Letaka Safaris

What Letaka Safaris does

Letaka Safaris (legally Malachite Safaris (Pty) Ltd) is a citizen-owned Botswana mobile tented safari operator founded in October 2000 by the Reed brothers — Brent, Grant, and Michael — collectively referred to as the Letaka Brothers. The company designs and operates guided mobile camping expeditions across Botswana's principal wilderness areas, including the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Savuti, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Mababe Private Reserve, and the Makgadikgadi Pans, with extensions into Namibia and Zambia. Its operational backbone is a fleet of custom 9-guest safari vehicles fitted with 220V inverters, USB ports, and onboard fridges, paired with mobile tented camps using en-suite bush bathrooms, bucket showers, and long-drop toilets that are erected and dismantled by camp staff every few days during each itinerary.

The product portfolio comprises nine named scheduled itineraries ranging from 6 to 11 days (Miracle Rivers, Northern Highlights northbound and southbound, Family Safari, Blooming Desert, Three Rivers Safari, Northern Wings, Charlie Summers Photographic Departure, and Shutter Safari), priced between USD 2,965 and USD 7,135 per person depending on duration, destination, and season. Scheduled departures are complemented by tailor-made private safaris and privately guided options, with a 20% deposit to confirm and balance due six weeks prior to departure. The company also operates a separate film location services vertical, providing logistical support and filming camps to international productions (BBC, National Geographic, Animal Planet) since 2001.

Distribution is multi-channel: a direct website with an integrated safari finder and booking flow, a Maun-based reservations team, country-specific representatives in Germany, South Africa, and the UK, and a global travel agent network with a dedicated agents portal. Letaka is closely associated with the African Guide Academy (formerly Okavango Guiding School), a training facility founded by the Reed brothers that supplies FGASA-qualified guides. The company employs approximately 14 people, including 9 mobile safari guides and a management team of 6, and is headquartered at Matlapana, Maun, Botswana. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Letaka Safaris

Legal name

Malachite Safaris (Pty) Ltd trading as Letaka Safaris

Website

https://letakasafaris.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Letaka Safaris is a citizen-owned Botswana mobile tented safari operator founded in 2000 by the Reed brothers, offering 6–11 day guided camping expeditions across the Okavango Delta, Moremi, Chobe, and Savuti, with extensions into Namibia and Zambia, serving international leisure travelers and film production clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Safari Tourism

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (THAJAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safari Camps & Tented Lodges (THAGAOAF), Safari & Overland Wildlife Adventures (4x4/Jeep) (THAJABAD), Safari & Wildlife Adventure Tour Operators (Land-Based) (THAAADAD)

Keywords

• Mobile tented safaris
• Guided wildlife tours
• Photographic safari departures
• Private tailor-made safaris
• Film location logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Maun

HQ country

Botswana

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Scheduled Mobile Safari Packages: All-inclusive mobile tented safari packages sold as scheduled group departures with fixed itineraries and dates. Prices range from USD 2,965 to USD 7,135 per person depending on duration, destination, and season. Packages include accommodation, meals, drinks, guide, transport, park fees, and activities.
2. Private and Tailor-Made Safaris: Custom-designed private departures or modified routes for individuals or groups. Offered at different rates depending on time of year, length, and group size.
3. Film Production Support Services: Logistical support, filming camps, and wilderness support services for film crews since 2001. Serves international TV networks and production companies including BBC, Nat Geo, and others.
4. Lodge and Extension Bookings: Extension services including accommodation at partner lodges (Thamalakane River Lodge, Leroo La Tau Lodge) and arrangements to Victoria Falls, Hwange, and other destinations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Letaka Safaris operates small-group mobile tented safaris across Botswana's premier wildlife regions, offering scheduled group departures, tailor-made private safaris, privately guided safaris, dedicated photographic departures, and film location logistics support for production companies. Accommodations are mobile tented camps with en-suite bathrooms, and safaris are run with a low guest-to-guide ratio (up to 6 guests per guide) to support both leisure and serious wildlife-photography guests.

Product overview

Letaka Safaris is Botswana's premier mobile tented safari operator offering a portfolio of scheduled departure safaris and bespoke private experiences. The core product line consists of nine named mobile tented safari itineraries ranging from 6 to 11 days, covering destinations including Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, Savuti, Mababe, and the Makgadikgadi Pans. Safari types include standard wildlife experiences, family-focused tours, and specialized photographic departures. The company also provides tailor-made private safaris and film location services. All mobile safaris feature tented accommodation, professional guides, camp staff, meals, and transportation in customized safari vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Miracle Rivers (6-day mobile safari) A 6-day scheduled group mobile tented safari in Botswana, sold on a per-person basis with guaranteed departures on the operator's published calendar. Itineraries traverse multiple Botswana regions and are aimed at international leisure travelers seeking a multi-region mobile camping experience.
• Northern Highlights Northbound Scheduled group mobile tented safari traversing Botswana's northern wildlife regions on a northbound routing. Sold on a per-person basis with guaranteed departures, aimed at leisure travelers wanting to cover multiple northern regions in one trip.
• Northern Highlights Southbound Scheduled group mobile tented safari traversing Botswana's northern wildlife regions on a southbound routing, complementing the northbound itinerary. Sold on a per-person basis with guaranteed departures.
• Northern Wings (11-day mobile safari) An 11-day scheduled group mobile tented safari traversing Botswana's northern wildlife regions for a more in-depth multi-region experience. Sold on a per-person basis with guaranteed departures.
• Family Safari (7-day mobile safari) A 7-day scheduled group mobile tented safari positioned for multi-generational family bookings in Botswana. Sold on a per-person basis with guaranteed departures.
• Blooming Desert (8-day mobile safari) An 8-day scheduled group mobile tented safari themed around the desert flowering in Botswana's Makgadikgadi / Central Kalahari areas. Sold on a per-person basis with guaranteed departures.
• The Three Rivers Safari (10-day mobile safari) A 10-day scheduled group mobile tented safari covering multiple river-associated wildlife regions in Botswana. Sold on a per-person basis with guaranteed departures.
• Charlie Summers Photographic Departure Scheduled photographic group departure positioned for serious wildlife photographers, leveraging the operator's custom 4x4 vehicles with inverters and campsite power sockets. Sold on a per-person basis with guaranteed departures.
• Shutter Safari Photographic-focused mobile safari itinerary targeted at wildlife photographers, with in-vehicle and in-camp power via the operator's custom 4x4 vehicles and campsite infrastructure.
• Privately Guided Safaris Privately guided safaris for single booking parties, with their own dedicated guide and 4x4 vehicle across Botswana's premier wildlife regions. Sold as a private itinerary with per-person pricing and a private vehicle supplement.
• Tailor-Made Private Safaris Fully customized private safaris built around the customer's preferred dates, regions, duration, and group size. Routings and camp combinations are arranged through the reservations team and priced per person, often combined with partner lodge extensions (Wilderness Safaris, &Beyond, Sanctuary, Belmond, Mombo).
• Film Location Services Film location and production logistics service for film, television, and commercial shoots in Botswana. Leverages Letaka's vehicles, guides, and camp infrastructure to support location scouting, crew movement, and on-the-ground logistics for production companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ scheduled safari departures per year across multiple itineraries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BBC (Planet Earth, Top Gear)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Letaka Safaris has provided logistical support and filming camps for BBC productions since 2001, including BBC Planet Earth (Wild Dogs episode) and BBC Top Gear Botswana Special. The company provides essential wilderness logistics, equipment transport, and local expertise for major wildlife and adventure documentary productions.
• National Geographic (Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Long-standing partnership with National Geographic for wildlife documentary productions including Kratt Brothers Be The Creature (Wild Dogs, Lions of Savuti episodes) and Safari Brothers series. Safari Brothers, a six-part documentary about Letaka Safaris operations, aired globally on Nat Geo Wild channels.
• Animal Planet (Sivell Communications)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Filming support for Wildlife Crossroads documentary on Animal Planet, showcasing Botswana's wildlife and ecosystems.
• African Guide Academy (AGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican Guide Academy (formerly Okavango Guiding School) is a training facility founded by Letaka Safaris directors to elevate guiding standards in Botswana. Many of Botswana's top safari guides train through AGA, creating a guiding fraternity that stands above other African destinations. This partnership ensures consistent quality of professional guides for Letaka Safaris operations.
• Mack AircoreTechnology or IntegrationCharter flight operator that transports guests from Maun International Airport to safari destinations (e.g., Xakanaxa airstrip in Moremi Game Reserve). Essential partner for safari logistics and guest transfers.
• First National Bank (FNB Botswana)coreOthersPayment services provider handling financial transactions for safari bookings. Processes credit card payments (Visa, MasterCard with 3.5% service fee) and accepts Telegraphic/SWIFT transfers and EFT. Privacy policy references FNB as the payment processor.
• Symbio StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company behind Safari Brothers documentary series. Patrick Greene, Emmy award-winning director and owner of Symbio Studios, developed the concept after meeting Brent and Grant Reed during filming of Ocean Mysteries. Symbio Studios created and produced the six-part series following Letaka Safaris operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wilderness Safaris: Wilderness Safaris operates mobile and lodge safaris across Botswana, Namibia, and Southern Africa with scheduled and private departures. It is the largest direct competitor to Letaka in the Botswana mobile-safari segment and offers comparable guided experiences in the Okavango and Chobe.
• Asilia Africa: Asilia Africa runs scheduled and private mobile safaris across Tanzania, Kenya, and Botswana. Closely comparable mobile-tented product, scheduled-departure model, and price point.
• Great Plains Conservation: Great Plains Conservation runs mobile and tented safaris in Botswana and Kenya with a conservation-driven brand similar to Letaka's citizen-owned positioning. Comparable high-end guided itineraries in the Okavango Delta and private concessions.
• Ultimate Safaris: Ultimate Safaris runs guided mobile and lodge safaris in Namibia with extensions into Botswana and Zambia. Comparable mobile-tented product and small-operator positioning.
• Desert & Delta Safaris: Desert & Delta Safaris operates scheduled mobile safaris and lodges throughout Botswana, including the Okavango and Moremi. Most direct competitor in the scheduled group-departure mobile-safari format.
• Ker & Downey Africa: Ker & Downey Africa offers mobile safaris, lodge stays, and bespoke itineraries across Southern and East Africa. Comparable bespoke and scheduled mobile-tented offerings to Letaka.
• African Bush Camps: African Bush Camps operates small, owner-run tented camps and mobile safaris in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Comparable size, community focus, and tented safari style to Letaka.

Others

• Mack Air: Mack Air is Botswana's leading charter flight operator and a core logistics partner for Letaka's safari transfers. Adjacent enabling infrastructure provider rather than a competitor, but tightly coupled to Letaka's operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Belmond (LVMH) Safaris: Belmond (now part of LVMH) operates high-end safari experiences in Botswana and Kenya. Wider luxury brand portfolio but overlapping high-end Botswana safari customer base.
• &Beyond: &Beyond is a luxury African safari and travel operator with extensive Botswana presence alongside broader multi-country offerings. Overlaps with Letaka on high-end guided Botswana safaris but operates primarily fixed lodges.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/letaka-safaris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Letaka Safaris