Client Reviews

An epic trip! And a rare opportunity to really get out of the grind and explore life’s edges. This was my first trip to West Africa and I couldn’t have imagined a better way to see it. A trip like this would normally require months of planning, but Matt and Phil navigate everything with a calm and ease that simply removes the worry of logistics from your equation and allows you to really enjoy the world and life happening around you. I cannot say enough about this trip, this concept, and these tour guides. This is the adventure you have been looking for! Go take it!

I had the pleasure of travelling with Matt and Boubacar from Senegal to Guinea-Bissau in November 2024.

As other reviews attest, Matt’s good humour and approachability make for a great trip, and from day 1 it felt like travelling in the company of good friends. Matt went out of his way to tailor our itinerary to the interests of the group, including seeking out live music, a bicycle ride to the cashew farm and even a round of Gambian golf.

Pre-trip communication from Phil was great, and the kit list was especially helpful.

Both Phil and Matt are clearly passionate about delivering a great trip experience, and balancing this with their ethos of low impact tourism.

And this wouldn’t be a fair review without a final special mention to Boubacar: whose unwavering patience as I hit every pothole in West Africa was nothing short of commendable.

Wow- where to even start! I did the 10-day non-scooting trip to Mauritania in November, and over a month later I’m still smiling to myself anytime I think of the experience. We did a three-day camel-trek, camped in the desert, visited ancient cities and sites, and of course rode the iron ore train. The trip was a perfect mixture of rugged circumstances, like desert hiking, and chances to unwind in between. Matt is an outstanding, attentive, and down-to-earth guide who ensured all of us were well looked after, and it was apparent that SWA operates true to their ethos of respect for the people and places we visited. It was easy to enjoy everything this remarkable place had to offer because the logistics were very capably worked out by Matt, and Phil patiently answered so many questions for me over email prior to booking. This was my first trip to anywhere in Africa, and I couldn’t have dreamed of a better experience all around.

Everything about this trip was spectacular: the scooting, the scenery, the people we met, the places we stayed, the dirt roads, paved roads, beaches, little nooks for a beer or coffee or lunch or all three. Our guides, Matt and Phil. Scooting adds a sweet dimension to a trip – you’re using a mode of transportation that many others use rather than zipping by in a white land cruiser or ac bus, you see the landscape differently, people see you differently, it’s easy to stop and take photos or soak up the scenery, and you still get somewhere at the end of the day. We traversed water crossings with our bikes on big ferries and local pinasse, rode under tall trees and across salt plains. Roadside bananas and watermelon hit the spot between meals. Meals were all out, with seafood galore and most dinners had three courses. Kayaking, bicycling, a King, music, trees centuries old, tailored clothing made in a day, daily sundowners, great conversations and deserted beaches rounded it all out. Clubs, dancing, and caipirinhas are optional too. I never go on guided trips – and generally prefer to live or just be present in a place. This though, I would do over again in a heartbeat.

My friends and I meet in Europe once a year and spend a couple of weeks touring on motor scooters. This trip to Africa was off the charts. It was well planned and well organized in every respect. We experienced three countries, three cultures and three languages in the space of a dozen days. Matt and Phil were exceptional guides and managed to make everything flow smoothly in a region where things seldom do. The scooters were fun to ride and trouble free. I would recommend this adventure to anyone who would like to take a scooter off the beaten path.

I just completed the 8 day tour, led by Matt, and it was amazing. The ability to explore parts of West Africa that would be difficult without a knowledgeable guide truly made this a unique experience. Matt has a wealth of experience that elevates the entire trip. He took the time to emphasize my safety & comfort throughout the trip. The motorbike was relatively easy to learn & ride, even for a relative novice such as myself. Phil was patient and responsive to all of my questions & concerns prior to the trip. They’ve created something truly special, and deserve all the success.

I say experience because that’s what a tour on scooters is. It’s not a passive tour vacation. It’s an experience where you interact with the people, the landscape, the transportation; you’re actually involved in your adventure rather than just having it handed to you. A tour on scooters is just fast enough to get somewhere but slow enough to enjoy the process.
Matt and Phil are phenomenal guides. They have a passion for Africa and enjoy sharing it. It’s a treat to get to spend time with them both on the road and the beach. They also know all the ins and outs of travel across multiple countries and languages and make each transition easy.
I can’t encourage people strongly enough to participate in one of their trips, I hope to go again soon.