Senior Safari Consultant

The Legends Agency; Hoedspruit; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading safari travel company based in Hoedspruit is looking for a Senior Safari Consultant to design tailor-made, high-value itineraries for international guests. This role involves leading the front-end sales function, managing reservations, and maintaining supplier relationships to ensure seamless guest experiences. The ideal candidate will have several years of experience in safari consulting and a passion for personalized travel, alongside strong negotiation and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Several years of experience in senior‑level safari consulting or high‑end travel design.
• Strong reservations systems knowledge and ability to work with detailed SOPs.
• Exceptional itinerary‑building capability with a focus on guest experience.
• Proven ability to negotiate and maintain relationships with suppliers.
• Willingness to participate in 24/7 duty support, including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Lead the front-end safari sales function and own the guest journey.
• Design tailor-made itineraries and manage reservation processes.
• Maintain professional partnerships with lodges and suppliers.
• Train and support safari consultants.
• Provide backup support for travelling guests as part of a duty roster.

Skills

Senior safari consulting

Itinerary building

Strong communication

Supplier relationship management

Negotiation skills

Tools

Reservations systems

Itinerary-building software

Job description

Senior Safari Consultant

Shape unforgettable high-end safari experiences across Southern Africa.
Safari travel and hospitality | South Africa | R40k R45k per month| Hoedspruit

About Our Client

This specialist safari travel company designs tailor‑made, high‑touch itineraries for international guests seeking immersive and meaningful journeys across Southern Africa. The business is owner‑led and growing, with a strong focus on personalised service, operational excellence and long‑term guest relationships. Their tight‑knit team values integrity, innovation, passion, fun, growth and responsibility, with each person directly influencing guest experience and overall success.

The Role: Senior Safari Consultant

This role exists to lead the front‑end safari sales function, owning the full guest journey from enquiry to post‑travel follow‑up. You will design bespoke itineraries, manage systems and reservations processes, strengthen supplier relationships, and support consultants to deliver consistently exceptional service. The core purpose is to ensure every guest receives a seamless, high‑quality safari experience supported by strong operational foundations.

Key Responsibilities

• Bring extensive senior‑level safari sales experience to convert enquiries into high‑value, tailor‑made itineraries.

• Become an expert user of reservations systems and SOPs, ensuring complete accuracy across all bookings and processes.

• Review and refine team structures, workflows and reservations processes to optimise service delivery and sales outcomes.

• Manage consultants' inboxes when team members are out of office to ensure uninterrupted service.

• Train, support and onboard safari consultants with the knowledge, tools and guidance required to excel.

• Lead and maintain professional partnerships with lodges, DMCs, airlines, transfer companies and other suppliers.

• Protect and grow repeat and referral business while proactively closing new trip files within agreed timeframes.

• Maintain daily accuracy across reservation status spreadsheets, guest folders and other key systems.

• Liaise with guests throughout their journey, providing prompt, friendly and solution‑focused communication.

• Design detailed itineraries and accurate costings across accommodation, flights, transfers, activities and required fees.

• Use itinerary‑building and lookbook software to create visually engaging proposals.

• Confirm all logistics pre‑travel and coordinate personalised touches with properties.

• Release unconverted provisional bookings timeously to ensure trusted supplier relationships.

• Oversee all post‑travel processes, including feedback, histories and review requests.

• Provide 24/7 backup support for travelling guests as part of a duty roster, including weekends and public holidays.

• Support broader safari sales administratio,n including sponsored bookings, courier coordination and local logistics.

About You

• Several years of experience in senior‑level safari consulting, front‑end sales or high‑end travel design.

• Strong reservations systems knowledge and the ability to work accurately within detailed SOPs and workflows.

• Exceptional itinerary‑building capability with an eye for detail, guest experience and creative trip design.

• Proven ability to negotiate, maintain and grow relationships with lodges, DMCs and other suppliers.

• Comfortable leading processes, improving systems and supporting the development of a consultant team.

• Excellent communication skills across email, phone and WhatsApp, with a warm, solution‑driven approach.

• Highly organised, proactive and able to manage multiple trip files simultaneously under tight turnaround times.

• Willingness to participate in 24/7 duty support, including weekends and public holidays.

• Passion for safari travel, guest experience and creating meaningful, personalised journeys.