Many safari companies are advertising on the internet. All claiming to be the best, delivering unique safaris, off the beaten track. They claim to give the best value; and the sheer numbers of tour operators appearing online the situation is intimidating for anyone wanting to book a safari direct. Which company to choose? Which company can you trust? With most companies requiring payment in advance this can be a potentially hazardous decision to make with your hard earned cash.

The whole idea of wanting to book direct is to save money. However, the fear for many is who can be trusted. How to tell the true safari bargain from the con? A personal recommendation of a company is probably the best way to have some peace about a potential booking of a safari company. Do not trust online recommendations many small companies make these postings of their success themselves. Word of mouth is the only way to put any weight behind a recommendation.

Look to see if the company is registered with an accountable, professional tourism organization; a reputable, recognized tourist organization. Any claimed awards may look nice but not be genuine; check them out.

Send off your request to a few companies. If quotes come back that are too good to be true; that that