Essential Africa has attracted the very best and most knowledgeable private guides in the industry.
Our private guides take the time up front to discover exactly what you are looking for. They know and have extensive experience of the territories, camps and facilities. This places them in an ideal position to match your requirements with the very best of what Africa has to offer.
Your guide will accompany you for the duration of your visit, or for just a portion of it, depending on your requirement. They will share their knowledge with you, as well as their passion for the African wilderness, taking care of every detail along the way.
Lee Whittam
As co-founder of Essential Africa, Lee is living his dream of turning his passion for wildlife into a viable business. He shares his experience and knowledge of his chosen field with generosity and humour, and is totally involved in each safari from the outset. By personally guiding his trips where possible, Lee ensures that each safari becomes a trip of a lifetime.
Lee was born in Zimbabwe and wasted no time in spending as much time as possible in the bush. His keen interest in all things wild led him straight from high school to his professional guiding career as a trainee ranger at a family-run lodge in the greater Kruger National Park.
After venturing further afield to many of the best lodges in the Sabi Sands area, Lee headed across our borders into Botswana, before returning home to expand his experience in a selection of the various superb lodges in the Sabi Sands, Manyeleti, Timbavati and Waterberg areas. It was during this period that his passion for walking safaris and wilderness areas really emerged, which drew him back up to northern Botswana, one of his favourite places.
Three years as a manager and guide at Duma Tau Camp in the Linyanti area, and a further 14 months at Little Mombo in the Moremi, have exposed Lee to some of the most spectacular areas in Botswana. After leaving Little Mombo, Lee guided and hosted Privately Guided Safaris and Expeditions for Wilderness Safaris for nearly three years. He imparts his wealth of experience and knowledge with generosity and in a characteristically understated way. Lee has also guided safaris in East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia.
Between safaris, Lee is based at home in Cape Town with his family, where he takes time out to fly fish and work on his photography. This interest in photography, coupled with his constant immersion in Africa’s wildlife, gives him the opportunity to share his knowledge with his guests and adds yet another dimension to his safaris. His work is published worldwide in magazines, newspapers and electronic publications. Numerous photographic awards, including a place in the final stages of the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, just add to his immense job satisfaction.
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Stubbs Trip Highlights
Savannahs, Rivers and Forests
We focused on a combination of savannah and misty mountain forests in our efforts to get the best images and experiences for this East and Central African safari. Thousands of wildebeest bunched together as lions and crocodiles preyed on themduring a Mara River crossing. Leopards on top of granite outcrops, the smallest black rhino calf I've ever seen, and cheetah families at play gave us endless photographic opportunities. Our epic climb through the mountain forests of Rwanda following a family of mountain gorillas as they played and foraged, and watching another family group drying out in dapples of sunlight after a heavy downpour, concluded this memorable safari. ... read more
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Austin Trip Highlights
Our recent safari through Tanzania produced a wealth of highlights from north to south. Large prides of lions with cubs, lions pulling down buffalo and then being chased off by the herd, cheetah crouched metres from impala. Herds of buffalo and elephants on the Sahale Swamps in Tarangire, hippos getting the better of lions, leopards chased up trees by lionesses in the Serengeti and wildebeest massing on the banks of the Mara River gave us much to reflect upon as we ended this incredible trip in the remote southern part of the Selous Game Reserve overlooking the Rufiji River. ... read more
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Making a Difference
Sometimes, making a difference to underprivileged communities happens when we least expect it. A past safari to Zimbabwe was just such a case. Spending time on LakeKariba to savour this spectacular wilderness was the main reason for us being there. However, a brief visit to a small fishing village, followed by the incredible generosity of my guests, would ultimately make a huge change to daily life in this remote corner of Africa.... read more
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Tomasovic Zambia Trip Highlights
An entire safari is a compilation of experiences, ranging from quiet contemplation, through to the excitement of unexpected encounters. It's not unusual to be chased from time to time by an elephant during the course of a safari. Mostly, this involves a bit of head shaking and the occasional trumpet before petering out. Not the case this time! Driving past a small herd of elephants one afternoon in the South Luangwa, we glanced behind us and noticed that a large tuskless cow was chasing after us. We kept slightly ahead of her, expecting the charge to fade. Instead, she picked up the pace, tucked her ears flat and pushed home the charge.... read more
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Pondel and Kalan - Tanzanian Safari
I'm writing this 'journal' from the deck of my tent. To my left, an immense buffalo bull has been casually watching me for the last twenty minutes. Across the stream, a pair of reedbuck is sounding the alarm, which means there must be a lion or leopard nearby. Further away, past the buffalo bull, is a herd of several thousand wildebeest crossing the same stream, curving around the back of camp, and in the distance I can hear a lion calling. We leave for our flight into Arusha and our onward journey shortly but I think this is not a bad send off to another very special safari in Tanzania. The following account should give you a taste of our incredible experiences.... read more
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Wack & Human Tanzanian Safari
We wouldn't be exaggerating to say that the herds of wildebeest literally looked like ants as they filtered across the open grasslands of the north western Serengeti. If this wasn't enough to make this safari very special, add black rhino walking within sight of camp, cheetah hunting wildebeest, leopards feeding on kills, lions resting on top of granite outcrops, pods of hippos in the Rufiji River, foot safaris, Beho Beho'shot springs, and the "Lake of a Thousand Crocodiles" in the Selous Game reserve in southern Tanzania gave us some incredible experiences that will be hard to beat.... read more
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Tanzania and Rwanda Privately Guided Safari Jan/Feb 2011
Lying in bed in a tented safari camp in Africa is extremely exciting, especially when thousands of animals are moving through and around your camp. Lions walking past your tent, hyenas panicking the herds on your doorstep and you have the makings of a thrilling safari. As ever with wildlife in Africa, and I suppose the world over, you never know what to expect. This safari to northern Tanzania and Rwanda was governed by weather patterns, in particular rainfall that turned the massive herds of migrating animals in the Serengeti on a daily basis and attracted hundreds of thousands of wildebeest to the southern areas for their annual calving season. This in turn brought the predators out – sometimes, right into our camps.... read more
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The Annual Flood in Botswana's Okavango Delta 2011
Each year an amazing natural cycle is repeated in Northern Botswana's Okavango Delta and associated systems. From hundreds of kilometers to the north of the Okavango in Angola's eastern highlands rain falls in the catchment area and forms the bulk of the water that floods the relatively shallow Okavango basin or delta as we know it. For the past few years these systems have been experiencing higher than average flood levels, mainly due to heavier local rainfall in both the Okavango itself as well as the catchment areas, not just this season but over a number of consecutive seasons. The flood is always a hot topic in the Botswana safari circles as it determines to a large degree how, where and by what method the best game viewing is going to take place. Imagine each day as the flood arrives, going out into the bush to find open grasslands and previously dry roads slowly filling with crystal clear water, seemingly out of nowhere. ... read more
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Lynn and Sylvia Trip Report
Giraffes poking their heads through the lodge windows during meal times, a walk through coffee plantations in Tanzania's Arusha, hot springs, the tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara, lying on the salt pans at night looking up at millions of stars, cheetah at first light in the impressive Ngorongoro Crater, the huge crocodiles of the Grumeti River and the tightly packed herds of wildebeest and zebra in the western Serengeti, mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Then the finale of the magnificent winelands of Cape Town with scenery that takes your breath away and equally spectacular food and wines in some of the most beautiful settings in the world - what a trip. What a task to pick out the very best highlights! ... read more
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Elephant bull in water, how the shot was taken
Elephants have to be one of the most photographed mammals on the planet. This poses a challenge when trying to get a slightly different image of one rather than just another elephant picture. With this in mind, we watched as a bachelor group of elephants neared the water along the Chobe River in Botswana. We were on a boat and enjoying the flexibility a boat offers in order to approach the game from the waters side and photograph them from this angle rather than the usual rear end view of them, which is often the case. As it was a hot day, the elephants at once plunged straight into the river and started play fighting with one another and generally enjoying the cool water of the river. ... read more
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My Young Days - Animal, Bird or Mineral?
Whenever a guest asks for a specific thing they want to see it's always a challenge (and a matter of pride) for the guide to track down the quarry and make that dream come true – after all that's what we are here for isn't it? However when a guest waits until you are miles from even the possibility of a handy reference book to announce he wants to see a specific thing you've never even heard of, let alone are able to identify, the potential for humiliation is great! ... read more
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The Year Ahead 2011
Most of the trips this year are small groups that I'll be guiding personally, and I'm tremendously excited to be back in touch with friends from previous safaris. We'll have just as much fun this time and I'm looking forward to catching up. For those of you whom I'll be meeting for the first time, I'm delighted to be taking you on what will certainly be the trip of a lifetime. And thanks to your support, we are thrilled that our booking sheets are filling up rapidly!
January and February finds us in the southern Serengeti during the annual migration. ... read more
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My Young Days - Guides, Girls and Gates
At eighteen I knew it all. My vast experience of Africa's wildlife, gathered on numerous fishing trips, was made up of whatever large animals and easily identifiable birds of prey I'd come across, and seemed like the perfect start to my guiding career. I remember guests arriving at the lodge, eager for their slice of wildest Africa, sure that in many cases they'd pictured a bearded, tanned khaki-clad giant of the bush with decades of experience and a casually secured hand gun tucked into the waistband of his faded khaki shorts. However, as my first plunge into the world of guiding began at the 'budget' end of the spectrum, instead of Kingsley Holgate, they got a rosy-faced, polite and over-eager teenager in teardrop Ray Bans and very brief, very new shorts. What I lacked in experience I made up with enthusiasm and the confidence of youth. What could possibly go wrong? ... read more
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Black Rhino on foot in Zimbabwe
We had specifically come to this part of Zimbabwe to see for ourselves what was on offer in this huge piece of wilderness and tracking black rhino on foot was certainly one of the attractions for us. With the recent political 'situation' in Zimbabwe seemingly a thing of the past, we gladly accepted an invitation to visit a lodge in the south-eastern corner of Zimbabwe. This 60 000 hectares (125 000 acres) of privately owned land lies within the Save Conservancy (pronounced Sarvee) and is home to an impressive population of both black and white rhino, wild dogs, all of the big cats, elephant and huge herds of eland and general game – and we had this wild and remote place all to ourselves.
'Be careful where you tread, don't make a noise and let's keep an eye on the wind direction.' Wise words of advice when tracking one of Africa's most respected members of the big five, namely short-sighted, inquisitive and potentially aggressive black rhino.
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Amy's First Game Drive & Phill's Kwandwe Update on Kids in the Bush
As it's Christmas, generally a time to spend with family and friends, I thought I'd include a short account of my daughter Amy's first game drive that she experienced earlier this month. About 5 hours north of where I live in the Cape is Kwandwe Private Game Reserve - home to the 'Big 5' and abundant general game and also home to my sister Marnie, her husband Phill and their daughter Zoe. Phill heads up the guiding team at Kwandwe (read his account of our game drive in this edition) and whilst giving us a tour of their lodges, to our delight we were able to show Amy her first lions, rhinos, and lots of general game. ... read more
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Safari highlights of the year 2010
Thousands of wildebeest streaming towards the churning waters of the Mara River. Heart-stopping moments when a bull elephant turns towards us during a walking safari. Sitting on top of a rocky outcrop without another soul in sight. Lions roaring as they walk through our camp. Mating leopards within meters of our vehicle. Drifting down some of Africa's largest rivers. Sitting alongside some of the last remaining mountain gorillas in the wild. And experiencing local cultures – all highlights experienced on safaris over the past year. ... read more
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Southern Tanzania Trip Report - November 2010
The northern part of Tanzania must surely rank high in the top ten of any serious safari addict's wish list of places to visit, and not without good reason. This area boasts abundant wildlife, sweeping vistas and varied topography plus of course, the awesome spectacle of Serengeti's annual wildebeest migration. Yet the less well known and certainly less frequently visited southern part of Tanzania offers the rugged terrain of the Selous and Ruaha Game Reserves, access to hundreds of thousands of acres of untouched wilderness teaming with wildlife and criss crossed by some of Africa's most impressive rivers. Hopefully this trip report will whet your appetite for a taste of this remote and unspoiled part of Africa. ... read more
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The trend in changing from hunting to photographic safaris
In the past, hunting generated a huge annual income for many countries worldwide and Africa was certainly no exception. While this is still the case in many countries including Africa, there is a definite trend towards converting existing hunting concessions into photographic, non consumptive tourism areas. Our recent visit to Lukula Camp in Tanzania's Selous reserve is a perfect example of how photographic safaris have replaced hunting safaris; encouragingly, this trend seems to be catching on.... read more
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Botswana Trip Report August 2010
One of my favourite times in Botswana is late August early September which is our spring time. The biting cold of winter mornings is less apparent and the days haven't yet become as seriously hot as they will towards late September and throughout October as the build up to the rains gets under way. My recent safari covered three camps, namely Abu and Vumbura Plains in the Okavango Delta and Zarafa located at the start of the Savuti Channel along the Selinda Spillway.... read more
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Trip Report: South Africa and Botswana 2010
Leopards hunting, lions mating, hyena feeding on a giraffe carcass along Okavango's Savuti channel under a full moon and wild dog chased by elephant - these were just some of the adventures and experiences that were in store for us on this safari. For anyone starting their 'safari addiction', the Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa has to be the most sure fire way of seeing all the larger animals in a very short space of time and as four of my six guests were experiencing Africa for the first time, I was confident that by starting here we would satisfy their urge to see the 'big five' before we headed up into the remote corners of Botswana. ... read more
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Uganda as a Safari Destination
Based on my recent trip through Uganda that included some of the well known destinations such as the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Semliki Wildlife Reserve which is very close to Lake Albert and finally the Kadepo Valley right up in the north bordering Sudan, I realized that Uganda has a lot to offer for the more seasoned safari goer. The focus of a safari to Uganda I feel needs to be put on the endemic mammals and birds that occur there rather than trying to compare the game viewing with elsewhere in Africa.
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Tanzanian Privately Gided Safari - September 2010
We stood and watched as the charter flight took off for it's next destination then turned towards the surrounding hills and scanned them with our binoculars. Panning across them and onto the grasslands and acacia woodland dotted with Africa's iconic baobab trees, we picked up the dark shapes of buffalo, a few scattered elephant herds as well as ostrich, impala and many different types of antelope. The twisted and gnarled light purple and tan trunks of the enormous baobab trees stood out against the strange uniformity of the acacia woodland that covered the low hills that formed a ridge to the east of where we were standing. ... read more
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Lee's Uganda Trip report
Mist covered mountains, humid rain sodden valleys, raging chocolate brown rivers and secret, impenetrable forests; this is only part of what Uganda has to offer. Add huge expanses of some of Africa's largest lakes, an impressive list of uncommon endemic mammals and birds and you have a destination from a Ryder Haggard novel and one guaranteed to receive more attention from those looking for a different and exciting safari / adventure style experience.
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Lee's Zambian Trip Report - Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa National Park
It's about 22h00 on the third night of the safari and I'm writing this 'journal' in my tent at our camp located along the Lower Zambezi, listening to lions call about a kilometer away , no doubt the three males we saw on the second morning. The hippos in the Chongwe River that flank the eastern edge of the camp are noisy tonight too, frequently letting out bursts of deep grunting that taper off into low moans and form a constant background sound. The male lions have just started calling again, this time it sounds as if they are closer, I'm guessing that within the hour they will be close to camp and the resident baboon troops will let everyone know that the lions have arrived. ... read more
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Death of a Land Rover
Now having guided in the Okavango for a number of years, I've always prided myself on the fact I have never 'drowned a Land Rover' in one of the many deep channels a guide is called upon to drive through on an almost daily basis in this area. At some stage it had to happen...... read more
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Understanding the Seasons and how they can affect your Safari
As Africa is such a huge and diverse country, it can often be difficult to grasp how the various seasons affect a safari. I'll cover a few points that really have a bearing on game viewing and offer my suggestions as to why some areas are better than others during certain times of the year. ... read more
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Islands , waterways, close encounters and the dry North
Looking back at past safaris I realize how lucky I have been to guide in so many locations - the sheer diversity of habitat, cultures and activities within even a relatively small area is truly amazing.. One such safari, combining the Okavango and Savuti areas in Botswana with the focus of the trip to see, experience and photograph as much variety as possible. My guests wanted to combine their game drives with boat trips, walks and mokoro trips (dugout canoes) using the vehicle as our mobile base to carry our cooler boxes, lunches and camera gear. There always seems to be a lot of stuff when it all gets put together but my philosophy is to never under cater on the food and drink side for a day out in the bush, as you never know when you would like to spend extra time out there and the extra supplies are always welcome!... read more
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Namibian Trip Report May 2010
Namibia is a country of startling contrasts that straddles 2 great deserts - the Namib and the Kalahari. The first thing that strikes you about Namibia is the landscape. The contrasts of colours and shades are dramatic and towards late afternoon this gets exaggerated by the golden light that is typical of Africa at this time of day. Landing in Little Kulala's private concession, we were struck by the seemingly emptiness of the area. Although, at first glance the surrounding landscape seems devoid of life, it's only when you stop, listen and watch carefully that movement becomes apparent and you realize that there is in fact a huge amount of wildlife out there after all.... read more
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Tanzania and the Migration
East Africa had always been a destination on my must visit list, so my recent 'recce' there was eagerly anticipated and certainly opened my eyes as to what's available - it also dispelled many preconceived ideas I'd held. I had pictured hordes of pop top safari vehicles surrounding jittery animals while a barrage of camera clicks and flashes dominated the 'bush sounds'. What I found was quite different. I jotted down a 'trip diary' as I went and I hope you enjoy reading through a few of my experiences.
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Zimbabwe - October 2009
Victoria Falls, Mana Pools and Lake Kariba were all part of my last trip to Zimbabwe. The brief for this particular safari was to keep the first part as basic and simple as possible so far as accommodation was concerned, though we would end the with a little more comfort at Musango camp on Lake Kariba.
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Botswana - Incredible encounters with African Wild Dogs
I have just returned from a trip through the Linyanti and Okavango areas of Northern Botswana. Spectacular thunderstorms and some great game sightings made for an interesting journey.
Early localised rains have spread out the elephant and mixed herds of antelope slightly. Although this early rain will offer temporary relief to the drier areas of Botswana, I'm sure that the traditional heat and dryness of October will return shortly and have everyone wishing for the rains to return again. ... read more
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Selinda and Okavango, August/September 2009
High water levels in the Okavango and Selinda / Savuti channel areas surrounded by dry woodland are the conditions I experienced on a recent trip to Botswana. The Selinda spillway is a narrow ribbon of water that snakes its way from the top of the Okavango across endless Mopane woodlands and eventually meets with the waters of the Linyanti / Kwando rivers. The meeting of the waters happened about 3 weeks ago and this is the first time that the two bodies of water have joined in the last 25 years. Although the water levels in the Okavango and Selinda Kwando waterways are high, the surrounding bush is dry and heating up as we head towards the hotter part of the season. This all bodes well for game viewing as the animals are drawn out of the dry woodlands in search of water.... read more
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Mana Pools
I have recently guided a trip to Zimbabwe aimed at attracting the more adventurous, active traveler looking for a holiday that combines spectacular scenery, spectacular game viewing and a challenging walk. ... read more
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Pafuri Walking Trail - June 2009
I have just returned from the 3 night walking trail in the Pafuri area of the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Having driven through the area in the past and being limited to the public road network I was looking forward to seeing what was on offer in the Wilderness Safaris private concession within the Kruger National Park.... read more
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Newsletter October/November 2008
Please excuse the delay in getting the newsletters up to date but as in the norm for this time of the year I have been out in the bush almost constantly and not had chance to update the newsletter... read more
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Newsletter August 2008
Well it seems that the winter is officially over and the temperature is rising by the day. The Savuti area is taking on its typical dry season dusty appearance although the water still continues to push eastwards down the Savuti channel and is currently about 2kms past Savuti camp! ... read more
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Newsletter June 2008
Please excuse the delayed newsletter for June but I have been running around in the bush with no access to computers etc. This month I have managed to get some of my favorite images mainly of the big cats in the various areas.... read more
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Newsletter May 2008
Well winter has arrived at last in this part of the world. Early mornings and evenings are definitely getting colder by the day. Early mornings at this time of the year provide some great light coupled with mist over the lower lying areas making for some interesting photographs. ... read more
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Newsletter April 2008
From Floodwaters in the Okavango to the magnificent fauna and flora of the Angolan highlands
A lot of exciting things are happening in the areas that I am guiding in this month! A trip to the Western part of the Okavango saw the first flood waters arriving on their southerly journey from the Angolan highlands - several hundred kilometers north east.... read more
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Newsletter March 2008
Well after a two month break at home in South Africa I am back in the bush in Northern Botswana ready for the coming season. Returning as a married man after marrying my long time girlfriend, Libby, whom some of you might have met over the years.... read more
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Newsletter December 2007/January 2008
For those of you who have noticed, I have been a little behind on my monthly newsletter. Please excuse me as I have been getting drenched in the Okavango in the first "really heavy rains' of the season so I haven't had access to Internet for a while.... read more
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Newsletter September 2007
Well as expected the dry season this year is turning out to be a particularly hot and dusty one! Elephant numbers in the Linyanti region have swelled as they are drawn to the only surface water between the Linyanti and the Okavango Delta. ... read more
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Newsletter October 2007
Well at last the rains have come to Northern Botswana and the bush has turned green and relatively thick almost overnight.... read more
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Kalahari Desert, Botswana
Staying with the 'Desert' theme I thought I would include a short piece on the Makadigadi area of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana.... read more
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Tswalu, Kalahari Desert, South Africa
A recent trip that included two nights at Tswalu Camp in the Kalahari (Northern Cape, South Africa) revealed a desert experience within the borders of South Africa that offers both a diversity of desert adapted animals and some dramatic scenery. ... read more
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Kalahari Jackals - "Taking the Gap"
When traveling to Africa on a safari it's often the larger "charismatic" animals that draw the attention of the traveler. Lion, Leopard Cheetah and Elephant are more often than not on the "to see" list of many people. While there is no denying that these animals are exciting to view, there are often long periods between the action when viewing these larger cats. This however wasn't the case with a group of Black Backed Jackals that circled the remains of a lion kill in the Nxai pans area of Botswana. Recently I was guiding a trip into this area when we were given a show by the resident jackals that inhabit this arid part of the country.... read more
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The Savuti Channel flows again!
Having been based in the Savuti region of Northern Botswana for several years and guiding numerous trips through the area, I recently sat on the banks of the Savuti channel and watched as the clear water pushed it's way further east towards the Savuti marsh. I remember only a few years ago saying to my wife "If the channel ever flows again, we need to get up here and see it for ourselves," expecting that IF it was to flow again it may only be when we were both allot older and hopefully still able to make the journey. Little did we know that just a few short years later we would be witnessing a little bit of history in the making. ... read more
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Zambia - Luangwa Valley & Kafue
From the Luangwa River and its riverine vegetation that has become famous for the leopards that hunt there, to the vast open plains of the Busanga floodplain in the Kafue region, a recent trip to Zambia really produced the goods!
We started at Victoria Falls Livingstone, took the first day to catch our breath after the long international flights that my guests had just undertaken, take in the impressive expanse of Victoria falls and the enormity of the Zambezi river. A good night rest was well received so that we were fully charged and ready for the full days of safari that lay ahead. ... read more
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African Wild Dogs
These critically endangered animals are not domestic dogs that have gone wild but a totally separate genus. Domestic dogs, wolves, jackals, and dingoes all belong to the genus Canis; however the African wild dog diverged from this group several million years ago into the genus Lycaon. The species therefore represents a unique evolutionary line.... read more
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Luxury Private Mobile Camps
The beauty of a mobile camp is in that it allows one to access wild and remote places and experience total privacy. This is particulary so in the Serengeti where the mobile camps are moved as the migration moves and are set up in places not accessible to other operators. However, for many people, mention the words 'mobile camp' and it conjures up images of tiny dome tents, long drop toilets and a fair share of discomfort and inconvenience. Certainly this does happen on some safaris, however the standard of the camps we use in East Africa are very different. Recently I spent some time visiting one and was impressed by what I saw.
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2009 - Highlights
As many of you know, the idea of Essential Africa to combine years of hands on guiding experience and travel with well established operators was only realized at the end of last year. As with any new business the first year is always challenging and I'm glad to say things kicked off a lot quicker than I could have hoped for - referral business and word of mouth have been the difference between success and failure. ... read more
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Tanzania's calving season - January to April
As the number of wildebeest double almost overnight, the south eastern part Tanzania's Serengeti during January, February and March is the place to be to see both volume and quality game viewing.
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Camp Selection
Many people think that one camp or lodge is just the same as the next . Not so, irrespective of the level of luxury or lack thereof, the camp or lodge is 'made' by the people who run it. From the managers through to the guides through to the general camp staff that are responsible for doing the less glamorous behind the scenes work, each one is vitally important. The reason I have decided to write a short piece on this subject is to explain why we favour certain camps over others.... read more
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Namibia as a safari destination
After my recent visit to Namibia, I thought I would write about how to get the most out of a safari to Namibia and how it would combine well with a Botswana safari. Namibia's landscapes and scenery are second to none. Both are a large part of the focus of a safari to Namibia. Concentrating on the specialties such as desert-adapted animals, birds and plants will leave you with a new love of the desert and a healthy respect for the life that it supports that perhaps, prior to spending time in a desert, you thought wasn't possible. I feel this has to be explained properly before any potential Namibian safari.
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Children on Safari
I have had a few enquiries from people that wanted to travel with either their own children or their grand children on safari but weren't sure if first of all it was possible and secondly there was a concern about the cost of traveling as a family. Over the past few years the popularity of a family safari has grown, more and more lodges and camps are catering for this growing market. As such there are lodges throughout Africa in some truly magnificent areas that first of all welcome families with children and most importantly offer hugely reduced rates and in some cases children below 12 years old actually stay for free. ... read more
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South Africa as a Safari Destination
To compare a South African safari with east Africa, Botswana, Zambia or Namibia is tricky. The experience is very different, both in the style of lodges, volume of game and the actual way in which the game viewing is done. I would say that compared to the migration in east Africa and the dry seasons in Zambia or Botswana, South Africa offers a safari with less emphasis on animal volume, but can almost guarantee good quality sightings. This, coupled with the relatively short distances between lodges and concession areas makes South Africa ideal for those with limited time but the desire to pack as much as possible into their itinerary. ... read more
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Private Concessions / Reserves and National Parks
A frequent area of confusion with many people is the difference between a National Park and a Private Game Reserve or Private Concession. It's important to distinguish between these very different concepts when planning a safari in South Africa, as both experiences can be totally different, even within the same area. I have done a comparison in this article and hope that it sheds some light on this subject.... read more
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What to expect on a Safari
Given all the adventure stories and films made about Africa, it's not surprising that most first time safari goers approach the experience with a mixture of excitement, anxiety and a fair bit of uncertainty. For many this may well be the trip of a lifetime and one they are going to be talking about for years to come; therefore it's only natural for expectations to be sky high. However, it's important that these expectations are realistic and with this in mind I've put together some pointers which I hope will help you achieve what you want from your particular safari.
... read more
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Combining Private Guides and Local Guides
On my travels as a private guide I often get the chance to work with some of the local guides based at the various camps. By combining their knowledge of local cultures and traditions with the continuity and in- depth experience a private guide offers means we are able to provide a truly complete safari experience for our guests. Travelling over such huge and varied locations means that over the years, private guides have been exposed to many, many different cultures and beliefs, however, it's the local guides who can supply the subtle nuances and in depth history of a particular area. . Many areas that we operate in now offer the chance to visit or interact with local communities.... read more
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