Journeysmiths Reviews 

Since 2010 Journeysmiths (JS) have been advising us and arranging holidays all over the world. On every occasion they have excelled. Many have included multiple family members. Our recent trip to Kenya was a little different, involving a small group of clients known to JS, a sustainability journalist Jonny Bierman, and Rory (Head of Sustainability at JS), who had arranged the whole experience, and continued to attend to every detail along the way as well as being good company. The trip was a safari with the additional unique focus toward "on the ground" conservation, and meeting the game changers making a difference in Kenya. The profits from the trip directly benefit these people and the conservancies we visited. The whole experience, and sharing it with a group of like minded people added an extra dimension. Once again JS went above and beyond creating another "trip of a lifetime".
We are looking forward to our next 2 trips already in the making!

Ross arranged a spectacular honeymoon safari for us in Botswana. The whole process was smooth and inspiring. Ross gave us good advice all the way through. The camps were well informed, giving us a seamless, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you, Ross!

We have had great trips to Africa with Journeysmiths, aka Africa Exclusive. This time Joanna Hussey arranged fantastic itinerary for Chile and Argentina for us, including geysers at 4,000 meters above sea level in the Atacama, a visit to Cape Horn and very close encounters with Magellanic penguins (and other wildlife) on the extraordinary Valdes Peninsula in Argentina. There are too many highlights to list, but they certainly include the Hotel Eolo, near El Calafate, possibly the most enjoyable hotel we have stayed at. Thanks.

We went on our second holiday of a lifetime with Africa Exclusive, it was even better than our first! The organisation and support was outstanding and the locations amazing. Our gorilla trek in Uganda fulfilled a lifetime's ambition and the experience surpassed my expectations.
Our safaris in Kenya were spectacular and we were thrilled with the accommodations and friendliness the camps. Our guides were wonderful and very knowledgeable - and patient with my photography! The final relaxation part of the trip was to Zanzibar where I even snorkelled -the brilliant guide pull me around as I had a damaged shoulder so I saw everything.
I would highly recommend Africa Exclusive to anyone wanting a special, amazing experience.

The attention to detail provided by Journeysmiths was excellent. They took care of all our pick ups, transfers and guided tours and everything ran like clockwork. The quality of their guides - knowledge, friendliness, helpfulness, fluency in English - was very impressive. I highly recommend them.

Africa Exclusive (AE) safari planning: World-class. The complex logistics they arranged for us went flawlessly. Genuinely, not a single—not one—glitch beginning to end. It’s very gratifying to travel under such detailed care. The multiple camps AE chose for us, each location had a unique personality leading to a refreshing diversity along our entire multi-camp safari tour. That said, each property on the journey provided equal, high quality standards—a fine consistency across the board concerning accommodations, cuisine, services and amenities. In other words, there were only peaks in the experience, no valleys. AE clearly knows the safari properties they recommend first hand. This sort of consistency for clients would not exist otherwise. Even the sequence AE put the camps in for us expressed a very high level of sensitivity on their part concerning “safari flow.” The whole experience with AE, and, the entire safari journey we invested in under their thoughtful, detailed planning was truly exceptional. Africa Exclusive = Highly Recommended.

By far the best holiday we have ever been on. A special 9 person family holiday was planned and attention to detail provided with every aspect of the holiday from planning to returning home was 5 star. I cannot rate Africa Exclusive highly enough. Paul and the team offered their expert support and guidance every step of the way. The holiday in Kenya was perfect and faultless. The locations, camps and on ground support and staff were brilliant. Nothing was too much bother. Animals a plenty and food out of this world!
It was a holiday of a life time! ! We very much hope to be a returning customer in the future now we have discovered the world and luxury of safaris!

As a 'newbie' to the safari experience I found the preliminary information extremely useful even though I was travelling with someone who had done many similar trips before. The whole trip went perfectly smoothly with someone to greet us at every stage - it was just so relaxing. We had a very interesting mix of camps in Botswana and Zambia all completely delightful in wonderful settings and with excellent food, ambience and staff. The guides and drivers were all brilliant and so knowledgable about the fauna and flora etc. I expected the animals but to me the range of bird species exceeded my expectations and I have come home with some great photos to keep all the memories alive. So many thanks to Paul and all those at Africa Exclusive involved in making this such a truly memorable trip.

Ross at Africa Exclusive went above and beyond to create our dream honeymoon: a great combination of Kenyan Safari and a relaxing beach resort in Zanzibar. Ross took care of everything, so we were taken care of at every step of the way and the whole trip ran so smoothly.
We already can't wait for our next trip! Thank you!

First class service from AE. Ideal combination of camps in Botswana, and saw just about everything. Lion and Rhino in the same photo! Subsequent hotels in South Africa all excellent. Organised exactly what we asked for. Will certainly use them again.

Wow what a truly incredible trip Africa Exclusive created for our family. Paul and his team put together an itinerary that was just perfect, they suggested Zambia as it offered land and water to see the vast array of wildlife that Zambia has to offer. Our time at Chongwe Camp with Sam our fantastic and very knowledgeable guide was very memorable, we loved Fat Albert the resident Hippo, as well as the antics of Pamela and Majestic the resident elephants! The camping under the stars was a truly unique experience and one we will never forget. Anabezi was just incredible, a stunning camp with endless sightings of leopard, lion, wild dogs, night visits by the buffalo and so lucky to have Lawrence as our unbelievable guide. The fishing was awesome surrounded by hippos and crocs and Elephants crossing the river. Africa Exclusive, you have done yourself proud and could not recommend you and Zambia more highly and we have promised the kids that we will be back!! Thank you Thank you.

We have just returned from another fabulous holiday in Kenya.
We have been lucky enough to have enjoyed several amazing holidays through Paul and the team at Africa Exclusive over a 12 year period. These have been in both Africa and South America and have all been out of the top drawer.
What makes it so special is that you are dealing with people who have detailed knowledge of where you are going, always take the time to find out what is going to work for you, always seem to be able to find interesting and different places to stay, always respond in a very friendly, helpful and timely manner and who seem to be able to make the most complicated logistics work perfectly - every time.
We have so much confidence in Paul and the team, they are a dream to deal with and we would not dream of going anywhere else for this kind of really special holiday.

This was our first time as a family going on safari and we wanted to do something memorable. The safari experience arranged by Paul at Africa Exclusive blew our minds. After an initial phone conversation, Paul came back the following day with an itinerary which looked incredible. From the moment we set foot on the tarmac in Nairobi until the moment we were dropped off back at the airport, everything (|and I do mean everything) had been organised and was fantastic. The choice of lodges (Elsa's Kopje and Lewa Safari camp) was perfect for our family ( 2 adults and 2 teenage boys). The beach location of Manda Bay island left us feeling like we had been on holiday for a month rather than 10 days. The Kenyan people were brilliant - the logistics worked at every stage, the food was fabulous and the wildlife was a privilege to watch.
We are hooked and already planning our next safari - Paul will be on speed dial!

Having previously used Africa Exclusive in 1998 (!) I contacted them this yera wrt a family safari. Very impressed that they still had my original itinerary! Paul listened to what we wanted and constructed a brilliant trip in Zambia based on 3 nights wild camping / canoing followed by 4 nights of perfect safari tented camp at Chongwe camp. Absolutely brilliant - all staff and guides top quality, a real pleasure and seamless from start to finish. Can't recommend highly enough.

One month tour to Ecuador - the whole experience was amazing. I have no negative comments to make: guides excellent, drivers very safety aware, accommodation and meals top class.

Journeysmiths was recommended to me by friends and I’m incredibly grateful that they did so. I have always wanted to travel to the Pantanal in Brazil and Ross Cambray at Journeysmiths arranged the most fantastic, well thought out itinerary for me. He made the whole process so easy and was extremely efficient, well informed and pleasant to deal with. The whole trip far exceeded my expectations. It will be difficult to improve on this!

Having seen Africa Exclusive featured in a Sunday newspaper I contacted them and spoke to Ross. After listening to my requirements for 30 mins he put together the most unbelievable tour of Zimbabwe for my wife and me. He had listened and didn’t attempt to fit us around a trip, he tailored everything to fit around us. Seamless from day 1 to 12 we had the most magnificent journey. Thanks Ross and thanks to all the wonderful people you work with in Zimbabwe.
We will 100% be using Ross and his colleagues at Africa Exclusive again.

"Amazing !!"
I contacted Paul at Africa Exclusive to help sort a special holiday and experience for Yami's 50th birthday. He delivered the most incredible itinerary that fulfilled all of our expectations and more. We felt the attention to detail in all aspects of our trip to both Botswana and Zambia enabled us to relax and enjoy this special occasion. We have memories to treasure and have already started talking with Paul for our next adventure. Thank you Africa Exclusive for a very professional service.
Nigel & Yami

Just returned from a wonderful trip to Botswana, 10 days on a mobile in Central Kalahari and 4 days in a top class permanent camp
Selinda Explorers. We did not require much input from the Africa exclusive rep Ross in the initial stages as we are regular safari goers and knew exactly what we wanted to do. Where Ross excelled himself was in his prompt responses to any requests we had, particularly as we wanted to ensure we would have necessary flexibility at Selinda regarding night drives and walking, in addition to usual game drives. At our arrival briefing we were assured by the camp manager that we had full flexibility and that enhanced the experience for all of us. We were also allocated the camps best walking guide. All other logistical requirements of the trip worked perfectly. We would have no hesitation in using Africa Exclusive for future trips

Best travel agent we have ever used! Booked this special trip to South Africa and Mauritius a long time ago. Should have happened last year but I got Covid 2 days before we were due to go and couldn't travel. Ross moved everything to this year with no hassle at all. The trip was flawless from start to finish. The transfers were all waiting for us and collected our luggage. The resorts in both countries were incredible and perfect for what we wanted. Ross really listened to what we were looking for and tailored the trip perfectly. Can't recommend them highly enough. Would definitely use them again.