Safari Archives

Extraordinary African safaris designed around conservation and community

Whether you’re a first-time safari-goer or a repeat enthusiast, traveling on an eco-luxury safari with Elevate Destinations guarantees exceptional wildlife moments in beautiful landscapes that protect wildlife habitats. Our eco-luxury safaris are hand-crafted to fit your unique travel style while benefitting local communities.

Discover the luxury of remote safaris to wild areas less visited, without compromising on comfort. Settle into camps that blend understated luxury with deep immersion into the surrounding natural environment. These remote landscapes promise private, quiet moments of awe away from the crowds. To encounter animals living their daily lives is profoundly exhilarating and will reconnect you with the majesty of our planet’s ecosystems.

Explore our eco-friendly luxury safaris below, then connect with your travel designer to start planning your adventure.

Sample Itineraries

Inspiration for your custom adventure

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Support conservation and community

Elevate Destinations prioritizes travel that protects the landscapes and wildlife you encounter. Our eco safaris are designed to support conservation initiatives in the destinations you visit. Travelers can visit these projects to meet the local people advancing their mission and learn more about their work.

We collaborate with leading lodges that stand out for their character and location, as well as their social and environmental initiatives. They give back both to the environment and the surrounding local communities. Our trips often combine wildlife experiences with interactive community opportunities to learn more about local cultures and customs.

Speak with an Expert

What our travelers are saying

“Your selection of our 3 camps was excellent. Saw a multitude of wildlife and the guides and staff at the camps were enjoyable to be around and well qualified and accommodating. Always love the Sundowners. We can never get enough of seeing the wildlife of Africa. ”
–Gene Hardy, Botswana
“For the second time in my life, I found inspiration whilst visiting Africa. The last time, it was Kenya, this time it was Uganda and Rwanda. Both times it was extraordinary and led to unimaginable personal growth; where I can connect with how strength works with gentleness in urban, rural, and wild places. I will endeavor to continually express the gratitude I feel going forward, like the 400 elephants I inexplicably stumbled upon striding across the savannah at sundown, they will forever be on repeat in my mind and in my heart.”
–Stephanie Brownell, Rwanda
“An amazing experience - every place we stayed was magical, each for completely different reasons. Even getting stuck in the mud with a lioness sleeping a few feet away became fun and an adventure. We were well cared for, welcomed, and well fed! Ready for the next one!”
–Thanassis and Helen Mazarakis, Tanzania
“We spent three weeks on safari in the beautiful Laikipia region of Kenya. I can’t begin to describe the beauty of the camps and lodges, the kindness of the staff and guides, and the transformative experiences they created. The trip surpassed our every expectation and we ended up extending our stay by an extra week because we couldn’t bear to return.”
–Leanna McGrath and family, Kenya
“I was blown away by how wonderful this trip was. Transportation, food, everything was all taken care of which left us to enjoy the animals and our new friends. I would highly highly recommend this trip to anyone! ”
–Kelly Ward, Kenya
“Our family feels very lucky that we found Elevate Destinations. Dominique and her team pulled off our trip-of-a-lifetime vision weaving together service opportunities that were just right for our kids and a luxury safari experience that outperformed our wildest hopes. We would like to do every trip with them, forever more.”
–Jagerson Family, Kenya
“My first safari experience was supposed to help me unplug, but in fact it plugged me into what is most important. Being immersed in the wild was life-changing, awe-inspiring, funny, beautiful, touching and scary all at once. I felt entirely at one with the animals and the elements and connected as I never had been before.”
–Virena Hermann, Kenya
“Our trip was amazing and the process before and after we superb. From the time I emailed Elevate Destinations to after I got home it was a pleasure to be working with your company and especially Lana. She was able read my family and plan the trip exactly around what we wanted without us really knowing ourselves! ”
–Liza Mandeville and Family, Tanzania
“This was our second trip to Africa with Elevate in a year's time. And once again, it did not disappoint. Working with Lana was a dream. She seemed to know exactly what we would want and expect from our conservation safari. Everyone on the ground in Tanzania was knowledgeable and kind. Not a single snafu - which is unbelievable considering we were so far from home. Ruaha National Park is a treasure. I recommend it to anyone who would like a safari experience without the crowds of the Serengeti or Masai Mara.”
–Jennifer Whalen, Tanzania
“Dominique was a pleasure to work with, I felt like she truly listened and GOT who I was and how I like to travel in the world. The trip was perfect and effortless. ”
–Amy Zuckerman, Namibia
“My trip to India was perfectly coordinated from beginning to end. As a solo traveler, I was taken care of by ground staff from beginning to end. The safari drives were amazing and filled with views of amazing animals and wildlife of all kinds including tigers! It was an excellent adventure filled with cultural experience, fantastic food, and learning.”
–Lisa Weaver, India
“The itinerary was perfect--great combination of places and all were different enough that we felt we got fabulous experiences. All were different in the way they approached conservation but all were excellent and focused on it. All managers, guides, trackers were wonderful.”
–Connie Plaehn, Kenya

Why travel with Elevate Destinations?

Your Questions Answered

What to know about taking a safari

What is an eco-luxury safari?

Eco-luxury safaris go beyond the expected for a truly unique, enriching experience. Luxury safari travel still includes the components of a traditional safari, such as game drives, wildlife encounters, and nights spent at camps, but with a refined, exclusive approach. Our eco safaris take you to private conservancies and less-visited areas of national parks. Watch lions stalking their prey, giraffes munching acacia leaves, and zebras strolling through the bush without crowds of safari vehicles surrounding you. These experiences are safer for the wildlife and make for a more exclusive, enjoyable experience for you.

The luxury continues at your camps. Nestled into some of the world’s most remote landscapes, the refined camps we choose offer top luxury and immersion. The camps blend into the surrounding environment, so that you feel truly connected to the nature around you. Savor fresh organic meals, unwind on panoramic decks, and lounge by infinity pools. These lodges protect the surrounding landscapes and give back to the local communities, and during your eco-friendly luxury safari, you’ll be able to witness these incredible initiatives in action.

What ages are your family safaris best for?

There’s no one right age for a safari. Many safari lodges and national parks have a minimum age requirement of 6 years old, but some properties welcome younger children, and it's also possible to book certain lodges on an exclusive-use basis. In general, we find that 8–10 years old is an ideal age for a first luxury conservation safari. However, every child is different, and some may be ready for the experience at an earlier age.

We love planning multi-generational safaris and can create an itinerary that accommodates the interests and travel styles of every generation — from young children to grandparents. We'll make sure the lodges we recommend are well suited to your family, with activities that are engaging and appropriate for all ages. We also design seamless travel days, helping set your family up for a successful and enjoyable safari experience.

What destinations do you recommend for an eco-luxury safari?

There are so many eco-luxury safari destinations to choose from, which is why we start our luxury safari travel planning with a quick phone call to learn more about your interests and travel style. For first-time safari adventurers or families traveling with young kids, Kenya and Tanzania are two of our favorite destinations. Both the Serengeti and Masai Mara offer first-class wildlife sightings and stays at eco-friendly luxury lodges and camps, with easy and comfortable transfers and bush flights between destinations.

For those looking to go beyond the traditional game drives, Uganda and Rwanda both offer the opportunity to trek through the rainforest in search of endangered mountain gorillas. In Botswana, travelers can make their way through diverse landscapes — from the Kalahari Desert to the Okavango Delta, where you can view wildlife from a different perspective as you glide through the Delta in a mokoro.

Outside of Africa, India is a wonderful safari destination that blends rich cultural heritage with incredible biodiversity. Navigate the natural habitats of Bengal Tigers, Asiatic Lions, and Indian Leopards, visit local communities to learn about their important conservation work, and spend nights in the restorative luxury of the region’s top safari camps. We’re happy to help you narrow down the best destination(s) for you!

How do your luxury ethical safaris support wildlife conservation?

Our ecological safaris take you away from the crowds to lodges that prioritize sustainability and conservation. Luxury travel provides access to private concessions and less-visited areas of national parks, where wildlife encounters are more exclusive and less disruptive. This approach allows our travelers to enjoy serene, meaningful wildlife experiences without overwhelming the animals or blocking their natural movements, an issue that has unfortunately become common in some popular safari destinations. Our expert guides are also trained to respect the wildlife and environment, maintaining a safe distance and ensuring every sighting is conducted responsibly.

We work with lodges that are deeply committed to conservation and giving back. Stay at solar-powered camps in Tanzania, visit conservancies in Kenya that partner with local communities to protect species such as rhinos and elephants, and actively contribute to important research initiatives in South Africa by tracking cheetahs and monitoring elephant populations.

Are your eco safari tours private and customized?

Yes, all of our eco safari tours are private and fully customized. We recognize that a safari is an investment, often reserved for a special milestone or celebration, and we believe that every safari should be curated to your exact interests and preferences. Whether you’re interested in a walking safari in Tanzania, a journey through the most remote landscapes of Namibia, or a luxury conservation vacation that blends game drives with time to unwind in the winelands of South Africa, we’re here to help. We’ll take care of all the details so you have more time to connect with the landscapes and your travel companions, exactly as you choose.

What activities can be included besides game drives?

Game drives are an iconic part of an eco safari experience, but there are so many more activities to enjoy during your trip. In Tanzania, set out on foot for a guided walk through the Serengeti’s vast landscapes, keeping an eye out for giraffe tracks and an ear out for zebras braying nearby. In Zimbabwe, meet the Cobra anti-poaching ranger unit, made up of local community members who look after the rhinos day and night, and visit families in a local village to learn more about daily life.

In Botswana, look out for hippos as you glide through the Okavango Delta on board a traditional mokoro, then board a helicopter to view the magnitude of the ecosystem. There are also opportunities to assist with conservation efforts. Other common safari activities include sundowners, picnic excursions, guided bird walks, riverbed walks, hikes, and stargazing experiences.

When is the best time to book a luxury safari in Africa?

We suggest booking your safari at least one year in advance to secure availability at the best camps and lodges. Each region of Africa offers different weather patterns and wildlife experiences throughout the year, so we’ll help you choose the ideal time to travel based on your interests and priorities. If your travel dates are fixed, such as during school vacations, we can also recommend the destinations that are best suited to that time of year.

Can I combine a safari with another destination, such as the beach or mountains?

Absolutely! Many travelers combine a safari in Kenya or Tanzania with a journey into the mountains of Rwanda or Uganda for a gorilla trek. Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania, offers the perfect place to unwind after days spent on safari, with white-sand beaches and the Indian Ocean replacing the savanna. In South Africa, we recommend pairing a safari with time exploring the beaches and mountains of the Cape Peninsula, followed by a slower pace in the lush Cape Winelands.

We'll take care of all the travel logistics, ensuring your journey between destinations is seamless, comfortable, and enjoyable.

Start planning your safari