andy biggs photo safaris

What andy biggs photo safaris does

Andy Biggs Photo Safaris, operating legally as Andy Biggs Safaris & Custom Travel, is a privately held, US-based (Detroit-area) luxury safari company founded in 2003 by wildlife photographer Andy Biggs. The company designs and leads custom private safaris and pre-scheduled group departures to Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, India, and the Galapagos, typically priced at $15,990–$19,750+ per person all-inclusive. The core value proposition is the founder's 23 years of wildlife photography expertise — anchored by a 2008 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year award and a Banana Republic "Urban Safari" campaign across 750 stores — combined with direct relationships to premium safari camps and naturalist guides, and a small-group format that prioritizes photographer access.

The revenue model is a mix of high-touch professional services (safaris), digital education (the "Lightroom Simplified" video course, $79 complete or $49 per module), and physical goods (hand-signed fine art prints on Moab paper, $800–$2,000). Distribution is strictly direct-to-consumer: a Squarespace-hosted website with email ([email protected]) and phone (313-509-8399) intake, an active Instagram account (@andy_biggs_safaris), an email newsletter, and earned media from major photography publications and broadcast appearances. Bookings are driven heavily by word-of-mouth referrals and the founder's personal brand rather than paid acquisition or intermediary partners.

The business operates without disclosed external funding, headcount data, app, or AI/ML capabilities. Strategic activity is modest and extension-oriented — adding destination variety (India, Galapagos), productizing photography expertise via a course, and launching a print e-commerce line — rather than scaling headcount or pursuing enterprise distribution. Insurance partnerships with Arch RoamRight and Faye are embedded as ancillary booking-flow features. The underlying technology stack is minimal: standard website commerce tooling rather than a proprietary platform.

Name

andy biggs photo safaris

Legal name

Andy Biggs Safaris & Custom Travel

Website

https://andybiggs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Andy Biggs Photo Safaris is a US-based, founder-led luxury safari company designing custom and scheduled wildlife photography trips to Africa, India, and the Galapagos, supplemented by a Lightroom video course and fine art prints.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Safari Travel

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Safari & Overland Wildlife Adventures (4x4/Jeep) (THAJABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife & Safari Tour Operators (THAKADAG), Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (THAJAIAB), Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG), Safari & Game Drives (Land-Based) (THAAAEAC), Wildlife & Nature Interpretation Guides (Birding, Photography, Naturalist) (THAAALAE), Safari & Wilderness Luxury Resorts (THAGACAD)

Keywords

• Luxury safari travel
• Wildlife photography tours
• Custom safari planning
• Photography education courses
• Fine art photography prints

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Guided Photo Safaris: The primary revenue stream. Andy Biggs leads scheduled group photo safaris and custom private safaris to Africa (Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia), India, and the Galapagos. Safaris include accommodation, meals, drinks, internal flights, safari activities, and guide services. Pricing ranges from approximately $15,990 to $19,750+ per person depending on destination and duration.
2. Photography Education - Lightroom Course: Sale of digital video courses teaching Adobe Lightroom workflow. Complete series priced at $79, with individual color or B&W courses at $49 each. This is a digital product with near 100% margin.
3. Fine Art Photography Prints: Sale of archival quality fine art prints of African wildlife photography. Prints are hand-made by Andy Biggs in his studio on Moab fine art paper, signed and shipped. Pricing varies by size, ranging from $800 for smaller formats to $2,000 for large prints.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Andy Biggs Safaris & Custom Travel plans and leads custom private safaris and scheduled group departures to wildlife destinations including Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, India, and the Galapagos. The offering is all-inclusive, covering accommodation, meals, drinks, internal flights, safari activities, and guide services, and is led personally by founder Andy Biggs or trusted professional guides. Supporting products include hand-signed fine art prints of African wildlife and a digital Adobe Lightroom post-processing video course.

Product overview

Andy Biggs Safaris & Custom Travel operates as a unified luxury safari service offering two primary service models: Custom Safari Planning (tailored private safaris designed to individual specifications) and Scheduled/Guided Safaris (pre-planned group departures). Supporting the core travel business, the company also offers Lightroom Simplified, a video education course for photographers, and Fine Art Photography Prints for sale. The product portfolio is centered on African wildlife photography experiences, with services spanning trip planning, guided expeditions, post-processing education, and physical art products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Andy Biggs Safaris & Custom Travel Luxury African safari travel services company offering custom/private safaris and scheduled group departures led by Andy Biggs or trusted guides, handling all logistics including accommodations, transportation, guides, and activities to destinations including Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, India, and the Galapagos.
• Custom Safari Planning Personalized safari planning service where Andy Biggs collaborates with clients to design tailor-made private safaris based on specific preferences, schedule, budget, and desired experiences, including private photographer guides or acting as a logistics-only agent.
• Scheduled/Guided Safaris Pre-planned group safari departures several times per year, led by Andy Biggs or experienced lead guides, offering wildlife photography-focused trips and general adventure safaris to Africa, India, and the Galapagos, with all-inclusive pricing covering accommodation, meals, drinks, internal flights, activities, guides, and conservation fees.
• Lightroom Simplified Video Course A 3.5-hour digital video course in 13 episodes covering Andy Biggs's complete workflow in Adobe Lightroom's Develop module, including color and black-and-white editing techniques, organization tips, and Lightroom Mobile bonus content, available as a complete series or individual modules.
• Fine Art Photography Prints Limited edition fine art prints of African wildlife photography, hand-made and signed by Andy Biggs, produced on Moab fine art paper and available in sizes ranging from 16x24 inches ($800) to 30x45 inches ($2,000), shipped domestically via UPS Ground with international shipping quoted separately.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Gura GearminorOthersAndy Biggs is co-founder of Gura Gear, a company that manufactures photography bags and accessories. This is a personal business venture rather than a strategic partnership for Andy Biggs Safaris.
• Arch RoamRightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAndy Biggs Safaris has partnered with Arch RoamRight as their preferred travel insurance provider. The company acts as an insurance partner, with a dedicated agency code for booking travel insurance through this provider.
• Faye Travel InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe company also partners with Faye travel insurance, offering customers access to travel insurance quotes and purchase options. This provides an additional insurance option for travelers booking safaris.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Roar Africa: Luxury African safari specialist offering custom and signature journeys with a premium, design-forward positioning for affluent international travelers.
• Wilderness Safaris: One of Africa's largest luxury safari operators, with strong depth in Botswana and other Andy Biggs destinations. Competes directly for the same high-end multi-day Botswana/Kenya wildlife experiences.
• &Beyond: Luxury African safari and travel operator with deep camp inventory and custom itinerary services across Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Namibia — directly comparable custom-safari offering to high-end travelers.
• Singita: Owner/operator of premium safari lodges in South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe; competes for ultra-luxury and wildlife-focused travelers using branded properties and high-touch guiding.
• Micato Safaris: Long-established luxury African safari outfitter offering custom and small-group departures with high-touch service — overlapping directly in customer profile and travel-style fit.
• Ker & Downey Africa: Bespoke luxury safari operator covering East and Southern Africa with custom itineraries at premium price points; targeted at the same affluent experiential-traveler segment.
• Thomson Safaris: Long-running Tanzania-based safari operator offering scheduled group departures and custom trips with an emphasis on expert guiding — closely comparable operating model.

Emerging players

• Backcountry Journeys: Photography-led workshop and safari operator running small-group trips with pro photographer leaders — directly comparable photography-instruction-led safari offering.
• Natural Habitat Adventures: Conservation-focused adventure travel operator offering small-group wildlife trips worldwide with naturalist guides — overlapping in wildlife-focused, expert-led experiences.

Broad incumbents

• Black Tomato: Luxury bespoke travel operator with a curated portfolio including safari itineraries; competes for the same high-net-worth custom-travel budget though with a broader geographic remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/andybiggssafaris
• Instagraminstagram.com/andy_biggs_safaris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 andy biggs photo safaris