viewing a more special experience and the ability to go off-road was an obvious advantage. There were so many highlights, it would be hard to single one out - however, we did see a Cheetah kill a Gazelle on the very last day thanks to the patience and intuition of our guide. We are very satisfied with our time away and would not hesitate to recommend both African Safaris and the Porini Camps. In short, thank-you Claire for all your work in setting up this amazing time. We researched many different companies and tours before selecting this one. Save yourself the time we spent and choose African Safaris! So many excellent options and Claire is so knowledgeable and provides all the information you need.

My wife and I are just back from a 28-day safari in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. We had previously done a 16 day hosted safari in Botswana in 2019 with Claire as our 'leader', which was perfect in every aspect, and we decided then if we ever went back to Africa, we would get Claire to organise our trip. Well, the organisation was faultless, with all our accommodation and transfers working like clockwork. We had a fabulous variety of landscapes and accommodation, amazing wildlife sightings, and even after almost a month there always seemed to be something new to discover. All our guides were fabulous and it was a truly unforgettable experience. If we are ever able to go back to Africa we will certainly get Claire at African Safaris to organise it for us again. I can't recommend her any more highly.

We went on the 12 day Kenya trip in June .It was a wonderful experience from start to finish .The organization was great from pick up.to drop.off . The safari itself was even better than we imagined .We saw the 'big' five and many up very close .The guides and drivers were very Informatiive about the history and life of the Kenyan people .So much good quality food to eat We would definitely recommend this trip.

Superb advice, practical information and hands on support all the way. Claire provided the absolutely best service throughout all the lead up to what really was the trip of a lifetime. Our safaris in Namibia and Kenya both delivered incredible experiences and our only regret is that now they’re over!

We have recently returned from our Kenya and Tanzania Safaris and are still singing the praises of the trip of a lifetime. This was our second Safari to these countries and amazingly surpassed what we thought was an unbeatable experience. Claire (and African partners) organization was outstanding with many transfers to different camps and hotels. Everything went without a hitch, no small feat given our choice of destination. We would definitely choose to use African Safaris Ltd again and highly recommend their organization.