About Us
Beyond Safaris. Beyond Expectations.
ROOTED IN AFRICA
Guided by whispers of Africa. A travel concierge for the most discerning.
At Ker & Downey® Africa, we don’t just design luxury safaris – we create journeys that awaken something within. A feeling. One that moves you, connects you, and lingers long after you’ve returned home.
Our expeditions are shaped by the whispers of the land and the wisdom of its people. Every itinerary is crafted with reverence and precision, offering rare access to Africa’s wildest corners, its most intimate retreats, and its untold stories.
Rooted in purpose and guided by those who call Africa home, we invite you to travel deeper, tread lighter, and discover the continent in a way that feels personal and profound.
REDEFINING THE JOURNEY
What Makes Us Different
We believe luxury is not only found in where you stay – it’s how you feel while you’re there. Here’s how we do things differently:
1. Seek Adventure
Africa calls to those who seek more, and so do we. Our journeys are designed to ignite your curiosity, challenge the expected, and reconnect you with the raw beauty of the wild.
2. Off-Track Adventures
We venture where few go. Whether it’s floating above Sossusvlei in a hot air balloon or encountering gorillas in the remote forests of Rwanda, we create access to moments that are extraordinary – and often, impossible to repeat.
3. Hidden Retreats
We handpick intimate camps, secluded lodges, and private villas that bring you closer to nature’s rhythm, without ever compromising on comfort or elegance. This is privacy redefined – a sanctuary in the heart of the wild.
4. Your Travel Concierge
It all begins with a conversation. From your first call to your final day in Africa, your personal travel concierge designs every detail around you – your dreams, your pace, your people. And we’re with you on the ground, every step of the way.
5. The Art of Discovery
This is travel with soul. With Ker & Downey® Africa, you’re not just observing, you’re immersed. Listening to stories around the fire. Sharing traditions. Witnessing landscapes that feel almost mythical. It’s an invitation to connect deeply, and leave changed.
PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE
The Team Behind the Magic
Behind every Ker & Downey® Africa journey is a team who live and breathe this continent. We are storytellers, explorers, and guardians of Africa’s wild spaces, bound by a shared passion to create experiences that feel both seamless and deeply personal.
Our strength lies in connection: to the land, to the people, and to every hidden corner we reveal. From the first conversation to the final farewell, every detail is orchestrated with care, precision, and heart. It’s not just what we do – it’s who we are.
Sustainable Tourism
Responsible travel to Africa
Traveling with a purpose comes down to the consideration of the people, wildlife and environment of the places that we visit. Africa has a whole host of sustainable tourism initiatives and we are seeing more and more luxury safari lodges and hotel groups making great strides in their efforts to provide, preserve and protect.
Wildlife Conservation
It’s one thing to visit a country, it’s another to take part in the mission to rehabilitate and rebuild its wildlife. We believe that preserving the continent’s delicate ecosystems and wildlife is a joint effort which should be practised by both locals and international travelers. Our conservation safaris promote lodges who actively partake in wildlife conservation and offer guests the unique opportunity to participate in projects alongside industry experts.
Community Impact
Our carefully selected suppliers in Africa support responsible travel and actively work to empower the local communities in the area that they operate in. Our team can recommend a number of vetted initiatives and organizations to add to your itinerary that will allow you to connect with the people and culture of the destination that you visit. We can also recommend a number of luxury safari lodges that are owned and run by the local people for your trip.
Environmental Awareness
Preserving Africa’s natural resources is imperative to Ker & Downey® Africa. We choose eco-sensitive properties that have a limited impact on their direct environment and encourage guests to be aware of their consumption of natural resources during their trip. In an effort to decrease our clients’ carbon footprints, each trip booked with us includes a donation to Greenpop, a forest restoration and urban greening NPO, that funds the planting of one tree in Sub-Saharan Africa.
OKOA Fund
The OKOA Fund was created by a close-knit team of environmentalists and campaigners with a passion for conservation in Africa. With extensive experience in the tourism industry, they have witnessed the powerful effects of transformative travel on rural communities and the environment first-hand. This was particularly prevalent during the global pandemic as the world became increasingly aware of its impact and unified in the desire for transformation.
Greenpop
Greenpop is a non-profit forest restoration and urban greening organisation that works to restore ecosystems and empower environmental stewards across Sub-Saharan Africa. Each booking made with Ker & Downey® Africa will include a donation to our pledge partner Greenpop and fund the planting of one tree in either Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia or South Africa.
What our
Travelers say
Travelers say
EXCELLENT Based on 73 reviews Posted on Google Kyle PalmieriTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My father and I put our trust into Ker & Downey to put together a once in a lifetime trip to Egypt and they did not fail. Everything went flawless and K&D provided a true white-glove experience, that was above and beyond our expectations. I am so thankful we went with K&D, working with this team was fantastic and paid off. Thank you all.Posted on Google Tracey de KockTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The most incredible travel company I have ever dealt with! They tailor make your trip to exactly what suits you and do not miss a detail. No one else comes close to them when it comes to African safari curated holidays. Thank you we already looking at our next trip !Posted on Google Shani DassTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We booked a safari in Kenya through Ker & Downey and had a wonderful experience. Sarah and the team were very professional and communication was exceptional and were always available. The hotels they recommended were great and matched what we requested. It was stress free from start to end. We will definitely go with them againPosted on Google Lynn BeardTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We returned home from our safari in Tanzania about two weeks ago. It was arranged by the incomparable Tamsyn "Tam" Young of Ker & Downey and was hands down the best vacation we've ever experienced. From my first inquiry to today, Tam made the entire experience outstanding. She was with us when our flights to Tanzania (arranged by us) were all messed up by delays. While we were sitting in airports, she was busy rearranging our plans so we wouldn't miss a beat. The camps where Tam booked us were unforgettable and staffed by unforgettable people. Our game drivers were absolutely outstanding. We saw gobs of animals, including close ups with elephants, lions, leopards, and cheetahs. We also saw two wildebeest crossings on the same day. We are convinced our trip would not have been the same if not for Tam and Ker & Downey. Top notch service!Posted on Google Gillian JonesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So helpful and knowledgeablePosted on Google Emina BegovicTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Ker & Downey, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. A special thank you to Tamsyn Young, who planned an incredible African itinerary for me on extremely short notice, just two weeks before departure. Tamsyn stayed in regular contact throughout the planning process and during my travels, carefully coordinated every detail around my flight schedule, and ensured that all of the ground logistics were completely seamless. From airport transfers to lodge connections, everything worked flawlessly, allowing me to simply enjoy the experience. The trip itself was unforgettable. Gorilla trekking was a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Every destination, accommodation, and activity was thoughtfully selected and flawlessly executed. Thank you, Tamsyn and the entire Ker & Downey team, for creating such an extraordinary adventure!Posted on Google Frank GrosspietschTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sarah Morris and her team from Ker & Downey Africa arranged an incredible 3 night stay at the Atzaro Okavango Camp in Botswana. From arranging the flights (helicopter and fixed wing), responding to our questions and requests, they were exceptional and very quick in their responses. As for the accommodations, facilities and most importantly, the staff at the camp were incredible.Posted on Google Sarah KraemerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ker&Downey (AKA Grand Africa Safaris) has consistently provided excellent experiences for our clients who book safaris. The team is in constant communication with our guests while they are in country, and are highly organized and communicate clearly with us in the planning stages. They execute the highest end luxury safaris, and can also work within a budget to deliver "memories of a lifetime." They have been our partners for 10 years, and we look forward to many more happy years of business together.Posted on Google Ruth WoodTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ker and Downey has worked with me and my clients for the past ten years and are a wonderful team of professional African specialists.Posted on Google Christina SilvaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nicole at Ker & Downey Africa is fantastic to work with. She is professional, responsive, and incredibly helpful throughout the planning process.







