Micato Safaris-Luxury African Safaris — Local services in New York

I strongly suggest you don’t take a Micato Safaris safari. Its “Heart of Kenya & Tanzania” tour was the worst experience of my life. I’m 72 & have taken many tours, but I’ve never been treated as badly as I was by Micato Safaris, to whom I paid nearly $30K. Its accommodations, though, were 1st class. I’m a very well-liked & respected man, having been a community leader for decades. I’ve given 100s of reviews & never gave a bad one until now. I feel a strong moral duty to inform solo & senior travelers as I believe this could also happen to them. Micato’s mgmt has never returned my calls. I wrote a letter & received what I perceive as a cold, unapologetic reply 17 days later, denying nearly all I wrote; making statements I believe to be untruthful; & referencing the “binding & compulsory arbitration” clause in their Terms & Conditions. “Forced arbitration” is often viewed as making it difficult for consumers to seek justice in court. I urge you not to make the same mistake I made by signing these T&C’s, as it waives your 7th Amendment Right to sue. I believe this is why Micato doesn’t return my calls. They claim to provide “non-groupy group departures rarely numbering more than 12 guests and can be as small as 2.” Ours had 13, incl 6 couples & me, as the only solo. I was told I was the 1st person in our group, the other 12 being added later. I believe Micato did this to make $. We used 3 vehicles--2 with 2 couples each, & mine with 2 couples & me. Behind the driver were 2 rows of 2 window seats. A rear bench, used only in my vehicle, held a rider who sat over the rear axle while riding over pothole-filled dirt roads on extra hard tires. He had the most uncomfortable, noisiest ride of all, it being nearly impossible to hear the driver & guide. There was a high roof hatch top for game viewing, enabling 1st & 2nd row guests to photograph wildlife. This top did not extend over the back bench, forcing this rider to either lean over the person in front of them or walk down the aisle to peer out. On the 1st game drive, a woman told me to sit in the rear so she & another could sit next to their husbands. I told the director, asking him to create a daily seating chart, stating every tour I took used such a chart. He refused, telling me to always be the 1st to board; to sit anyplace I wanted; & to tell the others he said so. I soon felt the ire of others, contrary to Micato’s claim to always provide “assiduous care to ensure all our guests feel secure and comfortable” & to afford them “a completely stress-free travel experience.” Thereafter, this woman & another harassed & bullied me. I felt too uneasy to argue in front of their husbands. I never felt safe around the 1st woman, as she appeared to me to be extremely controlling & her behavior seemed emotionally erratic. I felt physically endangered by her actions when she slid my seat forward up against the seat in front of it & held her feet up against my seat back so I couldn’t slide it back, causing me to ride sideways without a seatbelt & fear for my safety. When I told the director, instead of sliding my seat back to its initial position, he slid the seat in front of mine forward, without saying anything to the wrongdoer. I felt like he prioritized the couples’ preferences over my concerns, which made me feel marginalized, as if my being a solo guest was inconvenient for him. In front of others, he twice accused me of losing boarding passes when I hadn’t, causing me to feel unfairly blamed, humiliated & disrespected. I was afraid to leave the tour, knowing I’d feel emasculated around family & friends having been victimized by women. Micato claims “If . . . anyone anywhere along the way is not observing health and safety and protocols in line with Micato standards, your Safari Director will quickly remedy the situation, leaving you free to enjoy your safari without having to concern yourself with such matters,” and “when you travel with Micato, you’re traveling with more than just a company–you’re traveling with our family.” My impression is the founders no...

If Google would allow 6 stars, that is what we would give. My wife and I have travelled extensively around the globe and seek luxurious accommodations and services. It was our first trip in sub-Sahara Africa and we had selected Micato after extensive research on the best outfitter for our safari adventure. We pick two safaris back-to-back, each two weeks long covering five countries - Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Having just returned, we can now say without hesitation that Micato has given us the most extraordinary and unforgettable travel experience of our lives.

Breaking down our trip in various components, from start to finish, the trip was thoughtfully designed. The booking and pre-departure preparation were seamless, thanks to the attentive New York-based staff, in particular Ariel. Upon arrival in Africa, we were immediately put at ease by the outstanding airport assistance, beginning in Johannesburg and echoed in every country we visited. These thoughtful touches made us feel supported and confident from the moment we landed—Micato truly sets a gold standard in this regard.

We were consistently impressed with the way Micato manages guest expectations and delivers above and beyond. From the generous welcome gifts—including hats, fleece sweaters, and keepsakes at each camp—to the unexpected thoughtfulness of providing extra bags for our accumulated treasures, anniversary massages and specialty dinners, every detail was carefully considered. These gestures brought joy and created a sense of delightful anticipation at each new stop.

While we were consistently impressed by the entire team, those that made our trip truly special were Peter Nuugonya in Namibia and Leza Morton in Victoria Falls. But one individual that truly stood out was our Safari Director from South Africa, Brian Nel. He is, without a doubt, a rare gem. As a tour photographer, coordinator, and safari director, he operated at the highest level of professionalism. His organizational skills were flawless, his command of the history and geography of each destination was remarkable, and his ability to anticipate and gracefully navigate challenges was nothing short of masterful. Brian’s combination of insight, diplomacy, and quick wit made him not just a remarkable expedition leader, but a trusted companion throughout our journey.

Throughout our trip, we stayed at the following 10 different camps/lodges/hotels - Intercontinental Johannesburg Airport, Kwessi Dunes, Namibia, Onguma The Fort, Namibia, One and Only, Cape Town, Ulusaba Safari Lodge, SA , Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa in Johannesburg, Sable Alley, Botswana, North Island Camp, Botswana , Thorntree River Lodge, Zambia and Somalisa Camp, Zimbabwe.

Except for Sable Alley and Somalisa Camp, the accommodations matched or exceeded our expectations of the quality portrayed on Micato's website. In particular, we would recommend scheduling visits to the Somalisa camp only during periods when nighttime temperatures are reliably above 15–20°C since heating is by wood stove. While we admire the charm of wood stoves, they require frequent tending throughout the night, which severely detracted from our rest and recovery. Since Micato does not own camps, there was little they could do to improve the comfort of our tent at night so in true Micato fashion, we were able to shorten our stay at that camp from the planned three nights to just one, and returned us to the wonderful Thorntree River Lodge to finish our safari adventure on a high note.

In closing, our journey with Micato was filled with wonder, warmth, and discovery. Despite the small suggestions we've shared, our overall experience was nothing short of exceptional. The level of care, attention to detail, and personal touches consistently exceeded our expectations. Micato has not only redefined what we expect from luxury travel—it has gifted us memories we will cherish forever. We look forward to traveling with...

Put to rest any doubts or deliberation you may have about embarking on a safari adventure.

Invest in a Micato safari. You will not regret it.

My husband, our two college aged children, and I returned from our tour of East Africa three days ago. We have traveled in the United States but are not seasoned international travelers and one of us has multiple severe food allergies, so we had some concerns. An African safari was a dream of ours, however, so we decided to put our trust in Micato. There are no words to express the fantastic experience and care that Micato provided. They will take you on a life-changing experience supported by an impeccable network of safari guides, drivers, and concierge support. The depth of professional knowledge, and I believe heartfelt care, that they provide is seamless. I can honestly say that I have never experienced such a high level of commitment to imparting knowledge and hospitality. While it is a highly professional company, there is a genuine warmth that touches your heart right from your first steps into this adventure. They extend their offer for you to trust them and you absolutely can. One moment that I will never forget is when I climbed out of our balloon basket after landing in the Masai Mara. As I stepped down into the grass, I was surprised because the ground was very uneven, and I felt my foot nestle into what seemed to be a hole. In regaining my balance, I realized it wasn’t it a hole at all, but I had stepped into an elephant footprint! Can you imagine? It was such a quiet, personal, unexpected, and quick moment, yet it had somehow connected the enormity of what I had been seeing on safari to my soul. It was like I was inside a presence within that footprint. I don’t want to reveal the many surprises you will encounter on this trip but know that if you choose Micato, you are in for transformative experiences. For us, we knew the general itinerary, but every day was like opening a new and exciting door. So, again, trust in Micato and let yourself be guided into the new worlds that Micato can show you. We love our safari guide and conservationist, Peter, for his ability to weave his intricate knowledge of Africa’s natural world and culture into the fiber of our hearts. He is a man of great depth and wise humor. We won’t ever forget him. We thank all the people who so graciously helped us but especially Jacki who, along with Peter was our initial contact on the ground in Africa and always made sure we were fine. She offers top-level organizational skills (with a beautiful smile) went out of her way to find fun foods that would work with within our food restrictions and was even willing to find us a battery charger for our camera when we thought we needed one. We thank all our drivers who transported us safely from Charles in Nairobi, to George, Mishek, Roderick, finally Elphi at the Ngorongoro crater. Finally, our tremendous thanks go to Carson Huffstetter, our first contact with Micato and the person who made us believe that it would be possible for us to take this trip. She helped us prepare for our trip months before we even stepped foot in Africa and we will always be grateful to her for her support.

My last words in this review will be to again encourage you take this exceptional journey with Micato! Put any reservations aside. This company meets the highest standards of travel on all fronts, and we pray that someday we will be able to have another Micato adventure. Thank you Micato.

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