We let AI plan our safari, here's what happened

We often get the question, why use a travel agent? Especially when these days, everything is available online and you can just ask AI to design a safari tour suited to your needs. So, we did just that, and asked Chat GPT to plan a 13-day classic South African safari for two people with a budget similar to our Classic South African safari ($17,140 per person for 13 days). Here’s what it proposed:  

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“Here's a proposed 13-day classic South African safari itinerary designed for two people at approximately $17,140 per person. This itinerary balances luxurious accommodations, breathtaking wildlife experiences, and cultural exploration.

Day 1–2: Arrival in Cape Town

Accommodation: Ellerman House (Luxury Boutique Hotel)

Highlights:

• Private airport transfer to Ellerman House.

• Relax after your flight with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean.

• Enjoy wine and art tours within the hotel or nearby.

• Optional: Visit Camps Bay or the V&A Waterfront for dining and shopping.

Day 3–5: Explore Cape Town

Accommodation: Ellerman House (3 nights total)

Highlights:

• Private full-day Cape Peninsula tour, including:

• Chapman’s Peak Drive.

• Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope.

• Boulders Beach to see the African penguins.

• Private full-day Winelands tour: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl wine tastings.

• Table Mountain cableway experience with a guided tour of the city.

• Fine dining at La Colombe or Test Kitchen (reservations recommended).

Day 6–9: Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve

Accommodation: Singita Boulders Lodge (Luxury Safari Lodge)

Highlights:

• Private transfer and flight from Cape Town to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

• Daily morning and evening game drives in search of the Big Five.

• Bush walks with expert guides and trackers.

• Gourmet meals paired with fine South African wines.

• Relaxation at the spa or infinity pool overlooking the bush.

Day 10–12: Greater Kruger or Phinda Private Game Reserve

Accommodation: andBeyond Phinda Rock Lodge or Lion Sands Ivory Lodge (Luxury Safari Lodge)

Highlights:

• Explore diverse ecosystems such as riverine forests, wetlands, and savannahs.

• Spot rare wildlife, including cheetahs and rhinos.

• Optional: Community visits or a hot air balloon safari.

• Romantic private dinners under the stars.

Day 13: Departure

• Morning game drive and breakfast.

• Private transfer and flight to Johannesburg.

• Connect to your international flight home.

Inclusions:

• Accommodation at luxury properties with full board during the safari.

• Internal flights and transfers.

• Private guided tours in Cape Town and Winelands.

• Daily game drives, bush walks, and select activities at safari lodges.

• Conservation fees and park entrance fees.

Exclusions:

• International flights.

• Travel insurance.

• Gratuities and personal expenses.

This itinerary offers a luxurious and intimate exploration of South Africa, combining iconic landscapes, thrilling wildlife encounters, and indulgent comforts. Let me know if you’d like adjustments.”

*The above text is AI generated*

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Here’s what we think of this AI generated safari

At first glance, this itinerary (perhaps suspiciously so) has a lot of the same lodges that we will recommend travellers looking for a classic South African holiday, including a nice divide between time spent in Cape Town, the wine lands and bush safaris. However, the devil (as always) is in the details and with some 15+ years of experience in the safari and travel industry, we noticed some rather important details were missing!

Day 1-5 Cape Town & wine lands: whilst Ellerman House is a beautiful hotel, perfectly positioned to explore the coast and even part of the Garden Route, it is easy to underestimate travel distances even in the Western Cape alone! We would rather recommend that after a day or two, you move to a hotel situated within the wine lands itself (like La Petit Ferme or La Residence). That way you will have more time for wine tasting instead of driving long distances! We would also recommend spending at least 2 days in Cape Town and 2 days in the wine lands to get the most out of this beautiful region.

Day 6-9 Sabi Sands safari: we couldn’t agree more! Our favourite game reserve in South Africa for a variety of reasons, we will always recommend our travelers to visit. In fact, it is included in our personally developed Classic South African itinerary too! (which makes us wonder where Chat GPT got its inspiration from?)

Day 10-12 is where Chat GPT started to show some glitches… We do like the suggestion to include a safari in two very different parts of the country (one in the Kruger region, such as the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, and one in the Eastern Cape region, like Phinda). This is something we always propose to our travellers – schedule permitting, as the scenery and wildlife are so vastly different. However, there were some issues with this part of the itinerary.

The first lodge recommended (Phinda Rock Lodge), whilst absolutely stunning, is actually easier accessible from Cape Town, rather than flying Cape Town – Kruger – Phinda. So, if you really want to visit Phinda Private Game Reserve, we recommend travelling there first from the Cape, before travelling north to the Kruger National Park region and then onto your flight home from Johannesburg. Secondly, the second lodge that was recommended, Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, has sadly burnt down in a recent bush fire. It would be quite unfortunate to try book at a lodge that does not exist anymore…  

The verdict? Not too bad, but not great either...

So overall, whilst Chat GPT didn’t do terribly, it does lack a certain understanding of minimising travel times, as well as knowledge of latest updates and changes to the safari offerings. And remember, Chat GPT is not going to phone or email road transfer companies or the recommended lodges to make the actual booking for you, nor does it take into account whether there are any long-stay offers or even availability during the dates you are wanting to travel! So you would still need to do all the actual groundwork yourself. And trust us when we tell you, that is where the hard work lies: coordinating travel dates, lodge availability, transfer times, flights and more - so that your safari experience is as smooth as a quiet babbling brook. And if you were to throw in more specific requirements like young kids, disabilities or medical requirements, we are sceptical that the results would be exactly what you are looking for.

Unlike us, Chat GPT also hasn’t visited the properties it is proposing, so it cannot give you room recommendations based on whether you prefer to be closer to the main areas of the lodges or rather further away from the hustle and bustle. Not knowing the resident safari guides also means that Chat GPT cannot recommend a specialised guide for specific disciplines like birding, photography, walking or younger kids. And maybe most important of all, you can’t call AI when you’ve got a flat tire between lodges or when you miss your flight! All these elements may seem like peanuts when you are starting to explore your options but trust us when we say that they become huge hurdles when you actually encounter them on your travels!

So, well done Chat GPT, but we highly doubt that using Chat GPT as your travel agent will save you time and deliver the dream safari you are hoping for, in the same way a locally based travel agent can. You can read more about the added value of a travel agent, here.

We’re here for a chat if you are interested! Book a free, non-commital exploration call with our travel team, contact us via e-mail or fill out our website form to start planning.

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Written by Evelyn Poole