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We believe Africa isn’t simply a destination – it’s a place that stirs the soul.

Every journey we craft is grounded in respect, reverence, and a desire to connect travelers with something deeper. Through thoughtful travel, we invite our guests to go beyond the surface and move into something lasting. It’s not just about where you go – it’s how the experience stays with you.

travel

design

Choosing the right safari designer isn’t always simple. With our lived experience in both Africa and the U.S., we offer cultural fluency and personal insight that helps turn uncertainty into trust – and great trips into extraordinary ones.

Our journeys are entirely bespoke – shaped around your pace, your style, and your dreams – while grounded in real-world logistics, safety, and value. We’re deeply attuned to what American travelers expect, and we know how to deliver it seamlessly within Africa’s beautifully complex landscape.

Guests come to us for peace of mind and leave with memories that last a lifetime …

let's explore africa

“There is a timeless quality to the African wilderness, a sense of peace and belonging that I haven’t found anywhere else in the world.”

-jane goodall

client love

Laura and Alastair were super helpful and planned the trip of a lifetime!

Working with them was so easy, and we felt taken care of every step of the way. They covered all of the details (many of which we never would have thought of) and made the planning process seamless. We can't wait to plan our next trip to Africa with them!

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Alex & Aime
I was fortunate to find Africa Awaits with a quick Google search and after speaking with Laura I knew it was the right fit for planning a trip of a lifetime for our group.

Everything was custom built with our wishes and expectations in mind and it was absolutely perfect! We have traveled a lot and to many different countries but this trip was a life changer as I feel like I left a little of my heart in Africa. I am a big animal lover and I find myself still reflecting on the animals, the people and situations I witnessed during those 2 weeks and it truly makes me appreciate life in a different manner. Would definitely return to Africa as I feel like we only touched the surface of what Africa has to offer ❤️

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Matt & Cathy
Alastair & Laura with Africa Awaits created an incredibly well-organized three week trip for our family to Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia.

The accommodations, guides, itinerary, cuisine, game drives and variety of outdoor adventures exceeded our expectations. The variety of camps and options provided our family with unique and lasting memories. They were on top of all communication and prompt to respond. We planned this trip around a family wedding and they were flexible with our schedules. Our travel guides, meet and greet options were flawless. We'd highly recommend Africa Awaits and were thrilled to support a local business. Thank you for the incredible journey!”

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Jeff & Bambi
Thank you so much to Laura and Alastair!

You planned such a wonderful trip for us. It made taking on such a long adventure manageable and you did a beautiful job advising us and arranging everything. We will pass the word to family and friends as they begin to think of an African adventure.

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Bill & Leah
What a trip! I may forever be changed in two critical ways.

First, in partnering with experts like you to curate and meticulously plan our epic adventures and secondly in adding more trips to Africa. Matt and I have never experienced travel in this manner. I felt incredibly grateful to have happened upon Africa Awaits on a random weekend excursion to Cashiers, NC. You made every aspect of it easy. What seemed daunting and out of our reach became possible with every conversation. Your expertise, intimate knowledge of Africa and genuine desire to exceed our expectations, made this a no brainer. The experience is imprinted on our hearts!

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Dianne & Matt
Trip was awesome.

Asilia camps were incredible. Food was superb and staffs were so welcoming. Thanks again for putting this together.

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Ken & Molly
Our 12 day trip for our family of 12 including 4 grandkids was simply superb!

Laura and Alastair developed an itinerary that perfectly matched our wants and the quality of every experience we had was excellent. We all really appreciated the communication we received for the many months prior to the trip refining the plan. We made a great decision trusting Africa Awaits for this once in a lifetime trip!

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Daryl & Lisa
Our trip was a trip of a lifetime primarily due to the exceptional planning and execution.

Everything was very easy to understand and was perfectly organized. Every aspect of our travels had wonderful and unique qualities. Making it to the top of Table Mt., the penguins, wine tastings, safaris, fishing. All highlights. You guys nailed it.

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Brien & Sallie
If you've ever thought stalking a lion at dawn might be fun, then you will be blown away with your safari.

I had high expectations for our safari and the Africa Awaits team completely blew our expectations away. From the planning process (we did nothing...) to leveraging promotions to get us the best value (the team really came through!) nothing could have been easier. The itinerary we developed made us feel like we became experienced African travelers, tasting the best of the continent in a relatively short trip. If you're thinking about crossing Africa off your bucket list, don't think any further, go with Africa Awaits now!!

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Scott & Anna

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SAFARI STUDIO
32 HWY 107N
CASHIERS, NC 28717
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