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Cottar's Safaris

Masai Mara, Olderkesi Private Reserve, Maasai Mara National Reserve 00100 Kenya
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Room & Suite (95)
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About

#1 of 2 campsites in Olderkesi Private Reserve
Location
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Cottar’s Safaris is a portfolio of three unique properties in the Masai Mara in Kenya, that work with the local community to unite wildlife conservation and sustainable luxury travel. We are a 5th generation family run safari company that has been operating safaris in Africa for more that 100 years. Our 1920s Camp, private Bush Villa and Conservation Camp are located in the private Olderkesi Conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The Cottar Safari tradition began in 1919. For over 100 years, we continue to provide an unparalleled safari experience to discerning clients in Africa. Extending an era of luxury and quality, we return to the original spirit and essence of "safari", reminiscent of a golden era; an era of romance, professional guiding, adventure and elegance. Situated in an untouched exclusive conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Loliondo reserves, the area guarantees privacy and an abundance of wildlife. Our 1920s Camp accommodates up to 26 guests in authentic white canvas tents, which are spacious and luxuriously furnished. The Bush Villa is a private villa with 5 en suite bedrooms, amazing views and private chef and guides. The Conservation Camp is an immersive and intimate camp of seven simple tents, designed for those who want to immerse themselves in the local community and culture, and experience the day to day conservation efforts of a working conservancy.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Free breakfast
Evening entertainment
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Free airport transportation
Business Centre with Internet Access
Public wifi
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast in the room
Special diet menus
Airport transportation
Spa
Massage
Baggage storage
Concierge
Gift shop
Mosquito net
Shared lounge / TV area
Butler service
24-hour front desk
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
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Room features
Room service
Safe
VIP room facilities
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Smoking rooms available
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, German, Italian

Location

Masai Mara, Olderkesi Private Reserve, Maasai Mara National Reserve 00100 Kenya
Cottar's Safaris
Getting there
Mara Lodges Airport
50.8 km
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Olkiombo Airstrip
406Reviews2Q+A86Room tips
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Kim P wrote a review Feb 2024
15 contributions2 helpful votes
This camp is so grossly overpriced. It's old and lazy , just like the guide Dennis, who could care more about sleeping than our safari. My husband first noticed how he just seemed to keep driving circles, up and down the same roads. He never explained in depth about the animals, just "it's an eagle", or "it's an impala". Then when we were watching some buffalo, Dennis fell ASLEEP!!! WHO DOES THAT?? We were so disgusted and disappointed in everything at this camp. Will not return and definitely will not recommend it to all of our friends who frequent Kenya.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Old, camp, the owners support big game hunting = killing endangered species, LAZY, WORST GUIDE EVER!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Millie T wrote a review Jun 2023
Los Angeles, California48 contributions5 helpful votes
+1
Our guide, Enock, and our tracker, Salash, were very professional and we had great game drives. Richard, our room steward keep our room neat & tidy and got our laundry washed. Peris was the camp manager and made sure everything was running smoothly. The food was amazing. The entire staff was very friendly and helpful. I have stayed in several different properties in the Mara and found the tent could use some updating. Also, I was sharing this room with a friend and there were two beds. However, one was a double and the other a single. If the furniture was rearranged differently, two double beds would be able to fit into the tent. For the amount of money being charged for this property, the bed situation was unacceptable. That is the reason I did not give this camp an excellent rating.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 18 Jul 2023
Dear Millie, thank you so much for your lovely review on your stay with us in the Mara. We're sorry about the bed issue, and would like to let you know that we are in the process of updating all of our tents, and already have 2 new tents in place and 2 replacements tents (as of July 2023), so this won't be an issue in the future. Our team loved hosting you and look forward to hopefully hosting you again in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Jane F wrote a review Feb 2023
1 contribution
We spent 5 glorious days at Cottars with a large group of friends last week. The entire trip was phenomenal! The food was delicious and all the staff are truly exceptional. This was a trip of a lifetime and we would certainly recommend Cottar’s. Our time spent at your lodge exceeded all of our expectations. Thank you so much Cottar’s for such a phenomenal experience!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 15 Feb 2023
Thank you so much! We are thrilled that you had such a wonderful safari and we thoroughly enjoyed your company too. Looking forward to your next trip! All the best, Calvin
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Michael D wrote a review Sept 2022
Brick, New Jersey48 contributions10 helpful votes
This was our last, third, safari camp of our ten-day travel, and what a fantastic place to finish. The staff was extremely welcoming and attentive to all details. The accommodations were very spacious and comforting. All of the meals were delicious and very accommodating to our schedule. Our guide was very informative on all of our rides. The whole staff was exceptional. I truly cannot say enough great things about our experience at the camp. We really like that they own their own property, so you are not always competing with all of the other safaris in the area.
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Date of stay: August 2022
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 8 Sept 2022
We do have such an amazing team, that do such an amazing job every day! Thank you so much for your lovely review. It's magical for us to show you how wonderful our home here in the Maasai Mara in Kenya is. Thank you for supporting us and we hope to host you again soon. All the best, Calvin and the Cottar's team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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TN Magnolia wrote a review Aug 2022
1 contribution1 helpful vote
What an amazing experience! Our family can't say enough great things about Cottar's and the excellent service provided to us. From early morning safari drives to watch lions, cheetahs and leopards to a memorable visit to a Masai village, we were blessed!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 8 Sept 2022
Thank you so much! It's so wonderful to hear that you had such an amazing time with us. We hope to host you again soon. All the best, Calvin
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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jacqui wrote a review Aug 2022
Pasadena, California5 contributions1 helpful vote
Cottar's far exceeded our expectation. It is, without a doubt, the best safari camp in Kenya. The camp is just as pictured- elegant, comfortable, picturesque, and secluded. The service was incredible and tailored to our needs. Our guide Mako was a true professional and knew exactly where to take us on safari. The animals were stunning. Our respect for nature and Africa deepened. Everyone at the camp was friendly and lovely. We felt like we made life long friends in just a few days. Our only regret was that we didn't stay longer. Stay a minimum of four nights- and take the bush bath!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: August 2022
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 23 Aug 2022
Thank you so much for this wonderful review, it was such a pleasure hosting you in the Mara and we're thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience. We can't wait for you to come back! All the best, Calvin and the Cottar's Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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RJP wrote a review Aug 2022
Winchester, United Kingdom227 contributions223 helpful votes
We as a family of 5 have just returned from Cottars. We had a fabulous time however given the stratospheric daily price ($6000 s day) we unsurprisingly had very high expectations and in some regards these were not met. The negatives first: The family tents have views of bushes / trees and at best a nearby hillside. As other have said they do not have the sweeping views over the Mara you see in pictures from the main mess tent or the couples tents or the bush villa. This was a huge disappointment to us given that part of the reason for staying at Cottars was the views. The family tents have a fire place but even with all the tents flaps open it got quite Smokey inside the tent and I had concerns about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. (As most campers know you never cook inside a closed tent for that reason) I do think as a minimum they should have carbon monoxide alarms in the tents with fireplaces. The family tents are dark. For sure it’s a tent so what do you expect? Well at this price point enough lights in the tent so it is not gloomy in the dusk / evening ( the honeymoon tents have some pendant chandeliers). There are only only 4 table lamps for the whole of the tented area. The bathrooms are very tired and need updating in my view. Decent lighting / mirrors / nice stone tiles are all required. They are in the hard standing part of the tent. Privacy in the family tents was minimal. I was expecting some drapes between the bedroom areas and the living area. However though there are drapes between the children’s bedroom and the rest of the tent. The adults bedroom is open plan with the living area and fireplace with no drapes. So that if your children are at the table or by the fire there is no privacy from them when you are in bed. As a result if all of the above I would not recommend a family tent. Minimal views, fireplace safety issues, dark, minimal privacy between bedrooms. In preference I would rent 2 double tents for a marginal increase in cost. The final negative and also quite a big one is food. The food was ok but nothing more. There was no choice at lunch and dinner you got whatever the chef decided to cook that day. Dinner was always soup, followed by a main course followed by desert. Some main courses like the cod were great. Others like the ostrich stew were barely edible. At $6000 per night for 5 I expect a lot more. Cottars fell massively short on this. Desert on 2 nights was fruit salad! Really I would be expecting choices of high end steaks, lobster etc and presented in a fine dining way at this price point. Cottars food was edible but nothing more and to not have a choice is pretty unforgivable at this price point. I know they are in the Mara but plenty of other places in the Mara manage this as do high resorts on their own islands in the Maldives. So their relatively isolated location is not a valid excuse. Included wines were basic. Drinkable but nothing more. The positives: There is much to love about Cottars The staff were all lovely and our guides were great. Being in its own private reserve it is lovely and quite and it was great to see animals without lots of other vehicles around. The 1920s feel is lovely (baring the above). The main mess tent has a great communal feel and it was very enjoyable to have cocktails every evening with other guests. The African night dancing was a highlight. So would I return? Probably not with the current metrics. Either the quality needs to improve or the price needs to come down.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Avoid the family tents
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 11 Aug 2022
I'm very sorry to hear this and apologies. Our team is amazing at what they do and we are extremely proud of what we have built and achieved, and most of our other reviews from our guests are very positive. That said we of course take your feedback very seriously as we want to continue to provide the best experience for all of our guests, and we will look into how to improve on the items you mentioned above. All the best, Calvin
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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lsinsf wrote a review May 2022
Sc, CA1 contribution1 helpful vote
Tl:dr There are some high charges at Cottar’s that just don’t match up to the value. With so many other beautiful lodges in the Mara, spend your money elsewhere. Longer review We are residents of Kenya who have spent a lot of time in the Mara. For ages I had wanted to go to the iconic Cottar’s. Sadly, it just didn’t measure up to expectations given the high price point they charge. There were wonderful things - the food, the privacy, the guides and staff overall. However, we also had one issue that they have continued to leave I resolved to this date that I think shows how little they care about value for guests. Background: We needed to be picked up at another camp on the other side of the Mara, which is quite a long way. The Cottar’s office staff quoted us a figure of almost $600. (For comparison, you can hire a safari jeep to drive from Nairobi to the Mara for around $250, albeit not a game drive, but for comparison sake, I share that number here). I thought this was pretty high from Cottar’s, but it was supposed to include a packed bush lunch and we didn’t really have an alternate transport option planned, and I figured it would be a beautiful day. However, when they arrived to pick us up, there was no food. We were traveling with kids, so the idea that we could do a 5+ hour drive without any meals was not going to work. Luckily the other place we had been staying sprang into action and we packed lots of food and were set for the day. The drive was great, the guide fantastic and we arrived at Cottar’s. When I asked about the missing meal, it wasn’t really addressed. Before we departed, I asked again, and they said they could pack a meal to take with us on departure in lieu of the first missing one. But we didn’t need a meal then, and the idea had been to have a nice Bush lunch on the drive the first day. They said we could then follow up with the office to get reimbursement. I have sent now 5 emails on separate days and just get no response. Of course the office was immediately responsive when we were booking, so it’s clear they just don’t want to deal with this and aren’t interested to provide value to clients. I write this long review to just say, there are many, many gorgeous lodges in the Mara. After this experience I wouldn’t go back to Cottar’s, the value is just not there.
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 15 Aug 2022
I was very sadden to read your review and sorry to hear that our camp was not what you wanted. We have searched and searched but cannot find your emails requesting a reimbursement, please could you forward them to bookings@cottarssafaris.com and we will get back to you asap, or if you prefer please do call us directly on 0733773377. We are very proud or our camp and our team works extremely hard to provide every quest with the best possible experience in the Mara, I am sorry that your stay did not measure up to your expectations. All the best, Calvin
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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J K wrote a review Nov 2021
Denver, Colorado75 contributions75 helpful votes
This was our second stay at Cottar's Bush Villa, for our family of 5 adults. Cottar's is so much more than a luxury camp, it truly offers an amazing and unique Safari experience - That's what I said in 2019 and it's still true today! The Villa is amazing, with 5 large bedrooms overlooking a spectacular view of the Mara and Serengeti...but it's the staff that makes it truly special. William catered to our every need, arriving with a smile. Phoebe kept everything spotless and did the most amazing job with our laundry. The food was outstanding, with the chef catering to our "picky" eaters. The desserts were some of the best we had in Africa. Pampered doesn't even begin to describe the experience they provided. They even did a bush breakfast, complete with table cloths, fresh flowers and cooked to order eggs - all setup on the banks of the sand river so we could enjoy the view of eland and zebra's. Game drives were incredible.....again, not just because of the animals but the guiding. Douglas is exceptional...yes, he is a Gold Star guide but even more than that, he is engaging, funny and truly a friend. Going out of his way to make our stay at Cottar's the best Safari Experience possible. We saw leopard, cheetah, elephants (my wife's favorite) and the elusive Mara Rhino...he also took us to the Mara river to see the migration - 200,000 Wildebeest is a sight to behold (and not forgotten). Cottar's offers a "Warrior School" as a side activity. I'm sure this is normally for kids; however, my two grown sons had the best time with Moses and Lettie, a highlight for certain. You would enjoy this regardless of age. The Camp also has a resident Eland w/ baby...such a treat to see. It's an experience to be able to interact with such a beautiful creature. I have to say - You might arrive at Cottar's as a guest, but you will leave as a friend. Looking forward to our next stay.....
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Date of stay: October 2021
Rooms
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Room Tip: The Bush Villa is truly amazing
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 11 Aug 2022
Thank you very much!!!! We truly love what we do and we have THE BEST team, so it's wonderful when our guests love it as much as we do. We can't wait for your next visit! All the best, Calvin
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Richard wrote a review Sept 2021
4 contributions1 helpful vote
We stayed at cottars camp for 3 nights during our 2 week trip to Africa. I will say the place is JUST ok. Nothing special and honestly way overpriced for what you get. We stayed at other camps that were in the price range and everything was phenomenal. I would say everything at cottars is just “fine” nothing special but not the worst…. But I suppose you could stay at lesser expensive places and have the same mediocre experience. I say skip this place if you are a high end traveler. Perhaps if you have a family and don’t mind things not luxury standard this place is fine for you. But for me I expected more.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Calvin Cottar, Owner at Cottar's Safaris
Responded 28 Oct 2021
I'm very sorry to hear this and apologies that we weren't what you were looking for on your safari, it seems that luxury means different things to different people. All the best, Calvin
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Olderkesi Private Reserve area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
cottar`s camp 1920`s hotel maasai mara national reserve
LOCATION
KenyaRift Valley ProvinceMaasai Mara National ReserveOlderkesi Private Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
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COTTAR'S SAFARIS: UPDATED 2024 Hotel Reviews, Price Comparison and 510 Photos (Olderkesi Private Reserve, Kenya) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Cottar's Safaris
What are some of the property amenities at Cottar's Safaris?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at Cottar's Safaris?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Cottar's Safaris?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Cottar's Safaris?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Cottar's Safaris have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Cottar's Safaris offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Cottar's Safaris have airport transportation?
Yes, Cottar's Safaris offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Cottar's Safaris?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, German, and Italian.