Your Safari Questions,
Answered Honestly
01
Be honest—how much time will this really take from my schedule?
Be honest—how much time will this really take from my schedule?
Here’s the truth: Most people spend 43+ hours researching, comparing, and planning a safari. They read dozens of blogs, compare hundreds of lodges, stress about seasons, worry about logistics, and still end up unsure if they made the right choices.
With Only One Safaris? You’ll spend exactly 45 minutes on a call with me. That’s it. We handle every other detail. No research rabbits holes, no decision fatigue, no wondering if you picked the “right” lodge.
We’ve already done 20+ years of research. We’ve stayed in the lodges, worked with the guides, and know which experiences are marketing fluff versus truly transformative. Your only job is to show up and experience what we’ve carefully curated for you.
02
Everyone talks about "disconnecting" on safari. But what does that actually mean for someone whose phone is basically another organ?
Everyone talks about "disconnecting" on safari. But what does that actually mean for someone whose phone is basically another organ?
Let me paint you a real picture. You’ll have WiFi at the lodges—we’re not sending you to digital detention. But here’s what actually happens:
Day 1, you check emails at breakfast. Day 2, maybe just urgent texts. By Day 3, something shifts. The rhythm of the bush takes over. You start waking with the sun, not an alarm. Your nervous system remembers what it’s like to not be constantly activated.
One CEO client told me: “I brought two power banks for my phone. I used it three times in 10 days. Not because I couldn’t, but because I finally didn’t want to.”
The magic isn’t forced disconnection—it’s that nature provides something more compelling than your inbox. When you’re watching a leopard teach her cubs to hunt, that quarterly report suddenly seems less urgent.
03
I'll be honest—I like my comfort. How "rough" is a luxury safari really?
I'll be honest—I like my comfort. How "rough" is a luxury safari really?
Forget any images of cramped tents and cold showers. Here’s your actual daily reality:
You wake up in a king-sized bed with 1,000-thread-count sheets. Your “tent” has air conditioning, a full bathroom with a rain shower (sometimes overlooking the savanna), and a private deck where elephants might stroll by during your morning coffee.
Meals? Think Michelin-star quality in the middle of nowhere. Fresh sushi in the Serengeti. Perfect cappuccinos at sunrise. Sunset drinks that would impress any Manhattan rooftop bar.
The “roughest” part? The 5:30 AM wake-up calls for morning game drives. But when you see the sun paint the acacia trees gold while lions stretch in the dawn light, you’ll understand why we don’t sleep in on safari.
One client said: “I’ve stayed at every Four Seasons in the world. My safari lodge made them feel like Holiday Inns.”
04
People keep saying safari is "life-changing." That sounds like marketing speak. What actually changes?
People keep saying safari is "life-changing." That sounds like marketing speak. What actually changes?
Fair skepticism. Here’s what our clients report, 6-12 months later:
- They’ve restructured their calendars to protect personal time
- They make decisions faster, with less anxiety
- They’re more present with family
- They’ve stopped measuring success only in metrics
Why? Because safari provides a masterclass in perspective. Watch a pride of lions for a week. They’re apex predators who spend 20 hours a day resting. They know when to hunt and when to simply be.
In the corporate world, we’ve forgotten that balance. We’re always hunting. Safari reminds you that sustainable success requires both intensity and rest.
As one executive put it: “I went to see animals. I came back understanding my own animal nature—and that changed everything about how I run my life and company.”
05
Let's talk numbers. What am I really investing in here?
Let's talk numbers. What am I really investing in here?
A luxury safari with Only One Safaris runs $10,000-30,000 per person for 7-14 days. Yes, that’s a significant investment. Here’s what that money actually buys:
- Freedom from 43+ hours of planning stress
- Access to lodges and experiences closed to the general public
- Guides who’ve spent decades reading the bush like you read markets
- Seamless logistics in places where one wrong turn means missing everything
- The confidence that every detail reflects 20+ years of expertise
But the real question isn’t cost—it’s value. What’s it worth to remember why you’ve been working so hard? To reconnect with your partner without distractions? To give your kids (or yourself) an experience that shifts perspective forever?
One client calculated it differently: “I bill $2,000/hour. The planning time alone that Only One saved me paid for half the trip.”
Your journey has begun.
Ready for Your Next Step?
If you have more questions before we speak, I’m here.
Otherwise, I look forward to crafting your perfect escape from the ordinary.
See you soon,
Mark Donnelly Founder, Only One Safaris
