Credited with redefining the safari experience and renowned for pushing the boundaries of bespoke travel, legendary luxury tour company Abercrombie & Kent has a long tradition of forging its own path.
Although A&K was officially founded in 1962, its roots trace back decades earlier when cofounders Valerie and Col. John Kent took a formative safari in Zambia. That journey proved memorable for many reasons — including the birth of their son, Geoffrey Kent, who later became a cofounder and the driving force behind the brand’s bold evolution.
Geoffrey Kent was raised on the family farm in Kenya and developed an adventurous spirit early on. He became the first person to travel by motorbike from Kenya to Cape Town and, after a brief stint serving in the British Army, returned home to collaborate with his parents on a safari camp designed to offer guests an exceptional experience.
Starting with a single Land Rover, a sterling silver ice bucket owned by Kent’s mother, and a deliberately chosen name (the “Abercrombie” portion was selected to appear near the top of directory listings), the family began guiding safaris across their beloved Africa. When his parents retired in 1967, Kent assumed leadership and set out to establish a new standard in luxury travel by defining the distinctive A&K style.
Kent pioneered the transformation of African safaris into “hunt with a camera, not with a gun” experiences and introduced practical innovations that elevated comfort in the field. He was the first to add refrigeration to mobile tented safaris, enabling chilled drinks at sundown and cool towels after long game drives — small but meaningful details that changed expectations for comfort and sophistication on safari.
Today, Abercrombie & Kent operates 52 full-time offices worldwide and offers a wide range of premium experiences, from luxury safaris in Botswana to high-end Antarctic cruises and exclusive Private Jet Journeys that represent the pinnacle of luxury travel.
The A&K difference lies in a philosophy that travelers should discover the world in ways that feel both authentic and elegantly curated. Journeys are thoughtfully planned and often embrace a classic, tactile approach: guests receive mailed pre-departure packages with printed itineraries and useful materials to prepare for their trip. On the ground, local experts accompany each journey, bringing deep, personal knowledge of destinations and providing attentive, culturally informed guidance.
With a holistic approach to travel, A&K creates opportunities for genuine encounters while ensuring guests enjoy comfort in remote and breathtaking locations. Whether staying in air-conditioned camps in the Okavango Delta, savoring freshly brewed cappuccinos aboard expedition vessels bound for Antarctica, or traveling aboard bespoke private-jet itineraries, travelers experience thoughtful service and authentic moments framed by exceptional logistics and local expertise.