ABOUT BIGGESTLEAF TRAVEL

Biggestleaf Travel is a reputable travel agency specializing in safari travel to Africa. We were founded in 2014 with a focus on Madikwe Game Reserve, Pilanesberg National Park and Welgevonden Game Reserve, all in South Africa. In 2021, we extended our reach and operations to offer clients safaris to other countries.

What’s covered in this guide

Explore the highlights of this post with ease by using the table of contents below to navigate to sections of interest.

Where is Biggestleaf based and what languages do the staff speak?
Who owns Biggestleaf Travel?
Is Biggestleaf Travel reputable?
Does Biggestleaf get good reviews?
What countries does Biggestleaf cover?
Does Biggestleaf know Africa well?
Can Biggestleaf book flights, transfers and activities?
Does Biggestleaf offer the best prices?
Has Biggestleaf won any awards?
Does Biggestleaf have any sustainability initiatives?
Can Biggestleaf help if I have an emergency on safari?
How can I contact Biggestleaf Travel?

Some of the Biggestleaf team in Cape Town

Where is Biggestleaf based and what languages do the staff speak?

We are based in Cape Town, South Africa and have representatives in Zambia, Canada, the UK and Portugal. Our agents speak fluent English, German, Swiss-German, Portuguese, Spanish and Afrikaans.

Who owns Biggestleaf Travel?

Biggestleaf Travel was founded and is owned by Robert Bernatzeder. He has extensive knowledge of the African travel industry with strong ties to South Africa, Namibia and Zambia especially. He currently lives with his family in Lusaka, Zambia and also has strong family ties to Germany.

Is Biggestleaf Travel reputable?

Yes, we are registered members in good standing with the following travel industry organizations:

SATSA Southern African Tourism Services Association
ATTA African Travel and Tourism Association
Africa’s Eden Tourism Association

Does Biggestleaf get good reviews?

Yes, Biggestleaf get consistently 4+/5 high reviews from thousands of satisfied clients.

Read our reviews here

What countries does Biggestleaf cover?

Biggestleaf Travel can arrange fully inclusive safari vacations to Congo, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These include all the major wildlife destinations such as Kruger, Masai Mara, Serengeti, Okavango Delta, Kafue, South Luangwa and Etosha.

We will also arrange gorilla trekking, walking safaris, mobile safaris and privately guided photographic safaris.

You can read more here:

Does Biggestleaf know Africa well?

Yes, we do. We are based in Cape Town, South Africa and our founder resides in Lusaka, Zambia. Our consultants have visited Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Victoria Falls, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Zanzibar. We have also done all of safaris bucket-list items like climb Mount Kilimanjaro, seen the Great Wildebeest Migration, visited the Okavango Delta, climbed Dune 45 in the Namib desert, gone whale watching off Hermanus, trekked gorillas and chimps in Rwanda and Uganda – the list is endless!

We frequently go on ‘site inspections’ to see new hotels and ‘educationals’ or ‘familiarisation (fam) trips’ to see new lodges and safari areas.

This is why we can provide first-hand advice. We also have an extensive network of contacts throughout Africa and routinely attend trade shows and conferences. Unliked agents not based in Africa, we don’t rely on brochures.

Can Biggestleaf book flights, transfers and activities?

specialist in international flights and long-haul connections.

In addition to all your accommodation in hotels, lodges and camps, we will book all your transport and activities. We can also book private guides, drivers and translators.

We run our own award-winning transfer division between Johannesburg and Pilanesberg, Sun City, Welgevonden and Madikwe.

You can read more about Biggestleaf transfers here

Biggestleaf has a professional, registered transfer division in Johannesburg

Does Biggestleaf offer the best prices?

Biggestleaf’s rates team is constantly working with suppliers and safari partners to bring you the best possible rates. The consultants are also experts at combining relevant discounts to make the most of your budget. They also know where to save and where to splurge, how travelling slightly earlier or later can get you better costs and why price doesn’t always correlate with the experience you’ll have: more doesn’t not always mean better!

Has Biggestleaf won any awards?

2026 LUXLife Leaders in Luxury Best Bespoke African Safari Tour Operator
2025 Global Tourism Excellence award winner for its consistently high traveller rankings on independent travel review sites such as TripAdvisor and Google
2025 Sustainability Award winner for its carbon offsetting work
2024 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winner

Does Biggestleaf have any sustainability initiatives?

Yes, Biggestleaf takes carbon emissions created by the travel industry seriously and mitigates them by:

Offsetting all the carbon emissions created by clients’ overnight stays outside South Africa
Offsetting all the emissions created by its transfer division in South Africa
Offsetting all the CO2 emitted by staff travel in Africa

You can read more about Biggestleaf’s carbon offsetting here

Can Biggestleaf help if I have an emergency on safari?

Yes, all clients of Biggestleaf get a direct, confidential 24-7-365 telephone number that is manned by an agent at all times in case of emergency. In addition, we check in on clients during their longer journeys and keep in touch with all the lodges and camps they are staying at to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Because of our careful planning and before-departure preparation briefings, emergencies are very rare.

Some of the team at Oude Werf in the Cape Winelands

How can I contact Biggestleaf Travel?

It’s easy: just fill in this form with as much detail as possible

One of our highly skilled consultants will get back to you within 48 hours but generally sooner. The team works 8am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays CAT (Central African Time) or SAST (South Africa Standard Time).

Written By Angela Aschmann

Angela has worked non-stop in the safari industry since 2013 after a youth of overlanding and visiting game reserves with her family. Born and bred in South Africa’s often overlooked Eastern Cape with a childhood near Addo Elephant National Park, she has been lucky to spend time in major conservation areas and loves sharing her knowledge with others.

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