About African Welcome Safaris

With 30 years’ experience in Southern African travel, dynamic husband and wife team, Alex and Kathi Simon bring a wealth of knowledge to crafting the finest of African safari holiday Itineraries.

We know that each trip is different, and our client’s specifications are carefully listed. As we get a feel for a trip, the route is carefully planned around ease of travel with much communication between the various parties. Only then we then start building on it by looking at availability and budget. As the trip starts to come together, there is always a great deal of excitement between us and our client, and the final product always looks fabulous.

A most important component is the well-established network of the best travel professionals that we work with, and the collective knowledge is pooled to the benefit of the client. The end result is that our holidays often create life experience trips that have seen clients come back several times.

Come On Safari With Us

Come On Safari With Us

Alex Simon

Alex was born in Cape Town of Belgian ancestry and, after school he took a three-year diploma in marketing and sales management. After a gap year travelling in Europe, he returned to Cape Town and was offered work as a tour guide as there was a demand for French speakers.

Alex was required to get a heavy-duty licence for luxury coaches, as in those days a guide had to drive the coach as well as give commentary. In 1999, after ten years as a guide, he started African Welcome Safaris, around the time of the birth of his first daughter. Purchasing a luxury van, he approached tour operators and hotels for business, which was successful, and which allowed him to expand his fleet over time. Over the last twenty years Alex has acquired numerous valuable skills in Southern African travel arrangements, which he has applied to African Welcome Safaris which now offers a very specialised service to their clients.

Kathi Simon

Kathi was born in Mbabane Swaziland of English ancestry and grew up in Pretoria where she attended school. After high school she moved to Cape Town where she studied hotel management before making a complete change of direction, and working for a period as a Group Schemes insurance consultant.

Kathi met Alex at a tourism function marking the opening of the Two Oceans aquarium at the Cape Town Waterfront. The 2 became a couple and were soon married, at which time she joined Alex’s travel startup business. A strong work ethic and the great attention to detail that Kathi applies when crafting travel arrangements, has resulted many wonderful reviews from satisfied clients, many of whom have become personal friends.

Why Book With Us

As members of SATSA, all monies paid to us are bonded for your protection, as per the requirements and stated benefits of this prestigious organisation. SATSA has strict membership requirements which African Welcome Safaris has met for many years.

Our clients enjoy very personalised communication and quick thorough responses to their questions. We often make use of WhatsApp for instant response (Time zones permitting) and we use the very latest technology in Itinerary building. This allows our clients to receive visually very appealing Itineraries that allow for day-by-day information, accommodation Information and the route taken on an interactive map. The final Itinerary is then downloaded onto your smart device for ease of use via our app.

Payment is fast and secure via our online payment gateway.

Our clients travel with our vast network of travel people in the back round at all destinations, which allows for immediate assistance should it be required.

We are not a booking engine, so it’s a personal experience.

Some Of Our Past Clients

Salma Hyek visit to Cape Town
Vladimir Putin visit to Cape Town
Bill Clinton visit to Cape Town
Howard University Washington visit to Cape Town
Members of the Kennedy Family visit to Cape Town
Desmond Tutu
Numerous International Incentive Group visits to Kruger Park and Victoria Falls.
Over 600 Transfers were handled in the 2010 FIFA world cup.
Barmy Army Cricket Visit
Many wonderful individuals, couples, friends and families from around the world!

Customer Testimonials

Unsolicited & independent opinions from past clients, in real-time from Google and Facebook reviews.

  • Kathi (Simon) was so helpful. She was very informative and responsive. She quickly answered my questions and concerns and was a great resource. The safari camp, Kapama, she booked me... read more

    stacey maisano Avatar
    stacey maisano

    An African Safari has been a bucket list item since I was a kid. I am not wealthy but instead needed to save up for a trip of a lifetime... read more

    Conrad Mones Avatar
    Conrad Mones

    Tour operator with quality tour guides and individually designed tours for discerning tourists.

    Graham McDonald Avatar
    Graham McDonald
  • Amazing experience. Staff lovely. Well worth the visit. Would recommend

    Joanne Avatar
    Joanne

    I booked with Kathi Simon, she was extremely professional and courteous. She handled everything my fiancé and I needed to have an amazing once in a lifetime adventure. I’d definitely... read more

    Max Stept Avatar
    Max Stept

    We would recommend Kathi and African Welcome Safaris to anyone who wants to make a visit to Cape Town and have a safari experience built in. Kathi was super responsive... read more

    Caryn Ong Avatar
    Caryn Ong
  • Kathi at African Welcome Safari’s was excellent from the point we contacted her to help us plan our holiday in South Africa. We gave her some ideas of the things... read more

    Sue Williams Avatar
    Sue Williams

    Truly the trip of a lifetime!

    When we started planning our trip to Africa for a group of 14, we contacted several agencies for quotes. Very quickly we decided to go...
    read more

    Elena Belkin Avatar
    Elena Belkin

    Kathi was great and the whole trip was as described and completely stress free!

    Gruff Lovgreen Avatar
    Gruff Lovgreen
  • African Welcome Safaris is the best. Kathi patiently and meticulously planned our Kenya and Tanzania trip. Thank you to their team, we had a smooth and worry free holiday. Everything... read more

    Arah Reyes Avatar
    Arah Reyes

    Our South Africa honeymoon was the trip of our lifetime.

    African Welcome Safaris organized the most magical trip throughout South Africa. Their service was exceptional!! Accommodations were unbelievable. Activities were...
    read more

    Edward McCloskey Avatar
    Edward McCloskey

    We had visited Cape Town late October, and we were big group of 16 people. Everything was organized according to our wishes and previous arrangements. We had wonderful day with... read more

    Sandra Kovacevic Avatar
    Sandra Kovacevic
  • We visited South Africa between 8 May and 18 May 2021. Our overall holiday experience was excellent. The decision to book the trip with African Welcome Safaris was pretty straightforward:... read more

    Ait-Allah Mejri Avatar
    Ait-Allah Mejri

    Kathi and African Welcome Safaris is amazing. You cannot go wrong. Every single detail covered and the best of all accommodations. Perfect trip!

    Tiffany Jump Avatar
    Tiffany Jump

    From the moment we contacted Kathi at African Welcome Safari's, we knew we were onto a winner. Kathi put together a great itinerary for us to Victoria Falls, Cape Town,... read more

    Ross Avatar
    Ross
  • Nothing like good day in the bush

    K Kahn Avatar
    K Kahn

    Amazing Africa! There's nowhere like it on the planet for wildlife and rich traditions that endure. Prepare to fall in love because we did! Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to... read more

    Alison Loh Avatar
    Alison Loh

    Kathi was amazing! She helped me with all the details of my trip to South Africa and she made it a magical experience. No doubt, the best experience I could... read more

    Cecilia Varjal Avatar
    Cecilia Varjal
 

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Don’t believe us! more unbiased reviews from past clients by Safari Bookings.

AFRICAN SAFARI SPECIALISTS

Let us design your African safari with a variety of safari destinations – Our expertise includes travel and safaris in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania.

PERSONALISED SERVICE

African Welcome Safaris offers a highly personalised service. With a dedicated travel consultant catering to all your travel needs. Our passion is creating your holiday of a lifetime.

MEMBERSHIPS

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