https://www.philwestsafaris.com/home daily 1.0 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1603548976100-O36Z8WLB2NI1ZLTPK6C9/20150406-TC1A1242.jpg Home - Expert advice from people who care We will work with you to make sure that your time spent on safari is perfectly crafted to exceed your expectations. All of our trips are custom tailored to your particular needs and desires – to the composition of your group, to the time of year you prefer to travel, to your budget. No two safaris we plan are ever the same. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1603547225106-YBYYAT2242BH1U0I10PC/Phil%2BWest%2Bon%2Bsafari%2BJacks%2BCamp%2BBotswana%2Bmeerkat%2Bphotography%2Bwww.philwestsafaris.com.jpg Home - Meet Phil West Phil is a third generation Kenyan who spent much of his childhood and most of his adult life in the African bush. He has been designing safaris for over 25 years and is widely considered one of Africa’s most respected private safari guides. He has planned and guided trips for the world’s most sophisticated travelers, collaborated on a number of wildlife documentaries and series, consulted for Bear Grylls, and wrote the syllabus for Kenya’s silver level guides. https://www.philwestsafaris.com/safari-design daily 0.75 2024-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598141347696-W2MOJDSUCB35L2VV0OAJ/20170913-763A7469+copy.jpg Safari Design - Planning a safari can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be difficult even to know where to start. When to travel? Where to go? How to maximize your time on safari? How many days should you plan to be on safari? Which properties would best suit you? With over 25 years of being based in Africa, designing luxury and custom travel, you can rest assured that you are in the best hands when you reach out to us to plan your safari. We will work with you to make sure that your time spent on safari is perfectly crafted to exceed your expectations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598141777003-5Q5U8O7UHWBIATV148KW/20110720-phils+5+star+pics-444.jpg Safari Design - WHY SHOULD I BOOK MY SAFARI WITH PHIL WEST SAFARIS? We know the seasons, the wildlife movements, the properties, and the people on the ground. We know how to get you from point A to point B. We work with you to custom tailor a one-of-a-kind safari itinerary that is perfectly suited to your needs and desires, with all the logistics and nitty gritty details behind the scenes expertly organized so that your trip is seamless, leaving you to enjoy the wilderness you traveled so far to enjoy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598141852477-BA0I2NC0GYLN5ER0R7ER/20130914-763A8169.jpg Safari Design https://www.philwestsafaris.com/contact-us daily 0.75 2024-06-02 https://www.philwestsafaris.com/about daily 0.75 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598140074425-HN3IC1LC4UFM9E9VJFEW/72579_747479063802_3017485_n.jpg About In 2010, Phil met Rachel on a safari. He was her safari guide and apparently she still has a nasty case of “khaki fever.” Today, ten years, three children, and two cross continent moves later, they work together to share their passion for safaris, providing the perfect balance of personal attention and expert knowledge for each and every guest. Phil and Rachel relocated from their home in Kenya to Jupiter, Florida in 2018 with their children Jackson and Tyler. Baby Maya joined the family in 2019. All of the photos used on this website were taken by Phil, who is also a very talented wildlife photographer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/aa02587f-a8a8-4aef-8839-1db5f94e33aa/IMG_4491.jpg About Meet Shannon Everard Shannon has spent a decade in the safari world, started working with Rachel and Phil in 2020, and brings a deep understanding of Eastern and Southern Africa. She has lived in Cape Town and, like Rachel, is married to a Kenyan. She has traveled extensively throughout Africa and provides exceptional attention to detail and personalized service. The Phil West Safaris Team is committed to ensuring that their guests are in the right places at the right times – whether that be the right country and game reserve for the right time of year or the right positioning for that perfect photo. They realize that safaris, when organized skillfully and executed accordingly, can and should be life-changing experiences, bringing people closer to the natural world – and also closer to each other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598139102330-OO50F5QLVN5A0480TNRT/Phil+West+www.philwestsafaris.com+on+safari+botswana+Abu+Camp.jpg About - Meet Phil & Rachel Phil is a third-generation Kenyan who spent much of his childhood and most of his adult life in the African bush. He has been designing safaris for over 25 years and is widely considered one of Africa’s most respected private safari guides. He has planned and guided trips for the world’s most sophisticated travelers, collaborated on a number of wildlife documentaries and series, consulted for Bear Grylls, and wrote the syllabus for Kenya’s silver level guides. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1600890585824-DQ1UG57N7YHUYV3PSSVU/Rachel+and+Phil+Jupiter+Magazine.png About - We were recently honored to be featured in Jupiter Magazine. You can read the story here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598140378124-MAVFA7MY1T6H0OOGTVW3/0708_Rachel_Phil_Wedding_Emakoko_Cari_Photography.jpeg About Rachel and Phil West wedding at The Emakoko Lodge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598140432454-P6P8LKIXR7IKH8O8EU7D/Rachel+West+www.philwestsafaris.com+on+safari+Amboseli+with+Jackson+and+Tyler.JPG About Tented safari with children https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598140466907-G1X7VJ9O1CEZU94MOGZB/Phil+West+www.philwestsafaris.com+on+safari+Amboseli+with+Jackson.JPG About Jackson helping dad on safari in Amboseli https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598140439469-NS3KCC668V2QP3H699BW/Phil+West+on+safari+Giraffe+Manor+with+kids+families+on+safari+www.philwestsafaris.com.jpg About Phil West with baby Jackson at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1600891248521-JPECXDEQMD38N1MX35LZ/Rachel%2BWest%2Bon%2Bsafari%2Bwith%2Bchildren%2Bfamilies%2Bon%2Bsafari%2Bwww.philwestsafaris.com.jpg About Rachel West on safari with kids https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598140513363-GLJZ198PKGQUWDNIADQ7/IMG_0480.JPG About Jackson on safari https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598140519407-O9LYX7R75N7LWK3KOHA9/IMG_0674.JPG About Family on safari https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1600870782382-0W9VZGE6TAIACHOVOT83/10477641_10101332324323172_3257656274776045279_o.jpg About On safari at Lewa with Jackson at seven months, visiting an orphan baby rhino https://www.philwestsafaris.com/reviews-1 daily 0.75 2024-01-14 https://www.philwestsafaris.com/destinations daily 0.75 2020-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598143974965-TC3DP3XA9EZQENX650Z7/20130128-phils+5+star+pics-983.jpg Destinations - South Africa Along with Kenya, South Africa has the most diversity of safari and non-safari experiences. Spanning the breadth of the continent, South Africa is particularly known for productive lowveld game reserves in the east, the historic Zulu battlefields of Natal, the wild coasts of the Eastern Cape, the expansive Karoo and Kalahari in the northwest, the ‘Garden Route’ and the Western Cape with its Mediterranean feel. These areas provide excellent game viewing, wild spaces, botanical wonderlands, breathtaking deserts, beautiful winelands, and historical relevance. Cape Town is one of our favorite cities, with an amazing culinary scene, a fresh and exciting vibe, beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, a thriving art community, successful sports teams – all set within the backdrop of the iconic Table Mountain and surrounding turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is no wonder it is called “The Mother City!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598202278577-6AR8H8OJLDKFWQ0KO1D3/20070915-phils+5+star+pics-111.jpg Destinations - Tanzania Tanzania has a lot to offer – from the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti, to the wildlife dense Ngorongoro Crater, trekking chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains, the big elephant herds of Tarangire, the more remote southern reserves, or visiting the romantic island of Zanzibar. We can customize your safari to include a variety of landscapes, wildlife experiences, and activities. It is also possible to combine a trip to Tanzania with some time in Kenya, as it’s fairly easy to move between the two countries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598142739278-BKPFK2YN36BH5V4UFF7S/20140427-TC1A9439+copy.jpg Destinations - East Africa or Southern Africa…? One of the first things we will have to establish is whether a safari in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda) or Southern Africa (Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe) is right for you. This may come down to the time of year you are aiming to travel and your budget. East Africa is great all year long, with the exceptions of April, May, and November, when the rains usually come. Southern Africa is particularly good in the summer season between May and September, although certain areas can also be rewarding December to May in the “green season.” We generally don’t recommend combining Eastern and Southern Africa in one trip because the distances between them and the often expensive intra-Africa flights can make it impractical. That said, it is possible to combine a traditional safari in East Africa with an extension to Mozambique, Cape Town, or Vic Falls.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598143819597-ZUA2X0WQ1PEPIHHA2EOA/20150511-TC1A1104.jpg Destinations - Kenya Kenya is one of the most diverse countries to experience safari, with an incredible variety of landscapes from expansive savannah plains to primary forests, hidden deserts to white sand beaches, and of course the iconic snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. In addition to the diversity of habitat, there is also a wide variety of accommodation types from traditional tented camps to bush homes to luxurious permanent lodges, as well as opportunities to interact with local tribespeople in authentic ways. Activities on offer include bush walks, day and night game drives, quad bike riding, hot air balloons, horse and camel riding, and water sports. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598144118562-KFX5IB0JAUEZTVCAKZ5Y/image-asset.jpeg Destinations - Botswana Botswana has some of the most famous wildlife destinations in Africa, from one of the world’s biggest inland deltas, the Okavango, to the vast expanse of the Makgadikgadi, right up to the diverse Selinda-Linyanti and Chobe River. At the center of the Okavango is the game rich Chief’s Island and the Moremi Game Reserve which offer exclusive wildlife viewing with some spectacular lodges and camps. When visiting the Delta we suggest combining camps that offer activities on land as well as by boat or traditional style mokoro canoes. Some areas have excellent predator numbers and interactions and even the African Hunting Dogs are making a return to healthy populations and den sites. In the Selinda-Linyanti there are again areas with great predator action, dog den sites and also large herds of buffalo and elephant. In fact there are larger densities of elephant in northern Botswana than anywhere else in Africa. The Chobe River becomes an elephant playground in the dry season and we believe it to be one of the best places in Africa to watch elephant behavior. Botswana’s great wildlife is complemented by a variety of great activities on offer, such as helicopter rides over the stunning wetlands, quad biking through the Makgadikgadi pans, sleep outs, visiting habituated Meerkat colonies and spending time with the fascinating Khoisan hunter gatherers. The San/Khoisan hunter gatherers are remnants of the earliest peoples and have retained a lot of their traditional ways, with a great sense of humor and a want for nothing; they are the best trackers and bush savvy people, possibly in the world, and spending time with them is always a highlight on any trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1600873426560-O1IDKCMQ0JH0GI729HBJ/image-asset.jpeg Destinations - Alaska With such a vast area, any visit to the 49th state will never cover everything possible, however with a visit to two wonderful lodges, one in the vicinity of the imposing Alaska range and the other in the impressive fjords of the Kenai peninsula, alongside visits to quaint seaside towns, the Denali ice fields, coastal brown bears fishing in Katmai, the sea otters and cetaceans off of Katchemak bay and many many interesting characters of the human and animal kind, this is a trip that touches on all the magic of this wonderful destination. There is so much fascinating history and culture to delve into as well as no shortage of epicurean wonder dreamt up by the owner-managers - these people eat , breathe and dream adventure and food! Pros - About as good as it gets in the USA. Not much can in our mind rival Africa, but certainly Alaska is right up there and you can be as active or as relaxed as you want. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598144287128-MQHASDHWZPQETI822G0F/20150202-TC1A4879+copy.jpg Destinations - The Galapagos Phil has now guided trips to the “Enchanted isles” fifteen times and it never ceases to deliver on amazing sightings and experiences. Our favorite time to visit is at the onset of the “garua” season whereby the weather is drier than earlier in the year and there is a peak in bird behavior, turtle nesting and the arrival of the pelagic species. The islands can nevertheless be experienced all year round there will always be interesting things going on, however we don’t recommend August and September when the seas get very rough and cold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598222586552-8V01IT36NIHXQWSG3465/phil+and+rachel+west+patagonia.jpg Destinations - Patagonia Patagonia is one of the most spectacular places on the planet. The iconic peaks of Torres del Paine and Fitzroy grace the wallpaper of millions of screensavers worldwide. The area can experience very quick changes in weather patterns and you can literally get four seasons in a day. Having said that, by March the fall colors take hold, winds die down, and the peak of the local holiday season subsides. Because Argentina and Chile are a fair way to travel, we like to combine a Patagonian adventure with a stay in Buenos Aires or Santiago, maybe a stay in the winelands and there are a number of other combinations with scenery, wildlife or simply R&R to add on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4199c352c37e12227812ce/1598144194150-0WE5B2874NCY0A02TN4D/20150125-TC1A1915.jpg Destinations - The Amazon & Pantanal Amazonia spans 2.7m square miles and one in ten of every living species is found in its neo-tropical rain forest! Brazil alone has 1,837 different types of birds – one in five of the world’s bird species. Needless to say, there is a lot of exploring to do. It has taken many years to find the right kind of Amazon experience – one that has enough luxury but doesn’t compromise the wilderness experience, easily accessible, and also can be visited at a time of year when the insects aren’t so prominent (it is the jungle after all!). We have found some beautiful lodges from which to base out of, with dedicated conservationist owners, superb culinary teams, excellent wine lists and stunning positions within primary Amazonian forest. https://www.philwestsafaris.com/terms-of-service daily 0.75 2025-02-03 https://www.philwestsafaris.com/test-form daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://www.philwestsafaris.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2025-11-26