Great question. Tailor-made means we design your holiday around you, not around a brochure. You tell us who’s travelling, what excites you, and why Africa, why now. Then you share your travel parameters: your budget and your travel window. From there, we design a holiday that fits you perfectly.

There are no fixed departure dates, unless something you’d love calls for one. A luxury train journey, a remote adventure or a small group tour might run on set dates, and we’ll weave it in if it suits you.

A tour is like a set menu. Tailor-made is like having the chef cook just for you, based on your tastes and preferences. You choose the pace, the places, the style of lodge and how much you do each day.

It usually costs a little more than an average tour (or a lot more if you’re after luxury), and it should. You’re paying for a trip that’s genuinely yours.

Ah, common question. Of course you can do it yourself. Many people try, and some do it well. Others come to us after losing a lot of time, energy and, sadly, money. The catch is that Africa doesn’t work like Europe or America.

Planning a journey here has many moving parts, and they all need to work together for the trip to run smoothly. For example, lodges and camps can sell out months or even years ahead. Road transfers can take twice as long as the map suggests, or not be possible at all. And the property with the best reviews might be in the wrong area for the month or time of year you’re travelling.

Encompass Africa has been running since 2009, and together we have more than 100 years of industry experience, from guiding and hosting to tour planning. We’ve lived, guided and travelled across the countries we recommend. When you choose a tailor-made holiday with us, you get all that knowledge without the trial and error.

The simple answer: as early as you can. Ideally at least 12 months ahead, especially for peak season travel from July to October. If you have your heart set on specific camps, 18 months is even better.

Last-minute trips are absolutely possible, and we’ll make them happen. There are just fewer choices available.

Great question, and honestly, not at all. People often come to us feeling totally overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information out there, and much of it is misinformation! Others call simply because they feel drawn to Africa right now and would love our help to make it happen.

That’s why we love our process so much. The safari briefing is where we get to know you and really understand why Africa, and why now. It’s not just about the countries, regions, sights or properties you’d like to experience. There’s so much more to it than that.

If that sounds good, let’s get you booked in for an obligation-free safari briefing.

We book a free, no-obligation safari briefing on Zoom if you’re not close to one of our team (Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth). It’s a relaxed conversation about you, not a sales pitch. Then we design a proposal, refine it with you, and once you’re happy, we confirm everything and look after the details right through to your return.

Great question. You don’t get much expertise for free these days, do you? We’re pleased to say your first two proposals are free. If you’d like a third option, there’s a $500 design fee, which comes straight off your holiday when you book. So if you travel with us, our expertise costs you nothing.

Wonderful question, and we’re pleased you asked!

Encompass Africa is a small but mighty team of real people, not a call centre. Our founders, Jonathan and Danica, are a safari guide and a travel specialist. Our journey designers include Matthew, a professional photographic safari guide, and Patrick, who has more than 30 years in the industry, including with the likes of Abercrombie & Kent. He learned from the best.

You’ll always know who’s looking after you by name, and you’ll often get to chat with others in the team too. Our clients tell us they love that.

Meet the team

Ah, it’s rather like the old saying, “How long is a piece of string?” There’s no single answer, because it comes down to all the parameters that go into designing your safari: where you go, when, for how long, the style of accommodation, the number and type of activities, and park fees.

As a rough guide, per person per day:

• Entry level: around AUD 1,000
• Mid-range: around AUD 1,800
• Signature luxury and exclusive experiences: AUD 5,000 and beyond

Most safari accommodations include meals, game drives and some drinks, so the price often covers more than it looks at first glance. Plus of course that needs to include the logistics to get to and from places, be it road transfers or light aircraft flights.

This is one of our most frequently asked questions, and for good reason. Many people assume travel in Africa will be cheap. And it can be, if you go it alone, hopping on and off local transport, staying in budget accommodation and paying as you go.

But most of us are time poor, used to our creature comforts, or simply want to be guided by people who know what they’re doing rather than take a chance. So here are some honest truths.

1. It’s likely to be one of the most expensive holidays you’ll ever take. Perhaps second only to Antarctica or the Arctic. Camps are often in remote areas where every supply is flown or driven in, and guides are highly trained.
2. You pay up front, then it’s largely all-inclusive. On safari, you rarely need to reach for your wallet, apart from extras like spa treatments. In cities, where stays are usually bed and breakfast, you’ll pay for some meals as you go.
3. Tipping is part of the culture. It isn’t compulsory like in America, but it is customary, so factor it into your budget. You’ll soon see it’s well deserved. Wages are lower than where you’re from, and many workers support their extended families on their income.
4. Park fees and conservation levies apply almost everywhere you go in the wild. That money goes directly into protecting the animals you’re there to see and the wilderness they live in.

Don’t let any of that put you off. It’s the best investment you’ll ever make. Just ask our clients who return again and again, because they’ve caught the Africa bug. Once bitten, you’re almost addicted to its sheer power to transform. You come home different. You’ve seen the beauty of the wilderness and its wildlife first hand, met people whose stories you’ll remember for a lifetime, and you know you’ve made a difference just by being there.

Remember it starts with an obligation-free safari chat, so let’s start there.

Start the conversation Read some reviews

Thank you for asking; it’s a really worthwhile question. The answer is: quite possibly. We can’t promise a definite yes, because if your budget isn’t realistic for the holiday you’re dreaming of, we’d rather be honest and tell you from the outset.

We could string you along, then surprise you with a proposal that’s three times your budget. Instead, we use our obligation-free conversation to understand what you’re comfortable investing in your tailor-made safari. A clear budget lets us put your money where it matters most to you, rather than designing something you’d fall in love with and can’t afford.

Sometimes we’ll tell you we’re not the best fit, and that’s because we don’t design budget holidays. We’re a small business, and we know our strengths: mid-range to luxury tailor-made safaris and travel in Africa that makes a difference, one safari at a time.

We work across more than 20 countries, with trusted partners in each. Most of the travel industry in Africa operates in US dollars, with a few exceptions: Namibia and South Africa use the Rand, and some of Madagascar is priced in Euros.

Your proposal will show each part of your trip in the currency it’s charged in, along with a total in Australian dollars. Your cost summary will look something like this:

YOUR TAILORMADE SAFARI QUOTATION#

10 night South Africa, Botswana and Victoria Falls Family adventure

20 September – 3 October 2027

For a family of 2 adults, 2 children [14 years of age]

South Africa arrangements charged in Rand [ZAR]

ZAR319,995

Botswana, Victoria Falls arrangements charged in US dollars [USD]

USD4,475

Total in Australian Dollars, based on today’s currency buy rates 20 Sep 2026#.

AUD34,219#

# Subject to change until booked and paid.

Can the price change?

Your quote is based on our indicative buy rates on the date shown. Because we pay our partners in their local currencies, the Australian dollar amount can move with exchange rates until everything is paid.

How do I pay?

• To confirm your booking: a deposit of 30% of your land arrangements, plus 100% of any flights and permits. We convert this to Australian dollars at the buy rate on the day we issue your invoice.
• Final balance: due 90 days before you travel, converted at the buy rate on the day we issue your final invoice.

Giving back

Every booking includes a conservation contribution of AUD 20 per person, and Encompass Africa matches it. Together, these funds go to one of our conservation or community partners in Africa. You’re welcome to choose who you’d like to support from our current annual Giving List, available here: https://encompassafrica.com.au/impact/hearten-africa/

We like to keep things clear, so here’s the short version. Your first two itinerary proposals are free. If you’d like another, there’s a $500 design fee, which comes off your holiday when you book.

Once your booking is confirmed, any request to change your accommodation is $100. Any cancellation or supplier charges from making the change are passed on at cost. Extra activities are free to add until final payment, and $100 per request after that.

If you need to cancel, cancellation fees apply, which is one reason travel insurance is a condition of booking. Everything is set out in full in our Booking Terms and Conditions. No surprises.

You can pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express through our secure TravelPay link, or by direct deposit into our Australian or US dollar account. We can’t accept international or corporate credit cards.