African tourism holding company  ·  Since 2006

Rooted in Africa.
Standing behind every journey.

Zazu Travel Holdings is an Africa-focused tourism holding company, with operating businesses and strategic investments across the continent’s travel industry. Our interests span the full tourism value chain, from tour operating and destination management to hospitality, payments and travel technology.

20+years operating in Africa
14African countries, plus Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean islands
750+top lodges personally inspected
3,000suppliers contracted across the continent
25,000+guests travelled with us

Our Vision

To grow a thriving, integrated African travel company.

“To grow a thriving, integrated African travel company that offers life-enriching opportunities for clients and staff alike, while supporting Africa’s sustainability and development through tourism.”

Our Brands

Three specialists. One group behind them.

Each of our travel brands is a specialist in its own field, with its own team, its own clients and its own way of doing things. Whether it’s a private safari for two, a white-label itinerary for a travel agent or an incentive programme for a thousand guests, the group provides the scale, systems and financial strength behind it.

Safari365

Tailor-made safaris · Direct to traveller

Classic African safaris and tours, by trusted local experts.

Tailor-made safaris across East and Southern Africa, planned by consultants who live and work on the ground. Every journey is backed by 24/7 support and the financial security of the group.

  • Founded 2006, Cape Town
  • 750+ lodges and every national park personally inspected
  • Sales lines in South Africa, the US, UK, Australia & Brazil
  • TripAdvisor 2023 & 2024 · International Travel Awards 2024 · LUXURI 2024
safari365.com →
African Safari Excellence

Trade DMC & ground handling

“We help you sell Africa better.”

Our destination management company for the travel trade. ASE designs and operates safaris for agents and tour operators on a white-label basis, so their clients see only their brand, with locally contracted DMC and ground-handling services in country.

  • 1,000+ safari days operated on the ground each year
  • Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda & Zanzibar, with services extending into Southern Africa
  • Agent Zone: live rates, exclusive inventory & the African Travel Academy
ase.co.tz →
GroundWorx.africa

Meetings, incentives, conferences & events

Africa, delivered at scale.

Large-scale incentive travel, conferences and events across Africa. Backed by the group’s ground network and buying power, Groundworx delivers programmes for hundreds of guests with the same precision as a private safari for two.

  • 1,150 guests in a single programme
  • 30 days of continuous in-country operation
  • Venues, logistics, activations & gala events, end to end
groundworx.africa →

Why the group matters

Book with one of our brands, and the whole of Zazu stands behind your trip.

A specialist brand gives you personal attention. A group gives you security, scale and reach. Our guests get both.

Financial security

Twenty years of trading, through good times and bad. In 2020 we stood by our staff and fulfilled our clients’ safaris. Your deposits are held by a business built to last.

Negotiating power

We are among the largest purchasers of safari bed nights in Africa, with 3,000 contracted suppliers and a seat in the Travel Smart Crew contracting consortium since 2010.

Local on the ground

Our teams have inspected every national park and more than 750 of Africa’s top lodges. Locally contracted ground handling and 24/7 support look after every trip in country.

Protected payments

Through ROAM, guests pay in their own currency and exchange rates can be fixed for up to two years, so the price you’re quoted is the price you pay.

Technology that connects

Through Ferret Technologies we own the entire travel environment end to end. A twelve-day, multi-supplier itinerary is priced in minutes, and a 30% gain in efficiency and accuracy means more care for every bespoke client.

One point of accountability

Sales, ground handling and events sit within one group, so a single team is answerable for your trip from first enquiry to journey home.

Across the value chain

Invested in African travel beyond our own brands.

Zazu holds interests in businesses covering hospitality, payments, technology and contracting. Each one strengthens African travel, and brings a real advantage to our guests and partners.

Payments · Shareholding

ROAM

Powering global travel payments

Born from the travel industry, ROAM combines fintech with travel expertise: local-currency checkout, multi-currency supplier settlement, and guaranteed FX rates.

50+ travel clients · 7 checkout currencies · rates fixed for up to 2 years

For our guests: secure payments and stable pricing.
Hospitality · Minority stake

Simbavati

“Experience Africa our way”

Thirteen owned or managed lodges and camps, from the Timbavati and Klaserie reserves of the Greater Kruger to the Cederberg, the Garden Route and Tanzania’s Serengeti.

13 owned or managed lodges across Africa

For our guests: accommodation we know first-hand.
Technology · Shareholding

Ferret Technologies

End-to-end ownership of the travel environment

One of the most advanced booking and CRM platforms in African travel. Built on Salesforce, it connects every stage of a journey, from enquiry and pricing to supplier contracting, operations and aftercare, in a single system we own end to end.

3,000 suppliers connected · 30% gain in efficiency and accuracy

For our guests: bespoke trips, handled with precision.
Contracting · Shareholder

Travel Smart Crew

Inbound travel consortium

A consortium owned by 15 established, owner-managed inbound travel specialists, sharing central contracting, preferred suppliers and allocations. Safari365 has been a shareholder since 2010.

15 shareholder businesses · one contract, shared allocations

For our guests: buying power and guaranteed space.

Trusted by Africa’s leading lodge, camp & hotel partners

AngamaCape GraceChem ChemHemingwaysKapamaLemalaLondoloziNewmark HotelsNomadOne&OnlySimbavati

Members of ATTA SATSA SATIB APTA

Our shared cause  ·  Since 2016

Ubuntu for Change

“A universal bond of sharing that unites humanity.”

Ubuntu is a Xhosa word for the belief that our humanity is bound up in one another. Since 2016, Ubuntu for Change has turned that belief into action, working with local partners to support the communities and wild places our guests travel through.

Today it is the shared cause of every Zazu brand, so everyone who travels with us becomes part of that story.

EducationSchools and youth programmes.
Health & welfareMeals, shelter and care.
CommunityOpportunity through tourism.
ConservationWildlife and wild places.
Discover Ubuntu for Change
8schools supported through Great Commission United’s youth programmes in Heideveld2023
1,200meals donated with Ladles of Love2022
500sleeping bags donated to Street SleeperSince 2016

Also supportedThe Tourism Conservation Fund, founded by Peace Parks Foundation and SATSA.

Our History

Twenty years of growing with Africa.

Scroll to travel through time →

2006

Founded in Cape Town

Safari365 begins, specialising in safaris to South Africa, planned by people living and working on the ground.

2008

Across Southern Africa

Journeys extend to Botswana, Namibia, Victoria Falls, Zambia and Mozambique.

2010

East Africa operations

An operations office opens in East Africa for end-to-end safaris in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

2010

Travel Smart Crew

Safari365 joins the Travel Smart Crew contracting and supplier consortium as a shareholder.

2011

Into hospitality

We move into hospitality and hospitality management, building and operating lodges in Southern and East Africa.

2011–14

A global reach

Sales offices open in Brazil, the United States and Australia.

2015

Building the platform

Development begins on a Salesforce-enabled booking platform, the foundation of Ferret Technologies.

2016

Ubuntu for Change

Our charity initiative launches, supporting Street Sleeper, Ladles of Love and the Tourism Conservation Fund.

2018

Multi-currency payments

We co-develop Africa’s first multi-currency payment solution for travel, the start of ROAM.

2020

Standing firm

Through the pandemic, we stand by our staff and fulfil our clients’ safaris.

2025

A smarter platform

Next-generation Salesforce tools go live across our operations, delivering a 30% gain in efficiency and accuracy.

2026

Zazu Travel Holdings

Zazu Travel Holdings launches, bringing our brands together under one holding company.

Work with us

Partners, trade & investors.

Whether you’re a lodge, a travel trade partner or looking to work with an African travel group of substance, we’d be glad to talk.