Safari marketing in China
MDS Collective helps safari operators, lodges and tour operators reach Chinese travelers. We build and run your presence on RedNote and WeChat, answer travelers' questions in Mandarin, work with the travel creators they follow, and make sure AI assistants recommend you when they plan the trip.
A safari is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so Chinese travelers research it hard. Trust is built long before the deposit is paid.
Chinese honeymooners, families and groups of friends planning a safari save itineraries on RedNote, compare lodges and seasons, and ask AI assistants which operator to trust. Then they message the operator directly with detailed questions about visas, flights, the Great Migration and what is included. Operators who show up with real guest stories in Mandarin, and answer quickly, are the ones that get booked.
Everything you need to win Chinese travelers.
RedNote & WeChat content
Always-on content in native Mandarin: itineraries, lodges, wildlife moments and seasonal guides such as the Great Migration, published where Chinese travelers plan.
Pre-sales messaging
Mandarin replies to traveler questions on itineraries, pricing, visas and what is included, with complex requests passed to your team so no inquiry is lost.
KOL & creator trips
Hosted trips with travel, honeymoon and photography creators whose followers match your guests, managed from selection to reporting.
AI search visibility (GEO)
We make sure DeepSeek, Doubao and other AI assistants recommend your safaris when Chinese travelers ask where to go and who to book with.
Reputation management
We track what guests post about you on RedNote and flag anything negative to your team quickly.
Paid media
Paid campaigns on RedNote and WeChat through an authorized agency, guided by data in Paragon, our client dashboard.
All-time hospitality client retention rate
Hospitality partners
Total client Michelin Keys
DMs answered in 2025
Award-winning, and focused on travel since 2013.
MDS Collective (formerly Metric Design Studio) was founded in Shanghai in 2013 and now works from Shanghai and Singapore, with associates in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. We focus entirely on hospitality, travel and tourism brands reaching Chinese, Japanese and Korean travelers.
Campaign Asia-Pacific named us Greater China Boutique Agency of the Year, Gold, and Entrepreneur named us Disruptor of the Year 2026. Our clients include properties on The World's 50 Best Hotels list, 3-Michelin Key hotels, national tourism boards and global airlines.
Human-led, AI-enabled. Our clients own all of the IP we create for them.
Questions we often hear.
What does a safari marketing agency for China do?
We help safari operators, lodges and tour operators outside China attract Chinese travelers. That covers content and community on RedNote and WeChat, Mandarin pre-sales messaging, creator campaigns, paid media, reputation management and AI search visibility, with results reported to your team in English.
How do Chinese travelers choose a safari?
Most start with inspiration on RedNote, then ask AI assistants to compare destinations, operators and seasons. Before booking they message the operator directly with detailed questions. Operators with fresh Mandarin content, real guest stories and fast replies are the ones they trust.
Do I need a team that speaks Mandarin?
No. We handle content and traveler messages in Mandarin and pass qualified inquiries and complex requests to your team in English.
When do Chinese travelers book long-haul trips?
Long-haul trips cluster around Lunar New Year, the summer break and the October Golden Week, and safari timing also follows the seasons, such as the Great Migration. We plan content and campaigns months ahead of each window.
Why choose MDS Collective?
We have specialized in marketing to Chinese travelers since 2013, first as Metric Design Studio. We work with 40+ hospitality and tourism partners at a 93% all-time retention rate, and were named Campaign Asia-Pacific's Greater China Boutique Agency of the Year, Gold.
Also see: Hotel & Hospitality Marketing in China · Tourism & Destination Marketing in China · Airline Marketing in China & Asia · Theme Park & Entertainment Marketing in China · Education Marketing in China
Let's begin the conversation.
Not sure where to start? We're here to help. Every brand challenge is unique, and our role is to help you find the right direction. Reach out with any questions, or if you're ready to get started, book a free consultation with MDS today.
Still deciding? Play a game while you think about it
Still deciding? Play a game while you think about it