One of the world’s bucket list experiences is taking a safari in Africa, and Micato Safaris is considered to be the best bespoke safari operator. Thousands of travel advisors, clients and incentive brands rely on Micato’s world-class expertise to make these dream trips come true. Pursuitist had the chance to sit down with Dennis Pinto, managing director of the family-owned Micato Safaris to find out how they are able to create exciting vacations across Africa and parts of Asia. Dennis Pinto (pictured in the photo with his family) shares when his favorite time to travel on safari is, some of his top itineraries and how he got his start.
How did you start Micato Safaris?
Micato is a 60-year-old, family-run company founded by my parents. With no formal hospitality training, they simply treated every guest the way they themselves would love to be treated when they traveled. They personally met every traveler at the airport, invited them into our home for a meal and made sure every detail was seamless. Decades later, that same spirit of warmth and care continues to define us.
What sets Micato apart from other safari operators?
Nay Palad Bird Nest at Segera Retreat, one of the destinations that Micato Safaris uses
At its heart, Micato’s difference lies in an unwavering obsession with guest satisfaction – refined over six decades. Because we don’t subcontract to third parties, everything that happens on safari, from the logistics to the little surprises, is overseen by our own team. It keeps us accountable – and it keeps things wonderfully personal. Guests often tell us that their time with our non-profit affiliates, AmericaShare and Huru, ends up being the most meaningful part of their trip. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Together with our travelers, we’re quietly proving that to be true – one student at a time.
Do you have an itinerary you personally love?
Whichever safari I most recently took tends to be my favorite – like children, it’s impossible for a parent to pick one! Each itinerary is years in the making: meticulously designed, tested and refined until it’s something we’d be proud to host our own friends and family on. That said, I have a soft spot for the “quiet season” in many parts of Africa – from November through March – when the plains are lush, the skies are vivid, and when the landscape comes alive with newborn animals. It’s an insider’s season: the perfect time for private game drives, sunrise ballooning, or helicoptering to remote corners of the wilderness – all with our seasoned safari directors, who bring the bush to life with the insight and artistry of a great storyteller.
Micato Safaris has itineraries in India, what are they like?
My family’s ancestral roots are in India, so it’s a destination close to my heart. We’ve been leading journeys there for nearly forty years, and it never stops dazzling me. India is a full symphony for the senses – palaces and tigers, temples and spices, ancient traditions and boundless hospitality. Guests travel in true Micato style, staying in magnificent hotels (many once home to Maharajas), accompanied by our exceptional team on the ground who share our ethos of care and detail. It’s an intoxicating blend of grandeur and soul.
Do new extensions to Maldives and Seychelles have the same Micato service?
Absolutely. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Many travelers cap their adventure with an island escape. You can expect the same Micato precision and warmth – just with more turquoise water.
Picture this: a floating breakfast of tropical fruit, warm pastries, and a glass of champagne gliding across your private pool while you enjoy a morning swim. It’s our way of saying, “Welcome to paradise, Micato-style.”
What is something you wish more safari brands would offer?
Safari travelers span a wide range, from backpackers to those seeking deeply immersive, high-touch experiences. Micato focuses exclusively on the top end of the market – not out of exclusivity, but because that’s where we deliver our very best. Luxury travel is our craft. It’s where our decades of experience, deep local relationships, and meticulous attention to detail allow us to create spectacular experiences that look effortless. This is something for which Micato is known and is hard to replicate.
What is the Micato One-for-One program?
Through the Micato One for One Commitment, we send a child to school for every guest who travels with us. It’s a simple idea with a profound ripple effect. Education transforms lives – empowering a child, uplifting a family, and strengthening an entire community.
How can guests support it on safari and at home?
Every Micato journey already changes a life: each guest helps send a child to school through our One for One Commitment. While in Africa, travelers visit Micato-AmericaShare projects and see the impact firsthand. Many are inspired to go further – by sponsoring a student’s education in boarding school or university, supporting Huru’s program that provides reusable sanitary pads to keep girls in school, or funding libraries and computer centers. It’s a powerful reminder that travel can both enrich the traveler and transform lives.
