Choosing who plans your trip matters almost as much as choosing where to go. After nearly 30 years of arranging private tours and safaris across Southern Africa, these are the things we believe set African Sky Safaris & Tours apart.
Independent and personal
We are a small, independent tour operator, which means that you are assured an honest helping hand when planning your trip to Southern Africa that will only recommend the options best suited to your budget, preferences and expectations.
Riaan Viljoen founded the company in 1998, and it has stayed deliberately small and personally managed ever since. The office team, itinerary planners and guides work closely together, so the people who prepare your proposal stay involved while the trip runs and remain on call until you fly home.
Local and Knowledgeable
Our staff and management are all locals, with vast amounts of knowledge on which destinations fit what you are looking for, which times of the year it is best to go to these places and which lesser-known activities you may enjoy in the area. Simply put, we know our neck of the woods, which by extension means that we can point you to the best that Southern Africa has to offer.
We plan and operate trips in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Our guiding team combines permanent African Sky guides with experienced independent guides, each with regions they know particularly well, from Etosha and Sossusvlei to Kruger, Zululand, the Cape Winelands and Victoria Falls.
Experience and Track Record
In addition to being local, we have also been in the business of operating tours in Southern Africa since 1998, with a track record that helps ensure a vacation to remember and a hassle-free process of organizing your trip. We know the ins and outs of the industry, and operate with efficiency and hospitality.
African Sky joined SATSA, the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, in 2002 and follows its Code of Conduct. Many of the trips we plan each year start with a referral from a previous guest, and returning travelers often use a second visit to explore a different corner of the region.
Flexibility
A key part of our operations revolves around your personal preferences and expectations, and, as a result, we try to be as flexible and creative as possible when you decide to opt for a tailor-made tour. Our end goal is to make your trip to whichever part of Southern Africa as memorable, comfortable and exciting as possible, and allow you to experience the natural beauty on offer here on your own terms.
On a privately guided South Africa tour, your African Sky guide handles the daily arrangements and can adjust the plan where local conditions allow, adding a stop or moving a game drive. At private lodges, resident rangers and trackers lead the wildlife activities, and in a few places, such as Victoria Falls, established local specialists run particular transfers and excursions. We plan the route, confirm every service and keep the pieces working together.
A Variety of pricing options
Finally, we take great pride in offering a number of pricing options for our clients to choose from, enabling you to take that dream vacation to wherever you have always wanted to without breaking the bank, or compromising on luxury. One of the filter options in our vacation finder is the accommodation level for that very reason, allowing you to decide what you spend.
There are three levels to choose from. Standard (Personal) tours usually use comfortable four-star hotels, guest houses and lodges. Luxury tours move up to five-star properties with more space, and Exclusive Top-End tours use the most intimate five-star lodges and camps, where the service and setting are a step above again. A tailor-made itinerary can also mix levels, for example a comfortable city hotel followed by a top-end lodge in the bush.