African Safari Consultants LLC (africansafaris.com) has a 5.0 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 62 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Travel & Vacation and its reputation is excellent. Praise is nearly unanimous, with 100% rating it 4 stars or higher; 12 of them were added in the last 12 months. Last updated 2026-08-10.
Ilze, at African Safari Consultants, has now set up two trips for us, both fabulous. The first, a couples trip, was to Tanzania and Uganda. The second was a family trip to Southern Africa. When we needed some special accommodations at the last minute, she was all over it. She planned a variety of activities and lodging. Ilze's communications were quick and concise. I can highly recommend her!
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2026-08-04
Dear Julie,
Thank you so much for submitting such a fabulous review and shout out for Ilze and the team. She's thrilled! Ilze is a very dedicated travel consultant and so you'll always be in good hands.
I get the sense that Africa has found her way into your hearts and that you'll be back again one day! Till then, keep travelling and thanks again for choosing us to plan your African adventures.
Regards,
Vanessa and the African Safari Consultants
I have been to Africa 3 times and Liesl, from African Safaris’s has been our trusted travel agent. She planned and perfectly executed one of a kind amazing holidays. We couldn’t be happier with her recommendations and planning. I would highly recommend Liesl and her team if you’re planning an African holiday.
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2026-07-23
Dear Joanne,
Thank you for taking the time to write a review and recommendation for Liesl. She's the best! We're thrilled that you and Deb enjoyed your holiday. Liesl loves planning trips, especially for people who love Africa and want to return to experience more! We hope the memories last and last.
Thanks again and keep travelling!
Regards,
Vanessa and the African Safari Consultants team
Liesl was excellent at making all the arrangements on safari lodging, accurate transportation and on selecting a very very special Mozambique beach stay.
A perfect vacation! Thanks!!
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2026-02-05
Dear Pedro,
Thank you for your review for Liesl. We're thrilled you enjoyed your vacation. Liesl has such a talent for perfectly matching people with places and experiences.
We hope you'll want to return to explore more of Africa again one day.
Regards,
The African Consultants team
Ilze made African Safari planning a breeze. We got to know of Ilze and African Safari through friends of ours who used her services, and had a great experience. We had an amazing experience ourselves. Every step of the process was clearly explained, I felt like we were in the loop throughout the process, the costs were clear, arrangements were top notch.
This is the ONLY way to see Safari, which for most people is a once in a lifetime experience.
Couldn't recommend Ilze highly enough.
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2026-01-19
Dear Srikanth,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review for Ilze. She really appreciates it and it's great motivation for the team this Monday morning!
Ilze puts a lot of care and effort into making sure her client's safaris are seamless. So you were in excellent hands.
We're thrilled that it was a memorable trip for your family. We look forward to hearing that you'll want to return one day. There is so much more of Southern and East Africa to show you!
With thanks and regards,
Vanessa and the African Consultants team
The quality of the places we stayed and how we were treated
magical trip of a lifetime
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-10-24
Dear Al,
Thank you for your 5 star review. Ilze and the team here are thrilled! Great to hear that you and your family loved your trip.
We hope that Africa has found her way into your hearts and that you'll want to return again one day. There is so much more to show you!
For now enjoy the memories you made.
Once again, thank you for traveling with Ilze and the African Safaris team.
Regards,
Vanessa
Planning & Logistics
1) All porters and transfers were fantastic on every leg
2) Helicopter rides were great also & good way to save time
3) In general, all hotels except Retreat had excellent rooms, amenities, on-site staff
4) You may want to confirm seat preferences for internal flights with clients ahead of time. Also offer first/business option if there is one.
Rwanda
1) Serena hotel was solid. Good staff, food, etc.
2) Tours (coffee, etc) were nice and well done for the time we were there.
3) Singita Katanza house was phenomenal. Maybe spend more time there if you have the budget and the desire.
4) For clients staying at Singita, let themm know that they do provide clean backpacks, rain proof coats, gaiters, glovers, etc. Along with masks, and amenity kit so you can reduce weight
5) Do not recommend Heaven Retreat hotel - not well kept
6) Drivers and guides in Rwanda were excellent. Personable, helpful and knew our schedule and had great ability to coordinate logistics
7) Wondering if there was a way to save the stay in Kigali on the way out and just have gone straight to capetown. The day in Kigali at the end was essentially a wasted day
South Africa
1) Hotel was fantastic
2) Wine tour was great.
3) Hindsight we should've had a dinner reservation the night of the food tour
4) Food tour was great - probably didn't need a dedicated guide and driver for that day as the food guide was with us for 4 hours.
Botswana
1) Daunara was an exceptional property and staff was superb.
2) Daunara provides clean tote bags, water bottles and binoculars in the rooms so no need to pack any of this stuff
3) Great extra activities - Mokoro, Elephant Haven, could've helicoptered to Victoria Falls, etc. Would be good to let guests know so they can choose if they want to.
4) Nadia shared that we could've left some luggage at their office in Maun airport or had our bags driven in from the airport allowing us to avoid the weight restriction.
5) Animal viewing was good, but not exceptional. We saw Lions, elephants, wild dogs, antelopes, etc. Did not see any leopards, cheetah's and the Lions were limited in terms of citings. Maybe it was the time of year? Either way, we enjoyed it immmesly but it felt like more of a hunt for animals than in the past. Still good fun.
Other
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-10-17
Dear Raj,
Thank you for your considered and detailed trip feedback which I've shared with the team. As you can imagine, feedback is so valuable to us and it allows us to travel vicariously with you! Having insight into your experiences, what you loved, what could have been better, recommendations and advice all contributes to our overall knowledge base and of course helps us put even better trips together for our future clients.
Liesl loves working with you all and we do hope that you'll want to return to Africa one day.
In the meantime savour the special memories you made together.
Warm regards,
Vanessa and the African Consultants team
African Safari nailed it! They created a "once in a lifetime" first-class experience that wowed us. We can't stop talking about this amazing trip and sharing the photos with friends.
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-10-17
Dear Norman,
Thank you for your 5 star review! We're thrilled that you enjoyed your trip and that you're sharing stories of your experiences and photos with family and friends.
We hope the magic of Africa has found its way under your skin and that you'll want to return again one day. There is so much more to show you! And now you know where to find Travel Guru Liesl!
With thanks and regards,
Vanessa and the African Safaris team
5⭐️
I was recommended to Liesl at African Safari consultants by a friend who had just finished planning his 4th safari with Liesl, so that told me something right there!
Honestly the 2 week itinerary that Liesl planned out for the 6 of us was meticulous in all details.
Even with several “monkey wrenches” (airline cancellations, etc) thrown at us, Liesl was able to smooth everything out for us and take care of things sometimes on a moments notice.
The hotels and lodges that were chosen for us were absolutely amazing. Mount Nelson Hotel in Capetown, Mukwa River Lodge in Victoria Falls & Kings Camp at Water Buck Timbavati.
This was a trip that we will remember forever and go into our memories for a lifetime.
Thank you Liesl for putting this bucket list trip of a lifetime together for us! It was exceptional❣️
Wayne & Denise Ricci
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-10-15
Dear Denise & Wayne,
Thank you so much for your stellar review for Liesl! it really is beautiful and she's over the moon! Nice reviews make our world go round and round and inspire us to put loads of energy into making our client's dream trips come true. And our dear Liesl is the champion dream trip leader in our Africa travel team.
We're thrilled you and your family loved your trip and thank you for recommending Liesl to any friends and family who are considering an African safari!
Warm regards from Cape Town,
Vanessa and the African Safari Consultants team
K
Kim WP · 2 reviews · Experienced 2025-08-04 ·
★★★★★
First Safari Experience
Ilze customized a wonderful itinerary that exceeded our expectations! She took into consideration our desires, and through frequent communication developed a great vacation package.
We loved Arathusa in South Africa! The waterhole animals, the game drives, the staff, and accommodations were just what we were looking for! We also loved the Okavango Delta, more specifically Kadizora Camp. We called this tented experience primitive-posh. Our flight arrived a little late to the camp. We thought we had missed the afternoon game drive, However, the driver took us to the exact location where we met up with our guide for our stay. We were grateful that they were so accommodating and friendly.
Throughout our trip the scheduled transport services were always prompt and courteous. Everything ran like clockwork!
We can’t thank Ilze enough for such a spectacular vacation! She was recommended to us, and we will definitely recommend her services to others!
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-09-15
Dear Kim,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review for Ilze. This is wonderful motivation this Monday morning for our whole team! We are delighted that you loved your trip. Ilze is brilliant at matching her clients to places, experiences and people and making sure logistics are as seamless as possible.
Thank you in advance for referring her to your friends. Hopefully you'll return again for another safari! There is so much more to show you and every safari is completely different.
Warm regards to you and Janis,
Vanessa, Ilze and the African Consultants team
14 days of continuous experiences: Tailor-made vacation for special needs with excellent organization
We experienced 14 days in Africa as a continuous stream of entertainment.
Our vacation was custom-tailored to our request and special limitations of one of our party were taken care of as integral part of the planning at every step.
The implementation of the plan ticked like a clock-work, all sections fitted together seamlessly.
All selected lodges, transfers, tour operators were fully reliable, totally friendly and exceeded expectations in every way.
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-08-25
Dear Ekkard,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review for Ilze and our team. We are so happy to hear that your family's trip went so well. Ilze enjoyed working with you. She really is so good at matching people to the right places and experiences and then of course the staff and the animals provide the rest of the magic!
I do hope that you have many strong memories that last for a long time and that Africa always remains in your hearts.
Warm regards,
Vanessa and the African Safari Consultants team
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-08-18
Dear Jessica,
Thank you for your review for Ilze!
We're so pleased that you and your family had a great trip. Ilze is a genius at creating seamless trips in Africa.
Enjoy the memories of all your experiences, and of course we hope that you will get in touch again one day. There is so much more for you to see and do in Africa!
Warm regards from the African Safari Consultants team
A Seamless, Epic Safari Experience – Twice Thanks to Liesl Matthews, Safari Guru!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Seamless, Epic Safari Experience – Twice Thanks to Liesl Matthews, Safari Guru!
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Liesl Matthews from African Safari Consultants twice now—and both times were absolutely incredible.
My first safari was back in 2015, a trip through South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana that Liesl planned for a friend and me. That journey went off without a single issue, and the memories still live vividly in my mind. So when my husband and I began talking about a second safari for 2025, I knew there was only one person I’d trust to plan it: Liesl Matthews.
This time around, I wanted to build on what I had loved the first time—but also make a few changes, like incorporating bush plane flights between lodges to maximize our time and minimize fatigue. I shared my previous itinerary and wishlist with Liesl, and she took it from there.
She sent us sample itineraries, walked us through our options, and every lodge and resort recommendation was spot on. We ended up staying at:
Tawi Lodge
Ol Seki Hemingways Mara
TAASA Lodge
Baraza Resort & Spa in Zanzibar
Each one was amazing in its own way, and we genuinely loved every single property.
Beyond lodging, Liesl handled all of our East African logistics, including:
Flight bookings (including bush planes)
Ground transfers in Nairobi and Zanzibar
Meet-and-greet services at Nairobi and Wilson airports (a huge stress-reliever!)
Our hot air balloon ride
An ocean excursion in Zanzibar
Everything was timed perfectly and ran like clockwork. Every person who met us along the way was professional, kind, and knew exactly who we were and where we were going next—which made the entire journey stress-free and incredibly smooth.
Liesl’s attention to detail, her expertise, and her thoughtful, curated approach to safari planning made all the difference. I went into this second trip fully confident that it would be epic, because the first one had set the bar so high—and she exceeded it again.
🦓 Highly Recommend!
If you're thinking of planning a safari—whether it's your first or fifth—I cannot recommend Liesl Matthews highly enough. She’s knowledgeable, responsive, easy to work with, and truly a Safari Guru in every sense of the word.
We’re already dreaming of our next safari, and without a doubt, Liesl will be the one to plan it!
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-08-11
Dear Donna & Scott,
Heartfelt thanks for the most glowing and detailed review for Liesl and the team. I shared it with them this morning and all are thrilled - just the BEST motivation for a Monday morning! We love what we do and we especially love it when our clients have amazing trips and want to return for more!
As you know our Liesl is the ultimate Safari Guru and so you're always going to be in the best hands.
Enjoy all the special memories of this trip, the experiences you had, the people you met and the moments you captured on camera.
Thanks again and we look so forward to helping you plan your next Africa adventure!
Sunny regards from Cape Town,
Vanessa and the African Safari Consultants team
Camille was great to work with! She asked a lot of questions about what we wanted to see, how long we wanted to be in Africa, how many camps and other stops, and importantly, our budget goals. Then she provided multiple itinerary options for us to consider and eventually chose from. Then, on the actual trip, every place and every connection was exactly as planned . All travel, connections, transfers, etc. worked seamlessly and without a glitch!
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-06-26
Dear Jim,
Thank you for taking the time to write a review for Camille. It's so appreciated! Camille is a stickler for details and goes long lengths to ensure the trips she plans are on brief, within budget and glitch-free. So important when it's a big trip in Africa!
We hope you have lots of photos and stories to share with friends and family.
Thank you for travelling with Camille and the African Safaris team.
T
Thomas Young · 2 reviews · Verified · Experienced 2025-04-29 ·
★★★★★
ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE!!!!
From the moment we were greeted at the airport by our guide Annie we felt welcomed and well-attended. Our agent Liesl had thought of and saw to it that everything we wanted to do had been well planned and executed. From the accommodations to meals to activities our entire trip was sensational. A once in a lifetime experience. There was also built in downtime to experience our own adventures. We saw the Big 7 with the aid of tremendous rangers and trackers. And got a deep appreciation for their depth of knowledge. Lazarus (and Zeb) at Little Bush Camp were particularly adept at finding the animals we wanted to see. They got us to 6 of the Big 7.
Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta were also beautiful. Our last night in the Skybeds under a full moon and glorious Southern Cross was the perfect ending to our trip. If you’re even thinking of visiting Africa, do yourself a favor and let Liesl Matthews help you plan YOUR perfect trip!
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-06-05
Dear Tom,
Thank you so much for your fabulous review for Liesl and the team. We're thrilled that you loved everything that Liesl arranged for you. She's one of the best Africa travel agents and so you were in good hands! We're so pleased that you enjoyed the lodges and experiences she chose for you.
Travel in Africa is about meeting the people too and so its great to see that you appreciated your time with Annie and the rangers and trackers too.
Your moonlit sleep out sounded PERFECTLY amazing!
We hope you have many thrilling stories to tell friends and family and of course we hope to be able to plan another adventure for you one day.
Warm regards from the African Safaris team
j
jonathan gibson · 3 reviews · Experienced 2025-05-09 ·
★★★★★
African Safaris are the BEST!
We were recommended Ilze Fox from a colleague. Everything was done via email and in a friendly, professional manner. She looked after EVERYTHING and made our trip one of a lifetime.
We had an amazing time !
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-05-26
Dear Jonathan,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review for Ilze. You're the BEST! We are so thrilled that you loved your trip. Ilze is a pro and she enjoyed working with you.
Until we hear from you again, take care and keep traveling!
Regards,
The African Safaris team
Platinum-level service from the airport arrival through departure at the end of our tour.
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-05-19
Dear David,
Thank you for your review for Liesl. It's really appreciated and is great motivation this Monday for the team. Liesl loves what she does and goes to great lengths to make Africa travel seamless.
Savour the memories of all your trip experience and keep travelling!
Regards,
Vanessa
Liesl arranged a perfect itinerary for our group! It was a fantastic experience, which I will forever remember with awe. It was a nice mix of touring Cape Town, wine tasting in beautiful locales, and fabulous adventure at two different first-class safari lodges. We were well cared for by our guide, Vickie, and by the airport transfer people. Thank you for your meticulous attention to detail!
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-05-22
Dear Marita,
Thank you SO much for writing such a lovely review for Liesl. She's thrilled that you all loved your trip! She enjoyed working with you all.
She's a genius at matching people with places and experiences and our team are great at getting the detailed logistics spot on!
May the memories of your trip last and last and enjoy sharing your stories with family and friends.
Regards from Cape Town,
The African Safaris team
D
Denise and Kevin O’Sullivan · 1 review · Verified · Experienced 2025-05-15 ·
★★★★★
The Trip of a lifetime
Liesl was amazing. She took into account our group’s wishes in designing a wonderful itinerary that included Capetown, wine country, and Kruger Park. The accommodations were wonderful and very comfortable.
We were always met by staff and treated with upmost warmth and hospitality. The bus drivers, guides, and transport services were excellent as were our safari guides and trackers. Liesl’s choice of wineries, safari lodges, and hotels was outstanding. She took special care in finding us amazing accommodations in Kalk Bay after our group itinerary ended. The people that we met, the animals we saw, the wine and food that we had made this a trip of a lifetime. Thank you!
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-05-19
Dear Denise & Kevin,
Thank you for taking the time to write your review. Liesl and our team are thrilled! Seamless Africa travel is what we strive for and Liesl's vast knowledge of the region and her dedication to the details and making sure her clients get to taste the BEST of South Africa makes her the travel guru she is.
How wonderful to read about how you experienced warm, genuine South African hospitality. The animals and the fine wines and food are an added bonus that we are blessed to have on our doorstep!
Savour the memories of your trip of a lifetime and stay in touch.
Regards,
Vanessa
Everything was extremely well planned and organized from the moment our plane landed to when it left for home. Excellent guides. Excellent hotels which were appropriate for each location.
Reply from African Safari Consultants LLC2025-05-19
Dear Nima,
Thank you for your review for Liesl and the team. We're thrilled that everything she planned for you worked out so well. Liesl is very skilled at matching people with places and experiences and people! And she's a stickler for seamless logistics, so you were in excellent hands!
Savour the memories of your South Africa trip and we hope you'll be back in touch one day.
Thank you and regards,
Vanessa, Liesl and the team
