Director Michelle on a mokoro in Botswana
Explore and Travel Africa
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2020)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $8,673 to $34,691 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Walt | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent pre-safari planning as well as on safari support.
We have used Michelle for our the majority of our 8 trips to Africa and her service is spot on. She listens to what you think you want to see and do, respects your budget and travel needs and always matches up the perfect experience. From lodge selection, transport between venues and attendance to detail, she provides gear customer service.
This year we visited 3 lodges, 4 nights each, all in areas we had previously been to. Each was unique, very comfortable and all provided a great experience . We extended two days in Hoedspruit and Michelle selected the perfect accommodation. A lodge with a terrific room, excellent staff and really great food.
We highly recommend Michelle at Explore and Travel Africa if you want exceptional service from an extremely knowledgeable travel expert.
Email Liz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic, helpful, friendly, flexible, reliable
Michelle Astbury, our travel consultant was essential in planning this trip. Our daughter had used her a few years ago and suggested her. We haven’t used an agent in 20 years and always plan trips ourselves but for an African safari plus Capetown and Victoria Falls, having someone from the country to help plan was the best way to go for us. Michelle was knowledgeable and booked wonderful places within our budget and all the excursions, flights, transfers hotels, dinners, etc. she was responsive and flexible and available to help even during the trip. I would highly recommend Michelle.
Knowledgeable, professional and adventurous
All aspects of our tour were met with a rep to help us reach our next destination. The help was getting to our next stay, entering/leaving different countries and most of all our tours and safaris.
Email Michael | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A truly memorable and wonderful holiday experience in every respect.
From the outset, Michelle Astbury from Explore and Travel Africa was enthusiastic, engaging and communicative. Every suggestion and aspiration from our group was carefully listened to and the resulting itinerary hand-crafted by Michelle was outstanding. Once on the ground, every aspect of the holiday went smoothly, with not a single hitch. I couldn't recommend Michelle and her company more highly.
Email Jack | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A seamless experience!
Personable approach to finding the perfect South African safari with dedicated support along the way. We felt very reassured throughout the process and ultimately had an amazing trip!
NZ
Email Karen Bradford | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A trip of a lifetime
Michelle was great to deal with from our first contact. She listened to what we wanted and then put together a trip that was just wonderful. From Capetown to Victoria Falls and then into the Okavango Delta to three camps. Everything went like clockwork. The accommodation was great. You really do have to put your trust in someone to do the best for you, and Michelle did. We have already recommended her to some of our friends!
IT
Email Michele | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The perfection is possibile
Our trip, fully organized remotely since we live in Italy, was flawless! We had already been to South Africa with this operator and came back thrilled, so we decided to repeat the experience in Namibia. Michelle worked hard for us to accommodate every request. Before our departure, she had prepared a detailed report of the accommodations and everything we would see, complete with photos, itinerary, and useful contacts. Hotels, transfers, activities, guides—everything was perfect. During our stay, Michelle reached out to get feedback on our satisfaction, and it was a pleasure for us to share our enthusiasm with her. We were truly impressed by her efficiency, punctuality, and kindness.
Email Mariya | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I am so lucky to have found Michelle
I found the perfect person to coordinate my trip! I found Michelle online with good reviews and a good website. I was just throwing around the idea of a trip thinking I probably wouldn’t be able to afford it. Within an hour of sending in my request for information, Michelle responded to me (+9 hours from my time) and scheduled a phone call to discuss what I was looking for and my budget. When I talked to her on the phone, I instantly knew she was the right person for the job. She listened to all my goals of the trip and even though I thought I knew what I wanted, she let me know that there were better places for my animal expectations and the atmosphere I wanted.
SHE DID NOT FAIL! She found me the most amazing trip! A little bit of town and a lot of safari. Her communication and itineraries were exceptional! She found a trip that met all my wishes and even beat my budget. She gave travel tips and information on money, tipping, transportation and even included a few tours in Cape Town. My trip was PERFECT.
My hotel in Cape Town and two different Safari Lodges (and staff) were exactly fitted to my personality and the animals I wanted to see. Beautiful accommodations and the best of amenities at each. We had a tiny snag when I first arrived with my airport transportation. It was no big deal to me, I just grabbed an Uber. When Michelle found out, she got me a refund (not needed) on the transportation and even dropped off some trip gifts to my room. It seemed like she has a good relationship with the places she books because my first stop seemed like they knew her personally. It makes you feel like you are in good hands.
If you are a first-time safari-er, I can personally testify that Michelle will take great care of you and do her best to make sure your goals are met and trip is amazing. Her communication skills never leave you doubting if she is there or if she cares. She definitely does. I am thankful my search led me to her! THANK YOU MICHELLE!
Email Packer family | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Michelle is a knowledgeable and caring safari tour operator who delivers everything she promises.
On Michelle's recommendation, we started in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and then spent a week in Botswana's Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta. An absolutely magical trip, made possible by clear communication with Michelle, including several WhatsApp phone conversations; her helpful suggestions and instructions for preparations and lodgings; and the complete reliability of her tour plan and the camps, guides, drivers, and pilots on the other end. A Botswana safari, especially one with a higher degree of privacy and closeness to nature, isn't cheap (those bush planes add up), but it was absolutely worth the price. "I don't see how it could have gone better," our 14-year-old said afterward. None of us really wanted the trip to end. We can't recommend Michelle Astbury and Explore and Travel Africa highly enough.
Email Philip | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Outstanding organisation from Michelle for our multigenerational group
We had used Michelle previously to organise a family trip (9 of us then) in 2022 in the Cape.
This time (now ten in total) we had a more complex trip to organise. Six of us (two at 75, son and daughter in law, and two granddaughters 12 and 10) went on safari in the greater Kruger at two different private lodges- Inyati and Simbavati Waterside. We flew into Johannesburg then on to Skakuza and started at Inyati. A well established lodge open to animals wandering through. Terrific game viewing and wonderful guide/ tracker who were delighted our two granddaughters took such interest in the tracks and dung identification!
Then a 3 hour road transfer to Simbavati. A newer lodge but with a stunning location, rooms and position overlooking a dam which attracted lots of wildlife. An equally successful stay, with great wildlife.
In both we saw all the big 5 and some very special sightings- leopards mating, packs of wild dog pups in both lodges and lionesses killing a huge buffalo. It was also the little things that made it so interesting. About plants etc. My wife and I have been to about ten game reserves in Africa, India and Sri Lanka. This was by far the best trip.
Then we flew back to Johannesburg and on to Mauritius where we met our eldest son, his wife and two little grandsons (1 and 4). They were too young to join us on safari. We had just over a week at the excellent La Pirogue resort, just relaxing. An excellent resort especially for the children. We had beach pavilions all nearby each other.
Michelle organised everything except international flights and did it brilliantly. Her advise on the game lodges and choice of resort in Mauritius were spot on, as were the logistics and transfers. It’s the little things like remembering that car seats would be needed in Mauritius for the transfers that make the difference as well as listening to our needs and booking accordingly.
Thank you Michelle!
