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An African safari has always been an elusive dream for many in Asia. No one knows this better than former bankers and A2A Safaris founders Jose Cortes and Victor Dizon. As avid safari enthusiasts, they experienced the challenges of organizing their own trips to Africa. This gap in the marketplace led to the launch Asia to Africa Safaris as Asia's first Africa safari specialist in 2002. A2A Safaris specialises in bespoke, luxury safaris to Africa. We have deep and longstanding relationships in Africa and work with a carefully curated portfolio of luxury safari properties and handpicked safari guides across the continent's most pristine wilderness areas. We are excited to be able to share our passion for Africa with our clients and other discerning travelers in Asia. |
We offer a personal touch and specialise in a highly individualised service. Our clientele consists of entrepreneurs, senior executives, professionals, honeymooners, retirees and their families who are keen to experience an authentic safari and go on an exciting 'adventure' without sacrificing their creature comforts. For most people, a trip to Africa is a once in a lifetime experience and our clients know we are always ready to go the extra mile for them and their families. We don't take a one-size fits all approach. We offer full flexibility when planning a trip. Every single safari we arrange is designed with our clients' preferences in mind including the length of their holiday, the type of scenery, culture, wildlife, food and wine and other experiences they are after, who they are travelling with, and lastly their budgets.
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About Us
Since opening our doors in 2002, A2A Safaris has grown and we now have offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila and New York City. We also have representatives in Bangkok, Shanghai, Melbourne, Denver, Cape Town, George as well as in Shrewsbury in the U.K.
Our Team
Jose cut his teeth in the jungles of Wall Street and hung up his gloves as managing director of a global investment bank in Hong Kong. He is a keen photographer, usually out documenting the forests, deserts and windswept plains of Central Africa, South America, South Asia and the polar regions. When not out exploring and researching new destinations for A2A's clients, he spends his time around Asia and in Cape Town with his wife Kitty and their hounds Lucca and Lola. Jose is also a member of African Parks' APN-X private guide team.
Victor is an ex-investment banker who has lived and worked in the US, Europe and Asia. He has always had a passion for travel and that is what led him to co-found A2A Safaris. He has experienced all kinds of safaris including one as a solo traveler on his early safaris, a honeymoon safari with his wife and lately family safaris with his two children.
Alex is originally from the UK but now calls Bangkok home. After an early career in luxury and lifestyle consultancy Alex found his calling to turn his passion for travel into a career. After over a decade working for a leading tour operator in a variety of roles, he now supports the team to deliver exceptional travel experiences. He can often be found keeping up with his favourite sports and getting his family out on the road travelling.
Since her first job as a reporter in Costa Rica, Claire designed her career path to enable her passion for exploration, and has spent the past 15 years as a marketing manager in the luxury travel space. Originally from the US, she’s lived in Costa Rica, Panama, Chile, and now calls Spain home with her husband and toddler. Her favorite adventures include sleeping under the stars in the desert of Namibia, floating in a hot air balloon above the rainforest in Costa Rica, tracking tigers on safari in India, hiking the Salkantay Trail in Peru, and an unexpected self-drive safari in South Africa’s Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Park.
A2A Senior Travel Consultant Kevin grew up watching David Attenborough's early wildlife documentaries on black and white TV, dreaming of one day travelling to Africa. Since then he has spent years living in Kenya and Cape Town and travelled extensively through some 17 countries in between. He now calls Hong Kong home, but Africa is always a close second.
An ex-fashion buyer, entrepreneur and indoor cycling instructor when she’s not designing trips, Yessa is not one to shy away from adventure and pursuing the road less taken. Her philosophy in travel is to get out of your comfort zone, with luxury and style.
Cherine has travelled extensively. She loves the experience of seeing new places and understanding the diverse cultures. After working many years in the corporate world, she turned her passion in travel into a career. She enjoys planning custom holidays to meet the requirements of her clients.
Michelle began her career in travel 20 years ago as a leisure and corporate travel consultant. These roles allowed her to enjoy her passion for travel while planning holidays filled with unforgettable memories and experiences for her clients. Michelle grew up in Cape Town and now calls the Garden Route home and here she gets to enjoy hiking, kayaking, exploring forests, lakes and spectacular scenery. She is always looking for memorable activities to share with her clients.
From an early age, Michael would spend hours poring over the family atlas planning his future travel plans - and travel he did! He has visited over 85 countries as well as having lived in Melbourne, Tokyo, Madrid, New York and now Hong Kong. In all his travels, it is the unique and diverse experiences to be had in Africa and Latin America which have really captured his imagination, and sees him returning to time and time again. This passion for travel has extended to his love of designing tailored made, bespoke travel experiences for his clients, whether they be street food tours in Peru and Mexico, authentic cultural exchanges in Bolivia, or horse riding safaris in Kenya.
Ever the “control freak”, Tung Ling has been put in charge of planning mother-daughter holidays from a young age. This sparked a travel planning passion so strong that she decided to design holidays professionally. Always on the quest for meaningful & authentic travel experiences, you’ll find her sprinkling hidden gems & interaction with local communities onto your holiday itineraries wherever possible. When not concocting up exciting vacation plans for clients, she loves seeing independent films, scrolling through cat accounts on Instagram & hiking the different nature trails around Singapore.
A former banking professional, Mingyun chose to follow her passion in pursuing a travel career a decade ago, exploring destinations, cultures, and gastronomy around the world through crafting meaningful journeys and experiences for her clients. A nature and safari enthusiast, Mingyun is a firm advocate of wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism. She hopes to continue to spread her passion for travel and love for safaris to people around the world.
Anna is a passionate, adventurous, and eco-conscious traveler, always fascinated by different cultures and the beauty of the world. From a young age, she was very eager to explore new places and learn about their history and traditions, thanks to the influence of her favorite cartoon, The Wild Thornberrys.
Later on, Anna realized that her love for travel was not just a hobby but a way of life. She began planning trips aronud the globe for her family of 20, and while planning her honeymoon with A2A Safaris, she realized she could turn her passion for travel and event planning into a lifelong career.
As an active person, Ken cherishes spending time outdoors surrounded by nature. While his first passion was for sports, he developed a deep interest in traveling in his 20s. Combining with his love for animals, he became invested in conservation and wildlife. Some of his favorite travel experiences include a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps and floating on a Mokoro in the Okavango Delta.
Monica has a passion for travelling, photography, nature, and the ocean. Her "Out of Africa" dream came true in 2004 when she went on safari with A2A Safaris’ co-founder Jose Cortes III. She continues her love affair with adventure travel, representing A2A Safaris/A2A Journeys in Thailand. A Thai national, Monica is determined to spread her love for safaris to new clients. She wants them to experience what she has experienced - not just the wilderness and stunning landscapes but the African lifestyle, culture, people, and the unique safari way of life.
Kim is a Cape Town based Graphic Designer with both in-house and design agency experience. She graduated with a three year degree in Visual Communication Design at Vega School of Brand Leadership - specialising in Graphic Design. She is extremely passionate about travelling to new places, reading, food, wine and art. Kim has been working in the industry for over 4 years and on top of her Graphic Design skills, her expertise includes Social Media, Packaging, Branding, Illustration, Print Collateral, Advertising and Web Design. She also does Digital and Film Photography on the side.
An art director, artist, and former Manhattanite, Tracie thought New York City was the center of the universe, until she went on a honeymoon safari to Africa with her husband. As A2A's creative director, she still wears black, but never on safari.
Edwin was an avid client of A2A Safaris before joining the team in 2013 and he is spearheading its expansion into New York City where he has lived for over 20 years with his wife and daughter. Like Jose and Victor, he has traded Wall Street for wildlife. Previously voted by institutional investors as a top-ranked equity salesperson, Edwin’s new goal is to be a top-ranked safari specialist!
Nicole’s lifelong passion for globetrotting began early. As the daughter of a diplomat, Nicole was brought up living and traveling between the US, Brazil and Portugal. After graduating with a degree in Environmental Biology she spent a semester in Kenya. During this time she became passionate about the continent, its people, wildlife and wide open spaces. Since then Nicole has devoted almost 2 decades to creating life changing journeys to Africa for her clients. She lives and breathes safaris and has a diehard loyal following of clients (now friends) because of her highly personalized, detailed and knowledgeable style. Nicole is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Lieze joined the A2A team with a slate of diverse work experiences and was ultimately drawn to eco-tourism because of her passion for nature and exploring new places. A native of Cape Town, Lieze looks forward to planning unforgettable safari experiences for clients, and hopes that they enjoy the magnificent wildlife and breathtaking views that her home continent has to offer. Lieze has traveled around the United States and currently lives in New York, a city she loves for its vibrant culture and diverse culinary scene.
While working in event management hosting the likes of Prince Philip, Pru undertook her first safari in 2008 and was immediately smitten. Within 3 years she was living in Africa and became firmly entrenched in the safari world. Her children were initially raised in Cape Town, giving her a unique insight into family experiences, while she and her safari guide husband searched out the best places for fine dining or more informal and relaxed getaways. She’s travelled the continent extensively, and particularly enjoys more diverse experiences such as horseback safaris, hot air balloons or sunken hides, where the wildlife comes to you.
To travel the world has been one of Karel's biggest dreams since her teenage years. To explore God's breath-taking creations and to help others visit a paradise like Africa is a source of great satisfaction for her.
I’m an aspiring traveller who wants to explore the world. I want to know and experience different cultures, food and places for adventures. I believe that every place we go has hidden gems that they want us to unravel. I have the passion and love for travel because it give us the opportunity to live our life to the fullest. And I believe that you need to fill your life with adventures and not things.
Born and raised in Manila, Pat is an ambivert who has always had a passion for art and travelling. Although she prefers city life rather than wildlife, Pat would spend hours painting landscapes of nature. As someone who enjoys planning trips, Pat graduated with a degree in Travel & Tourism Management and has worked in the industry before exploring the hotel and banking industries. Realizing that travelling is her true passion, she decided to go back to her roots. She believes that travelling is one of the best investments you can make that will surely enrich you in more ways than one.
Chico was a barista before pursuing a career in the travel industry. His current role as Booking and Reservations Consultant complements his insatiable addiction to iced coffee and to travel the world. His ultimate dream is to be friends with zebras in Africa and to take selfies with the llamas in Peru. Chico lives in Manila with zero pets and a whole floor of thrifted clothes.
Ellah holds a distinguished degree in International Tourism Management with a major in Travel and Tour Operation (Latin Honor awardee). With an inherently positive mindset and an adventurous spirit, Ellah is also well-equipped for success in a myriad of roles within the dynamic field of international tourism. Her combination of expertise, dedication, and a forward-thinking approach positions her as a valuable asset for A2A Safaris and its diverse and discerning clients.
France has dedicated herself to the pursuit of volleyball for a period of 11 years. Beyond her sporting achievements, France's love for the outdoors is crystal clear - she is always up for some outdoor adventures, spending most of her free time hiking, camping, and exploring nature's beauty. Now, France is taking her passion for exploration to the next level by joining A2A Safaris. She is motivated and determined, not just to succeed but to soak in all the amazing experiences this field has to offer. She is keen uncover and enjoy the coolest experiences and to share this with A2A's clients.
Deacon is a passionate traveler and adventurer, born in the vibrant province of Bulacan, Philippines. With a rich background in the corporate sector, particularly in managing telecommunications accounts within the call center industry, Deacon has seamlessly transitioned into the travel industry. His love for exploring new horizons and uncovering the world's hidden gems drives him to inspire and guide others on their own journeys of discovery.
A2A's resident CPA, Mark is always mesmerized everytime he watches wildlife in their natural habitat showcasing their survival skills. And being with A2A gives him an extra ordinary shot of adrenaline as merging work and encounters with wildlife and other stunning gifts of nature is such a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Jeff is A2A's data and tech guru with his decades of experience as a full time systems analyst, particularly as a network specialist in the luxury travel industry. He is an adrenaline junkie who loves adventures and challenges from scaling tall mountains to free diving on the ocean floor.
A banker in her past life, Penny took a break from her fast-paced lifestyle to re-assess what career she wanted to pursue. Her passion was to talk about her travels - how she is captivated with history and culture, inspired by beautiful sceneries and just happy to experience the vibe amidst locals. The opportunity to share her enthusiasm in helping friends and family plan trips of a lifetime always enlivens her.
Jeremy is A2A Safaris' bachelor businessman cum travel junkie and foodie. Passionate about his restaurants and other enterprises, he says there is nothing he loves better than seeing his clients' faces light up when they come back from their safaris.
Growing up in Qatar, Japan, and UK, traveling has been a part of Chelsea's life ever since she can remember. After working for a travel agency in Japan and chasing winters in Canada, Australia and Japan, she has moved to Singapore to pursue her passion of traveling through a career at A2ASafaris. She truly enjoys assisting her clients in turning their dream holiday into a real holiday.
Bitten by the safari bug’ when she travelled to Kenya with A2A back in 2007, Leng is passionate about helping others create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. With her experiences gained from working in the hotel and tourism industry at Grand Hyatt Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board (Sydney office), and in the luxury retail sphere of Lane Crawford Shanghai where she managed concierge teams and catered to VIP customers, Leng derives great satisfaction from delivering the highest level of service and attention to detail.
Why Us?
Knowledge & ExperienceWe have extensive knowledge and first-hand experience gained from planning our own safaris and arranging several thousand safaris since the 1990s. We have planned many of our own safaris using trusted safari specialists around the world so we know what to look for and expect from high quality safari lodges and camps, activities and guides. Several members of our team have lived in Africa and all our travel consultants visit Africa at least once a year to ensure their knowledge is always up to date. We Specialise in AfricaWe specialise in luxury safaris to remote African wilderness areas and we are very familiar with the products and services we recommend. We have been to all of the safari camps and lodges in our portfolio numerous times and during different seasons, so we know all these properties intimately. We keep up to date – on a daily basis – on developments in the various countries, game reserves and safari lodges in our portfolio. A2A Safaris co-founder Jose Cortes is currently based in Africa scouting for new destinations and experiences for our clients and strengthening our longstanding relationships with key players on the African safari circuit. |
ConvenienceWe are headquartered in Asia with a presence in most of its major cities. We offer our clients the convenience of dealing with a local company in the same country or, at the very least, the same time zone. We are familiar with the unique needs of our Asian clientele, from visa requirements and optimal flight routes to current conditions in Africa, including weather and wildlife movements. We understand concerns from an Asian perspective, such as safety, sanitation and hygiene, as well as shopping and dining. We also provide full service for all aspects of a safari, including extensions to Cape Town, Victoria Falls and the island resorts of the Seychelles and Zanzibar. Competitive PricingGiven the complexity of organising a high quality African safari, we provide FREE advice to our clients, drawing on almost two decades of experience in planning and arranging safaris. We are independent and are therefore not obligated to recommend certain safari camps and lodges, allowing us to focus on building the best possible experiences for our clients according to personal travel preferences. Due to our deep relationships with our African partners and our proven business volume, our prices are lower than booking direct. |
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Let us help you plan everything.
We do not subscribe to the ‘one-size-fits-all’ philosophy. Sample itineraries and cost estimates are meant purely as a guide. To find out more, please contact one of our expert travel consultants to plan a customized itinerary based on your budget and interests.
