Experts in Luxury Worldwide Safaris

Why Choose High Adventure Safaris?

Our entire staff visits Africa annually to stay current on the ever changing face of African tourism. We have personal experience at the locations and lodges we offer. While the company has grown tremendously over the years, we are still an employee owned company with our focus where it counts, on our customers.

High Adventure Safaris is a pioneer in the specialty African safari market and continues to be known and respected throughout the industry for exceptional service and a highly knowledgeable staff. Over our 30 year history, we have continually strived to build upon our outstanding reputation with roots in luxury lodges on three continents.. This background, combined with the best product knowledge in the industry gives High Adventure Safaris the ability to customize journeys and provide customer satisfaction on a level that is unequalled.

When you plan your safari with High Adventure Safaris, we can assure a high quality, luxury experience from start to finish. Firstly, our properties are on private reserves or concessions, which means the number of visitors to the area is limited. You'll be comfortable in a vehicle with on average of four-six people. You'll also have exclusive access to sightings, meaning you are not competing with scores of others for the best view or photographs as you pull up close to a leopard kill, a herd of elephants or a pride of lions. Our properties hire only the best guides and spotters who are intimately knowledgeable with the animals in the area, giving you the best chance of spotting not only the Big Five, but also many unique smaller species such as birds, snakes, small mammals and vegetation.

Second, when you book with us, you are ensured a luxury accommodation experience. Whether you choose a lodge or tented camp, hospitality and comfort are top priorities. Many properties offer amenities such as plunge pools, private patios, high-end spa services and more. Rates include game drives, exquisite meals, high tea, sundowner cocktails, and other activities.

Third, location matters. Some of the most unique safari destinations are further off the grid, have limited accessibility and require more planning. Whether it is the magic of the South African bush, the wondrous waterways of the Okavango Delta, or the infamous Serengeti plains of the Masai Mara you desire to see, we can get you there. You may also want to combine other areas and activities with your safari, such as the gorgeous Cape, wine tasting, or cultural experiences. We can arrange all of it for you.

Last but certainly not least, High Adventure Safaris offers unparalleled customer service to our clients, from the planning phase to the end of your trip. We work with each of our clients, learning about your goals and personal interests to customize your exquisite safari experience. We can be trusted as advisors and partners in planning due to our own travel knowledge and experiences, as well as our own passions of safari. We look forward to working with you to plan your ideal trip!

Of course a company is nothing but a name without the people behind it.

Our Team

John Burrell, President and CEO of High Adventure Company and High Adventure Safaris, has been an avid outdoorsman since his childhood in Anderson County, Tennessee. As one of the most respected professionals in the outdoor industry, John has 25 years of experience managing some of the world’s top sporting and safari destinations. He has been heavily involved with the development, marketing, and operations of a collection of high-end lodges on three continents.

A Certified Wildlife Biologist and award-winning outfitter, John was chosen as the lead guide to help legendary clothing manufacturer Eddie Bauer design and test their Sport Shop clothing line. This line of outdoor clothing has won more awards than any of its kind. Properties in his company portfolio have been featured in most of the world’s top sporting publications such as Sporting Classics and Shooting Sportsman, as well as The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Garden & Gun, Men's Journal, and Southern Bride magazine as well as most of the outdoor industry television shows. He is the co-host of the popular Emmy nominated television series, Brush Country Monsters on the Pursuit Channel, and was featured weekly on ESPN’s Under Wild Skies as an international outfitting expert. In addition to winning the Garden and Gun Magazine Best of the Sporting South Award, his company is the only four-time recipient of the Sporting Classics Magazine Award of Excellence. His experience was gained in the field guiding clients all over the world, having been on over 30 African safaris and many trips to various destinations throughout South America. He takes pride in providing his clients the best experience possible and always goes the extra-mile to ensure that quality. John is a sportsman and a conservation advocate, and his company is entrusted with some of the most unique environments in the world including the mouth of the Mississippi River, the Hawaiian island of Lanai, and one of the premier river systems in Patagonia, Argentina.

Drew Burrell, Director of Operations, has a profound love of travel that is only rivaled by his passion for the outdoors. He is a well-versed traveler, having guided in South Dakota, Georgia, and Nebraska, and has experience throughout Africa and South America.

Our entire staff visits the continent annually to stay current on the ever changing face of african tourism. While the company has grown tremendously over the years, we are still an employee owned company with our focus where it counts, on our customers.

We think the editors of Sporting Classics Magazine said it best:

"With their commitment to quality and emphasis on personal attention, High Adventure Safaris is sure to maintain their position of excellence for years to come."

Booking and Deposit Policy

The High Adventure Safaris staff, in correspondence and conversation with you, will do their best to convey the most up -to-date information about which dates are available for your preferred excursion. However the reality of the boutique nature of the safari travel world dictates that we cannot “hold” dates for you without a deposit. Most seasons generate interest from several parties for every available opportunity. Until a 50% (fifty percent) deposit is received in the office, the dates that you desire to schedule for your trip will still be available for other clients around the world to take advantage of.

Likewise, because the trips we offer often require a great deal of planning, preparation and scheduling on behalf of the participants, they are not items that can be readily resold on short notice. Your 50% (fifty percent) deposit is non-refundable. Deposits cannot be used for alternative dates for trips. Payment in full is due 60 (sixty) days before the scheduled departure date for your trip. Failure to make payment in full by that date will evidence to High Adventure Safaris that you do not intend to complete the trip, and we will release your dates and attempt to resell them to minimize loss of income for the outfitter to ensure their financial well being and continued operation.

COVID policies: Please note each African country dictates its own Covid restrictions and requirements for entry, testing, quarantine, and border closures. We cannot determine or control these situations, which may change at any time. The US also requires Covid testing before returning back to the States from many destinations. We attempt to remain as up to date as possible on current Covid testing, vaccine and border issues.