Louise

To share in the excitement of a first time trip to Africa and be part of such a special lifetime experience!

The African bush just never disappoints. Every time I go on safari, I realise again what a transformative experience it is to smell, hear and see the bush… Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is a favourite, but also the greater Kruger in South Africa.

On a trip to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park we saw a big pride of Lions with about eight young cubs. The cubs were completely oblivious to our presence and were chasing each other back and forth, slapping each other with their big soft paws; rolling around and playing hide-and-seek in the tall grass. We sat for ages and just enjoyed this incredible encounter, watching them having fun in the most natural setting.

We were recently on safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. During one of the game drives we came across three male Lions. The ranger told us they were hunting and stopped the vehicle so we could have a good look. They passed the vehicle so close we could hear their footsteps!

Teaching local communities and children the importance of conservation. Conservation education has such a wide reach and the effect is lasting. If people do not know and understand why nature and wildlife need protection and how it affects them in the long term, how can they ever be proud to be part of any community conservation project? It is on the ground level where we need to fix everyday issues and create a sense of purpose and pride for local communities.

I always travel with a cloth or big scarf in my bag – safaris can get really dusty and a scarf has multiple uses: cover your camera gear, wrap around your head/hair, drape over your shoulders when it gets chilly or even as a wraparound at the pool.