Before we get into which country, what time of year, and where exactly to stay, one of the first conversations I have with almost every safari traveler is about how they want to travel on their African safari.
Curated? Custom? Private?
These words get used a lot in the safari world, and while they sound similar, they can shape your experience in very different ways. The good news? There isn’t a “better” or “worse” choice—only the one that best fits you.
At PATH+PLAIN, our role is to help you navigate these options, so that whichever path you choose, you can embark with confidence on one of life’s most aspirational travel experiences.
Let’s break it down.
The Curated Safari
A curated safari is often the easiest entry point into the world of African safari travel – and for many travelers, it’s exactly the right choice.
It’s pretty simple – we have decades of experience working with local teams throughout Africa, many of whom offer thoughtfully designed, ready-to-book safari itineraries created by their in-house experts. These are people who live and breathe the safari logistics of their home country every day. They know when the wildlife moves, how camps operate, and what details matter on the ground.
Where PATH+PLAIN comes in is as your filter and advocate. Not all pre-designed itineraries are created equal, and not all may be aligned with your expectations. We work only with partners we trust, ensuring that what looks good on paper translates into a truly exceptional African safari experience.
Curated safaris often operate on set departure dates and may include a small group – usually 6-10 guests. There’s a natural camaraderie that develops quickly: sharing sightings, swapping stories over dinner, and experiencing those unforgettable “did you just see that?!” moments together.
They’re also relatively easy to plan, sometimes even on shorter timelines, and they are often the most cost-efficient way to access high-quality small group safari tours.
You might be a great fit for a curated safari if:
- You’re comfortable traveling with a small group
- You enjoy meeting like-minded travelers
- You want a well-designed experience without a lot of planning back-and-forth
- You’re looking for value without compromising quality
A few curated safaris to consider:
Tanzania: SkySafari | Kenya: SkySafari | Namibia: Desert Sojourn | Botswana & Victoria Falls
The Custom Safari
If curated safaris are about ease, custom safaris are about intention.
This is where the planning process becomes more collaborative and more personal. We start with a conversation—not just about where you want to go, but why.
Are you dreaming of a Great Migration safari, witnessing the herds at exactly the right moment?
Hoping to feel completely immersed in wild, remote landscapes?
Traveling to celebrate something meaningful?
These details shape everything.
From this initial conversation, we design a custom safari itinerary tailored specifically to your travel dates, your pace, and your priorities. That might mean pairing iconic wildlife regions with lesser-known concessions, balancing adventure with downtime, or choosing camps that reflect your personal style, whether that’s understated and authentic or fully immersive luxury safari lodging – or a blend of both.
Custom safaris also give you flexibility in how you experience each day. In most camps, you’ll share game drives with a small number of other guests (often just 4-6 per vehicle), which naturally creates a social but still intimate atmosphere.
But if you want more control – lingering longer at a leopard sighting, sleeping in one morning, or simply having more space for your photography equipment – you can choose to add a private safari vehicle to your safari.
Because nothing is held in advance, custom safaris typically require more lead time. Ideally, we begin planning 6-12 months ahead (or more for peak seasons or larger groups). That said, flexibility can open doors, even on shorter timelines.tirely different experience. The right timing ensures your safari aligns with what you most want to see.
A custom safari may be right for you if:
- You have specific goals, interests, or “must-see” experiences
- Your travel dates are fixed or tied to a special occasion
- You want flexibility in pacing and accommodations
- You value a more personalized, tailored approach
The Private Safari
For some travelers, the ultimate luxury safari isn’t just about where you stay – it’s how you experience it.
A private African safari takes either a curated or custom foundation and elevates it into something entirely your own.
This could mean reserving an entire small-group departure for your family or friends, turning a shared itinerary into a deeply personal, collective experience. These are the trips that become part of family lore – the ones you’ll talk about for decades.
Or it might mean designing a fully private journey from the ground up: your own vehicle, your own guide, your own rhythm from start to finish. With the right guide, a safari becomes something much more than wildlife viewing – it becomes storytelling, interpretation, and connection at a level that’s hard to replicate any other way.
At the highest end, private-use villas and exclusive camps offer complete seclusion, with dedicated staff, guides, and flexible daily schedules. Your days unfold organically – morning game drives, long lunches, afternoons by the pool, maybe heading back out when the light softens and the bush comes alive again.
A private safari is often ideal if:
- You’re traveling with family or a group of friends
- You want maximum flexibility and privacy
- You have deep interests (photography, conservation, guiding)
- You value having a dedicated guide and vehicle throughout
How to Know Which Safari Is Right for You
If you’re unsure which direction to go, you’re not alone! Many travelers start with one idea and end up somewhere slightly different once we talk through the nuances.
Here are a few questions I often ask to help clarify your ideal African safari style:
1. How important is flexibility?
If you’re happy following a set itinerary, curated works beautifully. If you want control over pacing, routing, and experiences, a custom or private safari may feel better.
2. How do you feel about traveling with others?
Some people love the shared energy of a small group. Others prefer more independence. Neither is right or wrong—it’s simply about what will feel most natural to you on safari.
3. What’s the purpose of this trip?
A once-in-a-lifetime celebration? A long-awaited bucket list safari? A return trip to go deeper? The more specific and meaningful the goal, the more a custom or private approach can elevate the experience.
4. What’s your planning timeline?
If you’re looking to travel relatively soon, curated itineraries can be a great solution. If you have time to plan ahead, a custom safari opens up more possibilities.
5. What role do you want us to play?
Some travelers want guidance and reassurance. Others want a collaborative safari design process. At PATH+PLAIN, we are happy to meet you wherever you are.
PATH+PLAIN’s Perspective
No matter which safari travel style you choose, the most important thing is that it feels aligned with you.
A beautifully curated safari can be every bit as meaningful as a fully private one. A custom journey itinerary can strike the perfect balance between structure and spontaneity. And a private African safari can create space for connection in ways that are hard to describe until you’ve experienced it.
Our job is not to steer you toward one type of safari over another. It’s to understand what matters most to you – and then ensure that your African safari experience, in every detail, delivers on that.
There’s no single right way to plan a safari. There’s only the way that’s right for you.
PATH+PLAIN is here to help you discover the safari experience that’s best for you. Call 1-802-222-6320 or email info@pathplaintravel.com to start the conversation.
