Luxury Safari

A safari should feel wild. Planning it shouldn’t.

At Willow & Bird, we create luxury tailor-made safari holidays and wildlife journeys around the world. From classic African safaris to tiger tracking in India, bear watching in Canada and wildlife-rich adventures across Latin America.

Where can safari take you?

  • India

    Swap lions, for tigers.

    Head into India’s national parks in search of Bengal tigers, before combining the wilderness with palaces, cities and extraordinary food.

    This makes for a completely different kind of luxury safari holiday.

  • South Africa

    A little bit of everything.

    Private reserves, exceptional lodges and incredible wildlife, with the added possibility of combining your safari with Cape Town and the Winelands.

    For first-time safari travellers, honeymooners and families, South Africa is often a brilliant place to begin.

  • Sri Lanka

    Small island. Remarkable wildlife.

    Elephants, leopard, whales and extraordinary birdlife can all become part of a much wider Sri Lankan journey. Pair safari with tea country, beautiful coastline and some exceptional hotels.

  • Kenya

    The Africa you imagined.

    Big skies, open plains and extraordinary wildlife. Beyond the Maasai Mara, we love looking at private conservancies and smaller camps where the experiences can feel more intimate.

  • Canada & Alaska

    A different kind of wilderness.

    Think bears instead of big cats, remote lodges, dramatic landscapes and days spent searching for wildlife by boat, on foot or from the water’s edge.

  • Brazil

    In search of the jaguar.

    The Pantanal offers one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences, particularly for travellers hoping to see jaguar in the wild.

    It can be combined with a much bigger South American adventure.

We notice how many vehicles are at the sighting.

How long the transfer really takes.

Whether the food is an afterthought or part of the experience.

Whether the private plunge pool is genuinely worth paying for.

Because we know that these are the details that shape how a safari actually feels.

What we notice on safari

Our Safari Frequently Asked Questions

  • There isn’t one single answer. South Africa is often a brilliant place to start because it combines exceptional wildlife, beautiful lodges and relatively easy logistics. While Kenya and Tanzania offer some of the most iconic safari landscapes in the world. We’ll recommend the destination based on your travel style, dates, budget and how adventurous you want the journey to feel.

  • The best time depends entirely on where you’re travelling and what you want to see. Dry season can be excellent for wildlife viewing in many parts of Africa, while green season can mean fewer visitors, dramatic landscapes and young animals. Tiger, jaguar, bear and polar wildlife journeys all follow very different seasonal patterns too.

  • For many travellers, three to four nights in one reserve or camp works well. If you’re combining regions, countries or different wildlife experiences, we may recommend longer. The aim is to give you enough time to settle into the rhythm of safari without constantly picking and moving on.

  • Absolutely. Safari and beach is one of our favourite combinations. Depending on your route and season, you could pair safari with Mauritius, the Seychelles, Zanzibar, Mozambique or the Maldives. We will make sure that the transition feels seamless rather than like two separate holidays stitched together.

  • Yes, but choosing the right lodge and reserve is particularly important. Age restrictions, private vehicle options, malaria considerations, drive lengths and family accommodation can vary considerably. We look carefully at those details and can recommend family-friendly safari holidays that still feel special for the adults.

  • Sometimes, yes. A private vehicle or private guide can give you more flexibility over the pace of the day, how long you spend at sightings and when you head out. For families, photographers or travellers celebrating something special, it can be a very worthwhile upgrade. We will always be honest when we think the extra spend adds real value.