The best winter African getaways

The best winter African getaways

Summer is coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. If you’re itching to get away to avoid the short days, long nights and chilly drizzle which sits miserably on the horizon, then lucky you – a winter African safari is always incredible.

10 Best wildlife reserves to visit in Africa

10 Best wildlife reserves to visit in Africa

It goes without saying that Africa is a huge continent, which means deciding on a wildlife reserve to visit can be daunting. So I have put together a little guide to my favourite parks across the continent, which could help pinpoint the one that is just right for you. 

Safari Style

Safari Style

There has always been something quintessentially elegant about safaris. Ever since the era of the pioneering Edwardian travellers, when canvas tents with leather trunks, porcelain basins and brass lamps were set up in remote areas of the bush, the safari experience has been enhanced by the visual and textural quality of its immediate surroundings.

The David Attenborough effect

The David Attenborough effect

The unintentional effect of popular wildlife documentaries has been to raise people’s expectations on safari to unrealistic levels. It's not all drama and crisis in the bush. Sometimes the real joy is experiencing Africa at peace.

The Buzz about Botswana

The Buzz about Botswana

Botswana is set for its busiest peak season on record but there is no cause for alarm: it may be busy but it's certainly not crowded.

Unplugged Africa: bringing people together

Unplugged Africa: bringing people together

For some, the real magic of a mobile tented safari is the opportunity to engage with their children, grandchildren or travelling companions away from the Internet and its isolating effects.

What is a private guided safari?

What is a private guided safari?

A private guided safari is exclusive to you and hosted from the moment you arrive on safari to the finish of your trip by an expert safari guide. Perhaps surprisingly, a private guided safari need not cost any more than a regular safari.

When is the best time to go on safari?

When is the best time to go on safari?

There was a time when there were distinct safari seasons across Africa. But things have changed over the years and visiting outside the traditional seasons is now not only possible, but often desirable.

Top Ten things to do in Cape Town

Top Ten things to do in Cape Town

If you are thinking of visiting Cape Town, here is our guide on the Top Ten things to include in your trip.

Visiting the San Bushmen in Botswana

Visiting the San Bushmen in Botswana

Although their lifestyle would be considered a subsistence one, there is much to be learned and to admire in the San Bushmen communities.

Good news for Kenya

Good news for Kenya

It's good news for Kenya, the spiritual home of safaris. Over 19 million voted in the August election and, although a re-vote will take place shortly, the mood is positive. The first vote showed that there has been a shift away from the politics of the opposition party.

Self drive safaris through Namibia

Self drive safaris through Namibia

No statistics truly prepare you for the wonder of Namibia. The size of Texas but with a population of just 2 million people, its scale is immense and its scenery breathtaking.

What is the best time to visit Zambia?

What is the best time to visit Zambia?

It used to be easy to answer the question about the best time to visit Zambia, but things have changed, and now there are many benefits to travelling outside the traditional safari season.

How plumbing has changed the face of African safaris

How plumbing has changed the face of African safaris

Alongside the improvement in plumbing has come a different sort of safari camp. Bush showers that were open to the skies have been upgraded into fully walled and roofed en-suite bathrooms.

Back from Rwanda

Back from Rwanda

Rwanda is incredibly picturesque and is famous for its mountain gorillas. Safari companies from southern Africa are investing in new exclusive lodges for gorilla trekking and my daughter Kitty and I have just returned from an refresher trip visiting new lodges so that we can match clients who wish to explore this stunning country with the best accommodation for them.

What is the benefit of a private guided safari?

What is the benefit of a private guided safari?

The demand for private guided safaris continues to grow. So what is their secret? What is the benefit of having a private guide leading your safari from beginning to end?

Why use a safari agent?

Why use a safari agent?

Most people enjoy a safari, no matter how good it is. But a safari agent has wide experience of all types of camps and lodges and can distinguish the truly wonderful from the good enough.

Not the Garden Route

Not the Garden Route

The Garden Route used to be the Grand Tour of South Africa for discerning travellers but its popularity has come at a price. South Africa is a well-populated country and when that population is on holiday the roads are filled with a constant flow of traffic.

What next for the African safari?

What next for the African safari?

Nowhere is evolution, in all its forms, more apparent than in the African safari experience. It is not just flora and fauna that have evolved over millennia; over the last few decades the continent’s tourist industry has evolved too.

An African riding safari for the experienced

An African riding safari for the experienced

If an operator is confident about the abilities of a group, more risks can be taken and experience is often enhanced by the frisson of a little bit of danger.

Horses for courses

Horses for courses

Sourcing and training the right horses is the first job of riding safari operators; but the second is matching each horse with a suitable rider (or vice versa depending on your perspective).

Flying high on African safari

Flying high on African safari

Why fly? Well, although many main roads are good in Southern Africa, the distances are vast. Away from main routes, roads tend to be bumpy sandy tracks; fun for a game drive but not a four hour transfer.