Africa Travel Specialist Designing Custom Trips and Safaris

While a travel agent sells the world, a tour operator specializes in an area they know extremely well. I consider myself a tour operator, and more specifically, an “Africa Specialist”, as I've been working in the industry for 30 years after becoming inspired by my first safaris in Southern Africa. I was living and teaching in South Africa in the late 1980’s, and every school holiday, I booked a safari – a rough camping, vehicle-based overland safari - first in Namibia, then Botswana, then Zimbabwe and finally in Malawi. 

I fell madly in love with Africa and everything about the bush. So when I left teaching, the logical “next step” was to continue on in South Africa. From 1990 - 2007, I lived in Johannesburg, where I was working for a tour operator and traveling throughout the region extensively. I still go back to Africa at least once a year.

My areas of travel expertise include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania, as well as Madagascar. My years on the ground living, working and traveling in Africa have provided me with a wealth of personal experience and knowledge that not many others living and working in the US have, and enables me to build customized, expert itineraries for all of the countries I sell. Please feel free to contact me so we can work together to plan your dream trip to Africa.

South Africa is a diverse destination full of adventure, discovery and transformation. It's a place of pristine natural beauty with some of the best game viewing in Africa. Travelers have the opportunity to go beyond the incredible wildlife and experience a truly rich and exciting local culture comprised of an inventive food scene, excellent wines, creative arts and a fascinating history including the changes of the past few decades. Most importantly, you’ll feel the boundless creativity and energy of a generation that has grown since the end of apartheid.

Botswana boasts spectacular African landscapes as well as some of Africa’s most remarkable and diverse ecosystems. The Okavango River flows from the Angola Highlands to the arid Kalahari Desert, where it fans out to form the Okavango Delta, an immense and spectacular inland delta of lagoons, channels, and palm-filled islands. Once a year, this unspoiled ecosystem is flooded and attracts a diversity of animal and bird life. Botswana is the perfect destination for stargazers and photographers, bird lovers and seekers of big game.  

Namibia is home to some of Africa’s most dramatic landscapes, ranging from the world’s tallest sand dunes and oldest deserts to river valleys and mountain ranges. On safari, you’ll encounter some of the greatest African animals, including elephant, lion and the rare black rhino. And did you know - Namibia has 40% of the world’s remaining cheetah population?

Perhaps one of the most authentic and untouched African experiences one can have, Zambia is all about the tranquility of being alone with wildlife in an Africa that hasn’t changed much since the 19th century. And from Zambia, you’ll get some of the best views of Victoria Falls, a 355′ waterfall that’s considered one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.

Like its neighbor, Zambia, Victoria Falls is just the beginning of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe offers excellent wildlife and a diversity of landscapes and ecosystems, including five unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The best-known game area is Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe, while Gonarezhou National Park is a more rugged and remote option. For water enthusiasts, Mana Pools offers excellent canoeing and fishing, especially for African Tigerfish. 

Mozambique offers untouched coastline with two main archipelagos: the six islands of Bazaruto in the south and the equally beautiful Quirimbas Archipelago in the north. The islands are small and tranquil, only a handful of small, eco-friendly luxury resorts and private villas are nestled among the groves of coconut trees. At sunset, watch the local fishermen and villagers tow their handmade dhows through the low tide, fully loaded with that day’s catch (which is often your dinner). You can scuba or snorkel among coral reefs in the warm Indian Ocean teeming with marine life. This is the perfect ending to a Southern Africa safari.

Malawi lies within the Great African Rift Valley system and boasts a colossal freshwater lake to the east. Lake Malawi National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first freshwater national park in the world - shelters over 1000 species of fish. One can hike or mountain bike the highlands and stunning landscapes of Nyika National Park, or join interpretative walking safaris in Malawi‟s premier game destination, Liwonde National Park. Explore the bush and floodplains on foot with an experienced local guide or boat on the Shire River to view pods of hippo and banks filled with crocodiles.

Thanks to the 3700-mile Great Rift Valley, Kenya is home to some of the greatest natural phenomena in Africa. Every year, travelers flock to Kenya to witness the Great Migration - the dramatic crossing of the Mara River. Wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle, in groups of thousands at a time and up to two million over the course of one year, attempt to cross the river, infested with crocodiles and predators waiting on the other side. Beyond encountering enormous herds of plains game, there are the Big Five and over 1,100 species of birds, the most extensive in Africa. Just as rich as animal life in Kenya is tribal life. There are over 50 tribal groups in Kenya, with the Maasai being the most famous and dominant. 

Like Kenya, travelers can witness the Great Migration with a visit to Tanzania. Home to the wildlife-rich Serengeti, Tanzania boasts a landscape of sunburnt and lush plains, backdropped by towering mountains. Near the Serengeti sits the largest intact caldera in the world. The 2,000 foot deep Ngorongoro Crater is known worldwide for its density of game, with a permanent population of more than 30,000 animals. From the depths of the crater to standing on the rooftop of Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro’s 19,300 foot summit is an open invitation for climbers from around the world. Then there are the chimpanzees in the remote Mahale on Lake Tanganyika, or the world’s largest tropical lake and source of the NIle - Lake Victoria  - in the west, and finally the largest reserve in Africa - the Selous - in the south.

Most of the remaining critically endangered mountain gorillas live in the volcanic mountains that straddle Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.A limited number of troops can be reached on foot by humans and are habituated enough to allow observation. The opportunity to be with these giant primates at such a close distance, in their untouched, natural habitat is an enormous privilege. It may take some work to see them, but the end result is well worth the trek. In addition to gorilla trekking, Rwanda also can offer a well-rounded safari including a visit to Akagera National Park and viewing the chimps in the Nyungwe Forest.

Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world and was untouched until humans arrived only a few thousand years ago. Until then, the wildlife had very few predators, causing 92% of Madagascar’s mammals, 95% of its reptiles and 89% of its plant life to exist nowhere else on earth. Its diverse ecosystems include lush rainforests, endangered spiny forests, cloud forests, and dry forests with full of baobab trees. The cultural aspects are also worth exploring, especially the Malagasy tribal groups, which are deeply traditional. All things considered, Madagascar is truly one of the most unique places on earth.