Safari True - Redwood City, California

Naveen G.

A trip to Africa can be a once in a lifetime trip, but they say that if you have to Safari, you must do a private safari. We were blessed to be referred to Dan and Mandy by our close friends in the peninsula. They had used them before, and they highly recommended them. Dan at Safari True helped us plan our trip to South Africa this Summer. We visited Cape Town (4 days), Victoria Falls (also did a safari for two days), and the Kruger National park. We have to say that this was by far, our best vacation ever. A special thanks to Dan who planned and coordinated our entire trip.

With our busy lives, tons of questions and custom requests from each one of us ( as we are all almost adults, except for our 17 yrs old daugher ), Dan spent countless hours to find out and answer all our questions and requests. We started a couple of months ago in terms of planning our trip, and believe me this was a very short time for Dan to put together the trip based upon our preferences and availability, but boy he did an amazing job at that. He pulled off the rabbit out of the hat in not only making it happen, but he customized our entire itineary in terms of our hotel preferences, food / restaurant reservations, excursions, drives to/from airports, airline tickets within Africa etc. From the moment we landed in South Africa, to the point we left, we were treated like royalty. This requires a lot of planning, and we didn't lift a finger. Safari True works with the best of private safaris, and hotels. Everyone of their recommendation was spot on. Not only are the people amazing in South Africa, but especially the people working at the hotels and the private safaris made our trip super special.

If we have to go back to Africa again, we won't hesitate to call Dan again for our trip. We truly hope that we can make it there again, because it is indeed magical. ( Adding some pictures for you to enjoy ).

Points A. M. D.

This was our second safari planned by Dan and Mandy Chaknova of Safari True, and it was absolutely incredible. They planned our first trip to Rwanda to see the gorillas as well as Akagera National Park and Giraffe Manor in Kenya. Because we had such an amazing experience the first time, we trusted them again to plan our trip to South Africa, which was absolutely life changing. Everything is planned to the smallest detail, starting well before your trip. I appreciated getting all the options at every price point - we know they have flawless taste, and they were able to explain the different settings and price points so that we could fully understand our choices. It's truly a relaxing experience - airport transfers take all the thinking out of getting there, you truly only have to relax and enjoy and show up! We will absolutely be trusting Safari True with planning all of our safaris in the future, and I have referred them to many personal friends as well. You won't be sorry!

Charles L.

Short Version: Talk to Dan and reap the daily rewards expressed in smiles on your spouse's face as you take-in the most majestic trip of your life.

Picture a beautiful chalet on a small island in the middle of the Zambezi River, hippos, baboons, crocodiles, all in their natural environment, sunset over the river, cocktail in hand, a day trip to Victoria Falls... and this before we got on the safari...

Longer version: We've traveled to Africa before but needed expertise in planning a two-week vacation to South Africa and Victoria Falls (on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia). I'm used to planning our vacations without assistance but I quickly learned that Dan and Mandy's knowlege was not to be underestimated. Dan listened on each call and understood exactly what we were looking for; he and Mandy translated that into a series of options to allow us some flexibility with our budget and put nature experiences into every day.

There is no chance that my wife and I would have watched the sunset over the Zambezi River, cocktail in hand, grin from ear to ear, as we sat on an island in the middle of the Zambezi River and took in the hippos, the crocodiles, the baboons, all in the their natural environment. What place provided such a stunning and amazing and unforgettable experience from a chalet on an island in the middle of the Zambezi River on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe? Ask Dan and Mandy.

Want to visit a tented escape on your safari near Kruger with the best trained rangers and trackers and the most luxurious rooming on a river bed with lions, leopards, elephants, hyenas, rhinos, and African buffalo... ask Dan and Mandy.

It says something when one of my favorite visits to a city -- Cape Town -- ranks as the third best part of our two week trip. Because Dan and Mandy.

Call SafariTrue, talk to Dan and Mandy, and enjoy your trip.

Kent S.

I cannot endorse Safari True more strongly. We gave Dan and Mandy a general idea of budget, time and goals and they put together a journey that far surpassed our expectations. The staff and accomodations of the safari camps we visited were wonderful. Travel logistics became challenging when our flight from S. Africa to Kenya was canceled, but Safari True worked with the airlines, hotels and camps to solve the problem as best as possible, greatly minimizing our stress. We thought this trip would be our one and done trip to Africa, but now we are looking forward to our next African adventure. When the time comes, we will certainly call Safari True..

Andrea R.

Dan and Mandy were absolutely wonderful helping us plan our trip to South Africa. They were attentive to our preferences and set up the most wonderful accommodations and tours. They went above and beyond with providing us options for dinners and we felt so comfortable traveling abroad with their help. I truly could not recommend them more. We can't wait to go back!

Jeff J.

Dan and Mandy put together a seamless itinerary that checked all of the boxes I requested. Amazing experience.

chaitanya G.

Our recent Kenya and Tanzania safari with Dan and the Safari True team was a thrilling adventure! Their professionalism and attention to detail impressed us from the start. Thanks to their well-planned itinerary, we enjoyed incredible encounters with cheetahs and lions in action. The guides shared insightful conservation insights, and the accommodations were strategically located near wildlife hotspots. Witnessing The Great Migration in Serengeti and Masai Mara was truly awe-inspiring. A delicious blend of local and international cuisines were served everyday. Safari True is a great choice for an unforgettable safari experience!

Andrea M.

Dan and the team at Safari True were incredible throughout our whole process. He was so knowledgeable about Africa and all the different types of safaris and provided great recommendations for us based on our interests. Every part of our trip was seamless and each hotel and guide exceptional. We cannot recommend him and his team enough!