TAILOR-MADE SAFARI AND DIVING HOLIDAYS
Indigo Safaris - Dives, Tribes, Treks, and Wildlife
SAFARI AND Diving expertise
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Creating tailor-made trips designed to make your precious spare time the holiday of a lifetime has been Indigo Safaris' forte since 2009.
Drawing on the experience of photojournalist, diver, and safari guide Christopher Bartlett, Indigo Safaris has specialised in safari, diving, trekking, and tribal trips for almost a decade. In 2016 Christopher poached Ines Moosmann, a safari specialist with 11 years' experience garnered in Germany and London, from a prestigious London travel company where she was Senior Africa Travel Consultant. Ines has an in-depth knowledge of Africa, Papua New Guinea, and experience in India and Australia too, has German as her mother tongue, and is a qualified yoga teacher to boot. At the beginning of 2018, Corinne Bly joined the team from a leading but ageist African Tour Operator. Despite her years, her fire still burns bright, her knowledge is of reserves and places to stay is incredible, and she speaks English, French, Dutch, and Flemish. |
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Why us?
As well as providing impartial expert advice for free, we save you money, with special offers and our own discounts on many trips. You will never pay more than the service provider would charge you directly, reduce the number of international payments you have to make, all the while providing impartial advice covering all the elements of your trip under one roof. As we have visited the vast majority of the properties we propose, and revisit them to keep up to date, our knowledge is first-hand.
Whether you are a first-time traveller or an old hand, we will help you get the most out of your time and your budget. Travelling autonomously or on a guided trip, you will return home with a head full of images and unforgettable memories whether you are a group, a couple, or on your own. Once you are travelling, we monitor your internal flights and connections and are always just a phone call or e-mail away should you need to contact us, any time of day or night. Want to know what our clients think? Click here.
As well as providing impartial expert advice for free, we save you money, with special offers and our own discounts on many trips. You will never pay more than the service provider would charge you directly, reduce the number of international payments you have to make, all the while providing impartial advice covering all the elements of your trip under one roof. As we have visited the vast majority of the properties we propose, and revisit them to keep up to date, our knowledge is first-hand.
Whether you are a first-time traveller or an old hand, we will help you get the most out of your time and your budget. Travelling autonomously or on a guided trip, you will return home with a head full of images and unforgettable memories whether you are a group, a couple, or on your own. Once you are travelling, we monitor your internal flights and connections and are always just a phone call or e-mail away should you need to contact us, any time of day or night. Want to know what our clients think? Click here.
Our first-hand knowledge
Having lived in, worked in, and travelled around southern and eastern Africa, Oceania, Indonesia, and South America Christopher has considerable first-hand knowledge of the destinations we send clients to. Travelling independently and working on assignments, he has stayed in a wide variety of accommodation and creates trips to suit most requirements. The lodges, hotels, dive centres, safari, trek, and vehicle hire companies we use have been tried, tested, and approved. All our providers are members of their respective country's tourism organisations.
Having lived in, worked in, and travelled around southern and eastern Africa, Oceania, Indonesia, and South America Christopher has considerable first-hand knowledge of the destinations we send clients to. Travelling independently and working on assignments, he has stayed in a wide variety of accommodation and creates trips to suit most requirements. The lodges, hotels, dive centres, safari, trek, and vehicle hire companies we use have been tried, tested, and approved. All our providers are members of their respective country's tourism organisations.
Our story
Indigo Safaris are experts in bespoke and package travel in Africa. Founder Christopher Bartlett fell in love with Africa on a trip to Namibia in 1997 and after numerous visits to southern Africa moved to KwaZulu Natal in 2005 and became a safari field guide and underwater guide. When he combined these two new passions with his photography and writing skills and started doing assignments in east Africa for diving magazines, he had a great opportunity to continue building his destination knowledge.
In 2009 he had to return to the UK for family reasons, and ended up combining his knowledge and love of Africa and organisational skills to help other people discover Africa. Indigo Safaris was born. In 2015, Christopher met Ines on an educational in Uganda, and recognized the consummate professional in her, and asked her to become his Senior Safari Consultant. They now live together too. Ines has worked in the travel and safari business for over a decade and is an amazing source of knowledge on lodges and camps. She has an in-depth knowledge of Africa, Papua New Guinea, and experience in India and Australia too. In February 2018, she took on the role of Safari Sales Manager.
In February 2018, Corinne joined the Africa sales team. With over 30 years professional experience in travel, including 21 in African travel, mostly at a leading South African tour operator where she rose to a management position, she has all the knowledge and know-how to make the most amazing itineraries. Based in KwaZulu-Natal, she works with Ines to make your safari dreams come true.
In 2013 Christopher met Scelo on a walking safari in Zululand, and a friendship was forged. It's become a "brother from another mother" kind of thing. Scelo now looks after our KwaZulu-Natal logistics. Scelo is one of the top guides in his native KwaZulu-Natal and is one of the best guides Christopher has ever walked with.
Our man on the ground in Mozambique is Antonio, whom Christopher befriended in 2004 when Antonio was an enterprising 13-year-old. He is now a great dive guide, our go-to guy in Tofo, and our marketing assistant to boot.
In Namibia, Tulimo is our driver-guide for our private guided safari clients. A charming young man of many talents, Tulimo is also a great bush cook and braaimaster.
Indigo Safaris are experts in bespoke and package travel in Africa. Founder Christopher Bartlett fell in love with Africa on a trip to Namibia in 1997 and after numerous visits to southern Africa moved to KwaZulu Natal in 2005 and became a safari field guide and underwater guide. When he combined these two new passions with his photography and writing skills and started doing assignments in east Africa for diving magazines, he had a great opportunity to continue building his destination knowledge.
In 2009 he had to return to the UK for family reasons, and ended up combining his knowledge and love of Africa and organisational skills to help other people discover Africa. Indigo Safaris was born. In 2015, Christopher met Ines on an educational in Uganda, and recognized the consummate professional in her, and asked her to become his Senior Safari Consultant. They now live together too. Ines has worked in the travel and safari business for over a decade and is an amazing source of knowledge on lodges and camps. She has an in-depth knowledge of Africa, Papua New Guinea, and experience in India and Australia too. In February 2018, she took on the role of Safari Sales Manager.
In February 2018, Corinne joined the Africa sales team. With over 30 years professional experience in travel, including 21 in African travel, mostly at a leading South African tour operator where she rose to a management position, she has all the knowledge and know-how to make the most amazing itineraries. Based in KwaZulu-Natal, she works with Ines to make your safari dreams come true.
In 2013 Christopher met Scelo on a walking safari in Zululand, and a friendship was forged. It's become a "brother from another mother" kind of thing. Scelo now looks after our KwaZulu-Natal logistics. Scelo is one of the top guides in his native KwaZulu-Natal and is one of the best guides Christopher has ever walked with.
Our man on the ground in Mozambique is Antonio, whom Christopher befriended in 2004 when Antonio was an enterprising 13-year-old. He is now a great dive guide, our go-to guy in Tofo, and our marketing assistant to boot.
In Namibia, Tulimo is our driver-guide for our private guided safari clients. A charming young man of many talents, Tulimo is also a great bush cook and braaimaster.
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Christopher's guided trips
If you choose to travel with Christopher (a keen animal and marine conservationist as well as a well-published photojournalist), you’ll be sure to pick up a tip or two to improve your photography, and get an insight into the local way of life. He speaks fluent English and French, gets by in Spanish, has a smattering of Swahili, and knows some rude words in Dutch and Afrikaans. He also passed the Field Guides’ Association of South Africa’s exam with 134.5 out of 135. His work has been published around the globe since 2007, and he has dozen cover shots to his name. Several times a year Christopher and Ines lead trips, combining their local knowledge and destination management skills, happily sharing his photographic knowledge and yoga sessions if that floats your boat. Speaking of boats, Christopher also runs underwater photography workshops. Send an email to find out more. |
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Places to go
Discover the fantastic fauna of the savannah, the Big Five, endangered wild dogs, more than 500 hundred bird species, as well as hippos, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes on foot or in a vehicle in eastern and southern Africa.
Dive into the Indian Ocean with giant mantas and whale sharks in Mozambique, on the coral covered walls of Pemba island, Zanzibar, come face to face with tiger sharks, blacktips, and ragged-tooth sharks in South Africa or swim and dive with huge schools of sardines and their predators during the annual Sardine Run or trek around the Drakensberg.
Admire the spectacle that is the wildebeest migration across the Serengeti, or the huge herds of elephants in Tarangire, Selous or Ruaha National Parks. Scale Mt. Meru or Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.
Cross the Kalahari or Namib deserts, meet the Himba and San peoples, or venture far into the Okavango Delta by boat, encountering elephants, hippos, and crocs, and camping on remote islands before driving through Moremi, Chobe and Savuti, or the Central Kalahari.Immerse yourself in the most bio-diverse reefs in the world in in West Papua, whilst giant and reef mantas swim overhead, visit remote tribes in the Baliem Valley, see the whale shark aggregations in Cendarwasih Bay,or get a unique mix of sharks, rays and dragons in Komodo.
Dive with whale sharks, hammerhead, Galapagos, and white-tip reef sharks, sea lions, mantas and other rays, marine iguanas and tons of turtles, and walk amongst giant turtles, indigenous plants and birds and weird and wonderful reptiles that inspired Darwin in the Galapagos.
In Papua New Guinea, be prepared to be simply stunned by the vast array and abundance of cultures, corals, and fish, WWII plane wrecks, outrigger safaris to remote coastal villages, incomparable cultural festivals, and Sepik River expeditions to the last frontier of cultural tourism. Walk the revered Kokoda Trail in the footsteps of Aussie Diggers, or conquer Mt Wilhelm’s 4509-metre summit.
For the most intimate shark encounters you will ever get, try the Bahamas for an unforgettable experience, diving with tiger, lemon, Caribbean reef, great hammerhead, and nurse sharks. Or just take in some leisurely diving from one of the beautiful beach resorts on the "out islands".
Swim with humpack whales or dive Grand Turk Wall or French Cay and West Sand Spit in the Turks and Caicos, enjoy the freedom of shore diving on Bonaire's fishy and colourful reefs or dive Klein Bonaire from day boats, or mix it up in Dominica with some stunning hikes and colourful dives in great viz.
Get mellow with mantas in the Maldives, or wallow with a whale shark. Dive the reefs caverns of Mexico and visit Mayan temples on the east coast, or see the big fish in the Sea of Cortez and the amazing giant mantas out at the Revillagigedos Archipelago.
Get your macro geek on in the Philippines, a critter heaven, but with excellent whale shark opportunities too. Or just relax and discover the beautiful scenery of of some of the 7,000 plus islands in this tropical paradise.
Bounce around Bali on a multi-resort itinerary featuring mantas, mola-molas, a superb wreck, and more macro than you imagined, and have a gander at the temples.
Combine culture and scuba on Cuba, or dive into Dominica with us and encounter Sperm whales in the water, or trek through the lushest rainforests of the Caribbean, or marvel at the magic of Madagascar with a sumptuous spread of endemic wildlife and landscapes.
Discover the fantastic fauna of the savannah, the Big Five, endangered wild dogs, more than 500 hundred bird species, as well as hippos, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes on foot or in a vehicle in eastern and southern Africa.
Dive into the Indian Ocean with giant mantas and whale sharks in Mozambique, on the coral covered walls of Pemba island, Zanzibar, come face to face with tiger sharks, blacktips, and ragged-tooth sharks in South Africa or swim and dive with huge schools of sardines and their predators during the annual Sardine Run or trek around the Drakensberg.
Admire the spectacle that is the wildebeest migration across the Serengeti, or the huge herds of elephants in Tarangire, Selous or Ruaha National Parks. Scale Mt. Meru or Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.
Cross the Kalahari or Namib deserts, meet the Himba and San peoples, or venture far into the Okavango Delta by boat, encountering elephants, hippos, and crocs, and camping on remote islands before driving through Moremi, Chobe and Savuti, or the Central Kalahari.Immerse yourself in the most bio-diverse reefs in the world in in West Papua, whilst giant and reef mantas swim overhead, visit remote tribes in the Baliem Valley, see the whale shark aggregations in Cendarwasih Bay,or get a unique mix of sharks, rays and dragons in Komodo.
Dive with whale sharks, hammerhead, Galapagos, and white-tip reef sharks, sea lions, mantas and other rays, marine iguanas and tons of turtles, and walk amongst giant turtles, indigenous plants and birds and weird and wonderful reptiles that inspired Darwin in the Galapagos.
In Papua New Guinea, be prepared to be simply stunned by the vast array and abundance of cultures, corals, and fish, WWII plane wrecks, outrigger safaris to remote coastal villages, incomparable cultural festivals, and Sepik River expeditions to the last frontier of cultural tourism. Walk the revered Kokoda Trail in the footsteps of Aussie Diggers, or conquer Mt Wilhelm’s 4509-metre summit.
For the most intimate shark encounters you will ever get, try the Bahamas for an unforgettable experience, diving with tiger, lemon, Caribbean reef, great hammerhead, and nurse sharks. Or just take in some leisurely diving from one of the beautiful beach resorts on the "out islands".
Swim with humpack whales or dive Grand Turk Wall or French Cay and West Sand Spit in the Turks and Caicos, enjoy the freedom of shore diving on Bonaire's fishy and colourful reefs or dive Klein Bonaire from day boats, or mix it up in Dominica with some stunning hikes and colourful dives in great viz.
Get mellow with mantas in the Maldives, or wallow with a whale shark. Dive the reefs caverns of Mexico and visit Mayan temples on the east coast, or see the big fish in the Sea of Cortez and the amazing giant mantas out at the Revillagigedos Archipelago.
Get your macro geek on in the Philippines, a critter heaven, but with excellent whale shark opportunities too. Or just relax and discover the beautiful scenery of of some of the 7,000 plus islands in this tropical paradise.
Bounce around Bali on a multi-resort itinerary featuring mantas, mola-molas, a superb wreck, and more macro than you imagined, and have a gander at the temples.
Combine culture and scuba on Cuba, or dive into Dominica with us and encounter Sperm whales in the water, or trek through the lushest rainforests of the Caribbean, or marvel at the magic of Madagascar with a sumptuous spread of endemic wildlife and landscapes.
Philanthropy
At the more remote destinations we work with, we have become involved with helping out communities in one form or another, beyond helping create stable employment for locals. Giving back is a huge part of what we do and what we are about. Our view is that tourism isn't just about having a good time in someone else's country, it's about learning, fostering understanding, concern, and compassion. The natural world has never been as threatened as it is now and it is everyone's responsibility to do something about preserving it.
We choose suppliers and service providers that act responsibly, with the best interests of the local people and wildlife at heart, who we think will do the best job of providing our clients with a insight into not only the beauty they witness on holiday, but the threats and dangers facing it.
We put our money where our mouth is. Around 30% of our net profit is given back to causes, charities, and organisations. We also fund raise and provide grey matter for certain projects. More information can be found here.
At the more remote destinations we work with, we have become involved with helping out communities in one form or another, beyond helping create stable employment for locals. Giving back is a huge part of what we do and what we are about. Our view is that tourism isn't just about having a good time in someone else's country, it's about learning, fostering understanding, concern, and compassion. The natural world has never been as threatened as it is now and it is everyone's responsibility to do something about preserving it.
We choose suppliers and service providers that act responsibly, with the best interests of the local people and wildlife at heart, who we think will do the best job of providing our clients with a insight into not only the beauty they witness on holiday, but the threats and dangers facing it.
We put our money where our mouth is. Around 30% of our net profit is given back to causes, charities, and organisations. We also fund raise and provide grey matter for certain projects. More information can be found here.