The passing of the gorgeous and talented Robert Redford got me thinking about Out of Africa. Redford stars with Meryl Streep in Sydney Pollack's film adaptation of Karen Blixen's memoir of the same name.  It's about Blixen's life in Kenya and her love affair with Denys Finch-Hatton. Today, this term evokes romance and elegance on safari. In this podcast, I give a bit of history of the book and the film and some anecdotes about the making of the movie here in Kenya, as well as discuss the notion of  "Out of Africa" on safari today. Enjoy! 

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This was a very fun interview to do. It followed a very fun walk through the Namibian desert with Boetie in which we learned a lot - and got tested! One of the oldest cultures on Earth, the San or Bushmen of Southern Africa have ancestry dating back thousands of years, with cave paintings dotted around the continent. And they are proud to share their customs and traditions with us, as you will hear. Enjoy my chat with Boeti! 

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What does it mean to be a good safari guide? What is okay and not okay to do around the animals in the bush? In this episode, I elaborate on safari guiding and how vital it is that safari visitors support the right places and guides if we want the African wilderness to thrive. This is the only research you need to do before deciding which safari to go on! 

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It's true. If you plan to come on safari in Africa, who plans for you and chooses where you are going is paramount to the quality of guiding you will experience. And that is the difference between respect for the animals, communities and an ethical approach to it all and the very opposite.  Brian and I discuss what it means to be a good safari guide.  The more you know about this, the more wisely you can choose, for how you travel matters! Thank you for listening and enjoy my chat with the very dedicated Brian Bode. 

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It's all about Permit. Or GTs. Or Bone Fish, (but they are easy). Kyle Simpson is head guide at Alphonse, the idyllic tropical paradise in the Seychelles that attracts passionate fishers the world over. It attracts people wanting to dive and snorkel and swim with mantas too, but that is covered on my previous podcasts. Kyle and I talk about why this place is such a world-class destination. If you are already a fisher, you will want to go for sure. If not a fisher, like me, beware of transformation! Enjoy my chat with Kyle Simpson.

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It's a topic dear to my heart. What is it about a safari that is so personally transformative? Why do people - even those who were 7 years old at the time - say, over and over, it's the best trip they have ever done? I keep attempting to answer those questions, using my own experiences and that of our clients. In this short episode, I talk about the hierarchy of man on the planet and how the Great Rift Valley's geological phenomena helped set the scene. How being in the presence of these rare and wonderful animals with our own human history as backdrop creates an unmatched travel experience. Enjoy! 

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John Barclay is a fountain of knowledge about the bush. His safari genealogy goes back generations. He is the grandson of the famous Jack Bousfield of Botswana, an explorer whose collection at Jack’s Camp is considered part of the national treasures of the country. His uncle, Ralph, is a mentor and avant-guarde thinker on all things safari and conservation. John has used his childhood in the bush to learn – and learn and learn. As you will hear, he is not only full of information but, above all, he is an acute observer, and his vantage point is the big picture. He's just what Africa needs right now. Enjoy my conversation with John Barclay!

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Did you know that no one has ever seen a Manta Ray give birth? Their babies are over a meter wide when they are born. Or that the Seychelles may be one of the only Manta nurseries on Earth? Elle Brighton is a devoted marine conservartionist working in the Seychelles Outer Islands. Based on the inimitable Alphonse Island, she oversees everything from the health of the fishing (it's a world class destination for catch and release of bone fish, giant trevally, and lots more) to shark conservation and, yes, the angles of the seas, the giant Manta Rays. Our conversation covers all of this and more. She's a hero for worldwide marine conservation and you will love this chat.

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Wendy Panaino is the head of conservation at Tswalu in South Africa’s Kalahari. If you listened to my podcast about the Deserts of Africa, you will remember the Kalahari. It is an exceptionally rich ecological area and Tswalu is a success story of rehabilitation and conservation. Wendy and I sat down while I was there and chatted about what it means to be a custodian of Africa’s largest private nature reserve, it’s fragile ecology, complex management of wildlife – especially the relationship between predator and prey – and her total commitment to conservation above all else. Enjoy this fascinating conversation. 

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Over the 21 years I have been bringing guests to Africa with my business, Tin Trunk Safari, I have held to the principle that I do not send guests anywhere that I have not been personally. This has kept Tin Trunk “slower and closer” and is also essential in making sure I match the clients to the right experiences. In today’s episode, I talk about the vetting process. What am I thinking about and looking at when I do a reki? I always spend at least one night, usually two, and that allows me to get to know the team, the guides and understand the nuances of a place. I hope you enjoy this inside look at my test-driving process! 

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It's the end of February and in case the Winter cold lingers, I thought you would enjoy going to a tropical island - to talk about food. Luke Van Der Merwe is the head gardener on Alphonse Island in the Seychelles and, as you will hear, he is passionate about what he does. Our chat covers everything from how come the food is so delicious here, in the middle of nowhere in the Indian Ocean, to how important the microbiome is to that fact. It's certainly farm to table here! Enjoy! 

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The names conjure romantic images: The Sahara. The Namib. The Kalahari. Africa is home to three of the largest and most diverse deserts on our planet. Safaris that include the Namib and the Kalahari in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa reveal not only unbelievable formations, landscapes and flora, but also unique animal sightings, like the desert-adapted Elephant; the Cheetah (Namibia has the largest population of them in Africa); the Oryx, a master of thermo-regulation, and very rare sightings of the elusive Aardvark and Pangolin. The Skeleton Coast in Namibia, the Okavango Delta in Botswana - it's all about the desert. Enjoy! 

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Our conversation continues and after learning about Kes's arrival in Africa, her elephant research, frog heart muscle research and raising a family in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the border of war-torn South Sudan, we now hear more about that as well as what she is doing to stop the total extinction of the Northern White Rhino species. Enjoy Part 2 and be sure to listen to Part 1 first if you haven't! 

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Kes Hillman Smith is an unsung hero in African conservation. She arrived in Africa in a Land Rover through the Sahara and stayed to become a dedicated conservationist. Her research and hands-on involvement in Garamba National Park in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the border with South Sudan, protecting elephants and rhino from savage poaching, flying her own plane for animal surveys and establishing conservation initiatives - all while raising her two children - is impressive enough. But Kes did - and does - even more. This is part 1 of our 2 part conversation. Enjoy. 

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How Scared Should You Be about Africa? It depends to a large degree on into whose hands you are entrusted. Good guides. Travel planners who understand that Africa can be daunting and are willing – and knowledgeable enough – to help you through to the other side. This is something I enjoy and whether we are talking about planes, animals, illness or just how different Africa is from every other trip you have taken, clients and I discuss and plan based on levels of comfort. I want to hold your hand as you face your fears so that you can experience one of the most magical places on Earth and in this podcast I discuss what people are concerned about and how to tackle those fears.

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Jack Coupland walks the talk. He oversees the fascinating – and incredibly important – conservation projects on Alphonse Island in the remote Outer Island area of the Seychelles. In our chat, we talk about sharks, turtles, birds, fish and coral and how they are all intricately, crucially, linked to form this pristine and thriving marine environment. It’s not often one can say that about the condition of our oceans these days so this is an uplifting one too! Enjoy.

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Listen to hear why this is my favourite tropical paradise in Africa. Whether you are looking to lie on white sands until sundowner time with a good book or want to get out and do some world-class fishing and diving and snorkeling and hiking and biking and and and... this is it. Happy listening! 

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Tony Church is a man whose life has spanned fascinating moments in Kenya's history. To some he is the father of horse safaris in Kenya, to others the man who helped organise the horses for Robert Redford and Meryl Streep while they filmed Out of Africa, to other, precious ones, he's the grandfather who puts them on horses when they come to visit. Listening to Tony talk of zebra rustling as a child, of ocean voyages between England and Africa, of horse riding from Nairobi across lands then wild with lions and now busy with traffic is a personal walk through time for him and a wonderful glimpse into the history of a man and a land for us. Enjoy! 

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In this episode, I talk about the endangered Mountain Gorillas and take you on a virtual trek. I have done this 8 times now, in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's often called an experience of a lifetime - and it truly is.  If you have done it, you will have a lovely walk down memory lane. And if you haven't, you will want to! Enjoy! 

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I am back chatting with my good friend, Lorna Buchanan-Jardine, and as with our previous conversation, we cover lots of topics. This one delves into Lorna's experience as a safari camp manager.  We talk about the kinds of cultural exchanges that occur between guests and the locals here and how this is often one of the highlights of a safari. You must hear her story of a New York City family describing their life to a Maasai woman. We also talk about different notions of wealth; how to photograph respectfully; the ways to give that last... Whether you have been to Africa, are coming soon or have it on your dream list, this is an insider's look you will enjoy. Happy Listening. 

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In this episode I talk about one of Nature’s unmatched wildlife events: The Great Migration.  Millions of wildebbeest, with zebra and gazelle, move around the Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystems following the rains for the freshest grass. This is the second largest mammal migration on our planet. (The first is bats.) The zebras and wildebeest cross the rivers, full of crocodiles, and these “crossings” are as dramatic as it gets. It also gets awfully dramatic on the river banks as many, frankly way too many, tourist vehicles gather to watch. In this episode I tell you all about the migration, the pros and cons of visiting during this time of year and the important ways we can all ensure it remains one of the most outstanding wildlife experiences of our lives. Happy Listening.

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As I say in the introduction, there is something about this conversation with Virginia that leaves me feeling raw, open and hopeful. Virginia is as real a deal as they come and hearing her talk about her upbringing in a home full of brothers and how a mixture of courage and hope led her to become one of the few - and elite - female anti-poaching rangers is beyond inspiring. Happy Listening.

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This is an iconic one.  Jamie Roberts is a larger-than-life character. He owns one of the most successful aviation businesses in Africa, Tropic Air, and takes guests, including those of Tin Trunk, in his airplanes and helicopters from lodge to lodge and on amazing journeys around the continent.  In this conversation we chat about his family, how he ended up with his business and his favourite destinations to explore on the continent. Enjoy our conversation and get ready to want to join him next time!   

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Nicole Church travelled with 4 other friends from England to Kenya. 50 years ago and in a Land Rover. They crossed the Sahara. They cooked and navigated and dug themselves out of sand traps. They visited - and felt safe in -  countries most would not drive through today and they had more than a few extraordinary encounters with people they met along the way.  Grab a map of Africa and enjoy our conversation! 

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Part of my travel planning job at  Tin Trunk involves talking to people about the daunting aspects of a trip to Africa. It's far. It's in the news for the wrong reasons much of the time. There are animals here much bigger than us  and others who can catch and eat prey much bigger than us. In this podcast, I discuss all of this and why much of it can be avoided or is often misrepresented. Have a listen and see why Africa is worth standing at the edge of your comfort zone. 

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