Back in 2014, we started a journey. There were four of us in a tiny office on the tip of Africa (Cape Town to be precise – a city that has done us proud over the years and where we still are today), and we all shared a dream: to reimagine how people discovered and booked safaris, and to empower travellers to plan their very own trips using unique technology and up-to-the-minute information.
Fast-forward 6 years and we have helped hundreds of curious travellers discover the best bits of 23 countries across Africa on Timbuktu, from the wildest experiences to the most luxurious of safari camps. We’ve organised intrepid honeymoons alongside mountain gorillas in Rwanda, life-changing trips to the golden plains of the Serengeti, proposals on remote, coconut-studded islands – and even the odd wedding!
But we’ve also noticed a pattern. A question that comes up time and time again, most noticeably when our travellers return home and the lure of the unknown and the desire to pack a bag and a pair of binos becomes even stronger – and that question is, “When will Timbuktu offer trips outside Africa?”
Now, after 6 years, many hours of planning, more than a few spreadsheets and some COVID-shaped bumps in the road, we’re incredibly excited to announce the next chapter in our journey: the Indian subcontinent!
Whilst travel across the world has been on pause, we’ve been scurrying around in the background, curating our absolute favourite, top-of-the-list hotels, lodges, places and regions in India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives to enable you to start designing your dream trips.
So, why the Indian subcontinent? In truth, it seemed like a natural progression for us. Timbuktu is all about travel experiences to remember for the rest of your life, whether that’s capturing iconic wildlife on film, spending time with one-of-a-kind people or seeking out moments that you’ll definitely want to tell the grandkids about. The Indian Subcontinent seemed to fit all of those bills – and it helped that many of our team have spent a huge amount of time in the very countries we’re talking about.
Just as we did in Africa, we have spent time building our relationships across the subcontinent. We’ve met, Zoomed and chatted to some of the best people in the industry from tried and tested destination experts to the friendliest drivers and the wisest of guides. These people are our eyes and ears on the ground; the ones who will meet and greet you with icy water and cold flannels when you arrive, and be standing beside you on some of the most life-changing moments of your trip. We know that we’ve got it right and we’re delighted to have met so many like-minded people on our journey to the subcontinent so far.
We’re also equally as excited to introduce Marcus Potter to the team. A man who has travelled the length and breadth of Asia, and studied every inch of just about everything there is to know about India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, his knowledge, expertise and wisdom has already been invaluable to our planning. And when there were murmurings about him joining the Timbuktu team to help us launch in Asia (and hopefully spill a few of his secrets), we jumped at it – and now there’s no escaping. Sorry Marcus!
At Timbuktu, we believe that planning a trip should be easy, fun and (almost) as exciting as the holiday itself. The process should be simple and you should be involved from the beginning, fully able to see what’s out there and how it fits into your dreams. With our clear, concise booking information, inspirational tips and wealth of insider knowledge, we’ve made this a reality. You are in complete control of where you travel, what you do and how much it costs. So whether you would like to track a royal Bengal tiger in the wilds of India, learn how to cook a fragrant, fiery dhal in Sri Lanka, or get in touch with your spiritual side in the mountains of Bhutan, go and have a look. We guarantee you’ll find something to inspire…
Start designing your very own trip, tuk tuks, temples and all…
