Ultimate Africa Online - Your source for safaris! Why choose Ultimate Africa?

Focused on safaris – We are safari consultants; travel agents who specialize in Africa – only Africa. Whether you want to rough it on a camping safari or enjoy the comfort of an incredible lodge & tented camp safari, our focus is on high quality, professionally guided, active safaris where clients learn first hand about Africa, its people and wildlife!

We understand your dream – We understand that an African safari for many of our clients is a once in a lifetime adventure. We therefore go to great lengths to plan the smallest details ensuring the highest quality experience for each and every one of our clients.

Clients canoe past an elephant, Mana Pools, Zimbabwe, June 1999

Hands on knowledge - All of our consultants have lived and worked in Africa and therefore have hands on experience. We have stayed at the lodges, camps and hotels we recommend in addition to hundreds of others that we don't! Our consultants return each year to refresh their knowledge.

We work closely with the leading guides who, in many instances, are good friends. We work directly with environmental organizations and actively support their efforts.

Managing director, Ian Proctor, and local Zambians

Complete service – We are able to handle all stages of trip planning - from airline tickets and trip insurance to accommodations. We offer a number of scheduled group trips (8-12 people) or if you prefer we would be more than happy to arrange a personalized safari to fit your needs (budget, length of stay, activities) at NO extra cost!

Great rates - Pay the same as booking direct with African lodges, camps, airlines and group tour operators (You do not pay extra for our services; rather we receive a discount off each tour operator's or lodge's / camp's public rates) with the comfort that your booking is being handled by an American based company (Our office is located in Seattle, Washington, USA - see contact details at the bottom of each webpage) with experienced safari consultants on hand to answer your questions (call toll free 1 800 461 0682).

Group discounts - Group discounts make our safaris a great value! Save 5% per person when 5 or more people book at the same time on the same safari (all group member's itineraries must be identical including land and air, all paperwork and payments must be handled by a group leader, discounts apply to land cost only, discount does not apply to Explorer series safaris)

Your needs first – Unlike many large safari companies that have an obligation to recommend certain safaris or accommodations with which they have a financial stake or are shareholders, as independent safari consultants we are able to suggest lodges and camps that suit your needs.

Managing director Ian Proctor and Lorna Davidson, Kariba Dam, December 1998

Respected - As seen in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Frommer's Travel, Outside Magazine, International Travel Insurance Journal and others...

Secure - In Washington state registered sellers of traveler, such as ourselves, must follow strict consumer oriented guidelines (all monies held in trust, truth in advertising, how refunds are handled, etc...). Our Washington State Registered Seller of Travel number is #601730459. The Washington State Department of Revenue offers a State Business Records database for use by the general public as a consumer protection program. Simply visit their website and search names that start with "Ultimate Adventures". Alternatively you may phone the Washington Department of Revenue toll free 1 800 647 7706.

Ultimate Africa Safaris is a member of ASTA (Ultimate Adventures Inc. member # 900139738) - the American Society of Travel Agents - recognized as a symbol of professionalism and integrity; the professional affiliation most often endorsed by the media when recommending how to find a reliable travel agent.

Lastly Ultimate Africa Safaris is endorsed by IATAN (the International Airlines Travel Agent Network).

The truth about safaris – Many safari companies tell travelers that any and every month is great for a safari. Often their clients are disappointed when they arrive at their destination and find the weather uncomfortable or that the wildlife has dispersed because of the rains. We tell our clients the truth, highlighting the positives and negatives of each season.

The elusive rhino...How would you like to arrive on your rhino tracking safari and find that all of the rhino were translocated two years previously from the national park you are staying at to a more secure area away from poachers? There are no rhino and the view from the lodge is not the one described in the brochure? Make sure that your tour operator has the latest information and is honest about what you will see!

Most of the photos you see in this website were taken by Ultimate Africa staff or by myself, Ian Proctor, Ultimate Africa's managing director. They are not promotional pictures received from a main office somewhere.

Shangaan students in the Ndowoyo Communal Lands, February 1996

The Shangaan children pictured above now have a school because of tourism. I spoke with the school headmaster for several hours about the positive impact tourists have made in his district.

Sharing the experience of Africa – Whether you have traveled to Africa before or if you are planning your first trip we want to ensure that your dream safari is just that; a dream!

We want to create an experience you will never forget, a memory you will treasure forever. In describing what we do we like to use the words immersion, authenticity, balance, understanding, and enrichment.

Our goal is to ensure that each client, in his or her own way, discovers not only the beauty of Africa but an unexplored part of their soul.

Start planning your unforgettable African safari today. Phone toll free within the United States 1 800 461 0682 or click here to request a brochure and our latest safari newsletter filled with exciting African travel information!

Thank you for visiting this page.

Ian Proctor, managing director