When Uwe Sentefol and Callie Zimmer founded SWA Safaris in 1954, they were inspired by their love for the wilderness and an adventurous spirit, rather than by any certainty that tourism and travel would become one of the largest sectors in the global economy, let alone in Namibia.
Namibia is now promoted as an all-year-round destination with more than 300 sunny days a year. Attracting over 1.6 million foreign travellers annually, Namibia is renowned as a top destination for those who enjoy nature, grandiose landscapes, spectacular sand dunes, the darkest skies contrasted by the brightest Milky Way, and first-class wildlife viewing.
SWA Safaris celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2024 and stands as the oldest and most experienced family-owned tour operator in Namibia, offering continued professionalism, vast knowledge, and flexibility throughout Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls.
Today, Wilfried Sentefol, Uwe’s son, and his niece Tanja Sentefol are at the helm of the company.
Initially, SWA Safaris began with camping safaris using trucks converted to carry passengers, due to the lack of accommodation and roads. Today, the country boasts a wide variety of lodges of all shapes and sizes, and tourists travel in comfortable modern coaches, converted 4×4 vehicles, by plane, or as self-drivers.
SWA Safaris Specialises in
- Guided tailor-made tours in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe
- Family and Group Tours
- Self-driving tours in Namibia
- Tailor-made experiences (e.g. for botanists, ornithologists or farmers)
- Incentive tours
- Fly-in safaris
- Exclusive Honeymoon tailor-made Safaris
Our team, which is fluent in German and English, is highly qualified and will assist you with their expertise to make your African safari come to life. This expertise will be continued by our highly trained and knowledgeable tour guides who do not take it lightly to show you our beautiful country where the magic heartbeat of Africa is just a stone’s throw away.
SWA Safaris has its own fleet of vehicles which consist of VW-microbuses, MAN- and Mercedes-Benz coaches, Iveco sprinter and Zhongtong coaches all of different sizes.
Now you ask yourself, why SWA Safaris?
We are a privately-owned family tour operator and have been a major player in the Namibian tourism sector for seven decades. We pride ourselves on the experience we have gained over the past 70 years, giving us a competitive advantage as the oldest and most experienced tourism company in the country. We continue to adapt to the ever-changing travel market and move with the times. Since relationships are key, we maintain the best long-lasting partnerships with our suppliers, including our accommodation establishments, ensuring the best rates possible.
“You can leave Namibia, but it will never leave you.” – SWA Safaris
