Timbuktu

An online trip designer to plan your own adventure ✈️

2 followers

Timbuktu is an Africa travel company that is revolutionizing the way travellers plan their safaris. How? By handing over complete control to the customer, empowering travellers to design their own trips in Africa, their way.
Timbuktu gallery image
Timbuktu gallery image
Timbuktu gallery image
Timbuktu gallery image
Timbuktu gallery image
Timbuktu gallery image
Launch tags:TravelTech
Launch Team
Intercom
Intercom
Startups get 90% off Intercom + 1 year of Fin AI Agent free
Promoted

What do you think? …

Ian Petzer
Hi PH, I'm the tech co-founder for Timbuktu and I thought I would give some details on the tech stack behind Timbuktu in case any of you are interested. The front-end is built in ember.js which has been really awesome for us as we have been able to keep abreast of developments in the software world as ember has been upgraded over the years while still being able to rely on essentially the same core architecture. On the server side we use node.js to actually serve up the app with an api built using Ruby on Rails. All the data is safely stored in a Postgres database. Basically as a team we value convention of configuration and frameworks like emberjs and Rails that have enabled us to be productive even though we're a small team by standing on the shoulders of giants! ... aka the framework contrbutors
Ross Johnson
Congratulations on the launch Johnny and the team, it all sounds very exciting! I'm a massive fan of African travel and safari in-particular! I was looking through the site and noticed a camp I had visited wasn't listed. Is possible to organise staying at a camp or lodge that isn't on the site?
Johnny Prince
@ross_johnson1 great to hear from you and thanks so much for the kind words! We're working hard to showcase what we see as the best selection of safari camps and hotels across Africa and we've now got over 1,500 recommended lodges to choose from. That said if there's a lodge we don't have or you're wanting to stay at a friend's place you can click "Add new stage" and choose "Own Arrangements" when you're designing a trip. Hope that helps and let us know how you get on! Johnny
rhys evans

....

Pros:

Incredible knowledge of countries they serve. Friendly, efficient, and helpful.

Cons:

Nil.

Nevo Hadas

i have designed two trips to tanzania where i have been before. it brought up great options and the online support was amazing, really informative.

Pros:

good recommendations for new places i haven't even heard of. great support.

Cons:

can get lost in the UI a bit

Vince Dickson

Cannot recommend Timbuktu enough. It’s clearly run by a team that cares about their customers and knows Africa unbelievably well!

Pros:

Great website...easy to use...incredible customer service.

Cons:

None that I’ve found yet!

Thomas Harries
Hey guys. I'd love to be able to book direct online. Is this in the pipeline?
Johnny Prince
@thomas_harries thanks so much for getting in touch. In terms of booking we’re definitely working towards making the booking process even easier and at some point we’d love to allow people to book instantly. At the moment we’re focused on the discovery and planning aspect of the product, giving people the choice and control to design their own trips online, with the support from our travel experts. Hope you enjoy using the site. Thanks, Johnny
Edward Barrow
This looks like an awesome platform and I'm planning a safari right now in South Africa as a matter of interest. Just curious how your technology caters for pricing?
Johnny Prince
@edward_barrow glad you're enjoying Timbuktu and that's exciting you're planning a trip to South Africa! We've developed an algorithm that gives a price estimate for your entire trip based on your dates of travel, including flights within Africa, transfers and your accommodation. We're trying to be as transparent as possible, allowing you to get a very clear indication of cost and allow you to make an informed choice about where to travel and where to stay. Let us know if you need any help or advice with your trip! Johnny