Luxury Safari Adventures Travel Agent Expert

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Matthew VanBuren, Travel Agent in New York, NY

Matthew VanBuren

New York, NY Travel Agent
Super Agent

Matthew VanBuren

New York, NY · 10 Years of Experience

A full-service Travel Leaders Associate Agency
5.0
(80)
100% Recommended
I am big shopper and find my way to Miami every few months to visit the Design District and shops in SoBe. Over the past twenty... Read More >
About
Reviews
My Places
Client Testimonials

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Africa, Dubai, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia

Interests:

Safari, Animals & Wildlife, Luxury, Adventure, Photography

About Me

Thinking of taking a luxury safari adventure? These trips are one of the most thrilling ways to see the natural wonders of Africa. Not only do you get to see incredible animals, but you also get to explore their natural habitats from the comfort of a private car or plane. As your luxury safari adventures travel agent advisor, I can make this trip happen. While there are many different options for planning a luxury safari trip, I can offer some general ideas to help you get started. Read on for insider information and tips on everything you need to know!

Research your options

Choosing the right safari travel agent professional is one of the most important aspects of planning your trip. That is where I can help. I can help book your trip and even guide you through the whole experience.  I can share my travel knowledge with you so you can make the right travel decisions. 

Selecting the right location

There are many different places in Africa where you can go on a luxury safari adventure. Although there are many different factors to consider when deciding where to go, location is certainly a large one.  When deciding on a location, it is important to keep in mind that the top safari destinations in Africa tend to be very popular. This means you may  have to book your trip some months in advance to get what you want.  Other places in Africa are less popular or are still relatively undiscovered by tourists. These places may not be as luxurious, but they also tend to be less expensive and less crowded. If you are looking for a more private experience, these tours may be a better fit for you.

Choosing your accommodation

You can choose to stay in safari lodges, tented camps, or even luxury tree houses - all of which offer something different. Luxury lodges are often located in large cities, near airports, or in areas where some animals are less likely to be seen.  Tented camps are frequently located in more remote areas and offer a more private experience. Tree houses provide a unique trip stay.  When choosing your accommodation, you will have to take many things into consideration. For example, how close is it to the areas where you want to go on safari?  How easy is it to get to these places? What kind of facilities does it have? How expensive is it? These are all important factors to think about when choosing your accommodation. As a travel agent professional, one of the tree house accommodations I recommend is the two-story Starbed Treehouses- which appear to float above the Zambezi River. They are close to spectacular Victoria Falls on private Kandahar Island. A luxury suite is featured on the lower tier and the upper deck features a “star” bed, plunge pool and sitting area. The tree house at the Victoria Falls River Lodge allows you to either sleep beneath the stars or in an air-conditioned suite. Regardless of where you choose to rest, you’ll see spectacular views of the Zambezi River.     

Booking your safari tours

When you are booking your safari tours, it is important to find the right balance between the number of activities you can do and how much time you spend in nature. Different people have different needs when it comes to booking tours.  Someone who is very interested in wildlife may want to go on tours that last all day and include very little downtime between activities. These tours tend to be very exciting, but they may not give you much time to go off on your own or rest and relax.  On the other hand, someone who doesn’t care as much about wildlife may prefer shorter tours with more free time in between activities. I can help you find the perfect tour - one that supports your travel needs and preferences.Be sure to bring these things with you

When you go on safari, be sure to bring a sturdier pair of shoes. Some people go on luxury safari adventures wearing sandals, flip flops, or open-toed shoes. While these may be okay for short walks, they aren’t proper footwear for many of the activities you may do during your trip. I also suggest you bring a good camera. In this case, don’t rely on your phone camera, as it won’t produce the type of spectacular pictures you’ll want to share. In addition, a water bottle is a must-have accessory. It can be easy to forget to drink enough water on your trip. This is especially true if you are out on tours where you aren’t drinking as much water as you should.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking to go on a luxury safari adventure in Africa, or a similar adventure elsewhere in the world. I can help, as your travel agent professional, to plan the ideal itinerary. Let me introduce you to the wonders and sights of Africa. Call me today so you can plan the dream vacation of a lifetime. 

Additional Languages
Spanish

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
80 reviews
100% Recommended
Your trust is our priority. Every review is submitted by verified travelers after they have booked and completed their trips. Learn more about our review guidelines.
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Showing 80 reviews

Fabulous
Reviewed By Cindy R - Atlanta, Georgia | Traveled to Miami ~ Florida ~ USA
I am big shopper and find my way to Miami every few months to visit the Design District and shops in SoBe. Over the past twenty years I have probably stayed in thirty hotels in Brickell and Miami Beach but always like to try my hand at a new property to switch things up. While my last travel advisor, Miss Ginger, retired, I was nervous to try someone new out. Let me just tell you, Matt is young and vibrant, eager to help cater to your every need. He chose the best flight times, hotel, and boat charters and kept in contact with me throughout the whole process. He definitely has a taste for luxury so keep that in mind when choosing to work with him (a plus for me but maybe not for a backpacker??).
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
15 of 24 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Wonderful team bonding trip in Mexico!
Reviewed By Joanna K - Pennsburg, PA | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
Matt was great and communicative throughout the whole process. He helped us book excursions and kept in touch before we left.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
7 of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Best of the Best
Reviewed By Borris M - New York, New York | Traveled to Turks and Caicos Islands ~ Caribbean
I think Matt is the best of the best. Already referred him to friends and family. Well worth the planning fee he charged for our group of 20. Gave us great rates on the resorts and found very affordable airfare.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
8 of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Good Honesty
Reviewed By Curt F - Saranac, NY | Traveled to South Beach ~ Florida ~ USA
Matt is super nice and respectful. Very pleasant to work with but be prepared for his honesty. We were planning a trip to South Beach because we have not been since the 80's. After expressing that we wanted to stay on Ocean Drive, Matt simply told us that is "not a wise move". Well good thing we took his advice, because Ocean Drive is not the place it used to be! Miami Beach is still incredible and with his recommendations, you will have a great time. Best advice? Listen to his! Will use him again for our next trip.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
9 of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Thank you, Matt
Reviewed By Will T - Cranston, RI | Traveled to Miami ~ Florida ~ USA
I found Matt through Travel Leaders. He is a great agent to work with. I will definitely use him again.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
10 of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

My Places

When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.

Client Testimonials

Business Retreat
All of our travel agents in the past never truly cared to help us or understand our business. Matt not only did an incredible job planning our small business incentive trip, but he also took the time to understand our business and needs. We won't ever use a large corporate travel agency again!
Marcos, V., Miami Florida
Group Vacation Excellence
"So welcoming to all of our questions and will do anything to make sure your vacation is perfect. We loved his youthful energy and communication. No matter what the problem is, he is there to help you every step of the way. He handles large groups amazingly and no task is too big. I suggest booking with Matt if you do not want the stress of booking your holiday but still would like to have input in your travel itinerary!"
Grace V, Philadelphia, PA
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