Mr M

Zambia Guru

I’ve been in the travel industry over 20 years and am the co-owner of an African specialist operator which creates tailor-made, bespoke itineraries and offers a highly-personal level of service to our discerning clients. Over the years, I have lived in several countries and travelled the world for both business and leisure. I spent 6 years living and working in the US, as well as in The Netherlands, Italy, Asia and Australia. It is Africa, though, that resonates most with me. The joy, the people, the passion and the relentless thirst for life. It is humbling and provides me with much needed perspective – something I think we all need.

I’ve visited most countries in Southern and Eastern Africa numerous times, but Zambia really struck a chord with me for the friendliness of its people, the quality of the safari activities and the sheer amount of wildlife.

On my many visits to Zambia, the safari experience has proven second-to-none. With a mix of authentic bush camps and luxurious lodges, which wouldn’t seem of place in LA, it has everything! The South Luangwa is home to the big cats – lion and leopard. This is where the walking safari started; being in the bush, with just your guide and ranger gives you a unique perspective. Your senses are heightened, you notice the little things – every sound is magnified, every smell has a story. It is a safari experience like no other. Kafue and Liuwa Plains are very remote and off the visitor trail, making for a truly intimate experience. The Lower Zambezi offers so many activities: canoeing the Zambezi channels, tiger fishing, walking and game drives. The concentration of animals here, between the escarpment and the Zambezi River, is simply breath-taking. A highlight for me was sitting in the bush with my guide, very close to a pregnant female leopard, and no one else around. The leopard was so at ease with us that she simply fell asleep in the tree. We spent over an hour in her presence – a huge privilege.

Over the decades I have worked in the industry, I’ve developed quite the tenacity for fine-tuning a safari itinerary that truly fits my client’s needs and expectations – I often manage to fulfil a travel desire they didn’t even know they had before travelling! My deep list of contacts in Southern Africa provide my clients access to the region’s best specialist guides and unique experiences.