Trish Berry

Trish was brought up barefoot on an African tobacco and cattle farm (until she was sent to boarding school). 

The farm had thousands of acres of bush filled with duiker, bush pigs, guinea fowl, all things small and the occasional elephant that’d strayed too far from the Zambezi!

Trish studied interior architecture for the corporate market but has spent most of her working life in the safari industry one way or the other. Trish is Financial Director and currently acts as our General Manager.

Having lived for 36 years in Africa, Trish has spent time in England since dark days in Zimbabwe after the 2000 election. She returns to Africa as often as possible and sometimes when it’s impossible - even then it’s not enough to satisfy her love of this amazing continent.

Trish is a seasoned traveller in southern Africa and has spent many days seeking out the remoter and less trammelled spots in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Gabon.

When not in the Devon office this year Trish will be looking for every conceivable business reason to be with her teenage children, Ashton and Corrie who're at Imperial College in London. 

Trish was recently spotted riding her bike from London to Paris for a charity in Zambia, has also been seen in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Namibia during the last season.  Trish will be found in Kenya, Madagascar and Botswana this next season.
 

John Berry

So after a first life in South Africa’s corporate world as an engineer, "collar-and-tie" routines were replaced by "shorts-and-rafters" when Trish and John made their first big move to Kariba in 1994.

The company was born and John has spent at least some time wearing most of the hats needing to be worn in any fledgling company.  Kariba at the start of the internet age was an amazing place until the politicians dimmed the lights.

Hence the second big move to the UK in 2000.  John has since moved away from systems, marketing and technical stuff, serves as our MD and is concentrating on our East African safaris for the next few years.

When not in the UK office this season John will be found on a mountain bike with mates, walking or swimming the family Labradors, doing consumer shows in the UK or travelling in South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.  Like Trish, John is regularly and easily diverted via London.  (The kids belong to Trish and John, the dogs are John's.)

Chris Worden

Born in Masvingo near Great Zimbabwe, Chris has lived in remoter spots most of his life. His early interest in wildlife led to a career starting with the Department of National Parks in 1980.  Chris qualified as a Professional Guide in 1986.

One of the "old school" guides in Zimbabwe, Chris has led many safaris through Southern African including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, and further afield in Uganda, Congo, Gabon and Madagascar.

Chris is credited with a study on the White Faced Owl published in several bird books including the definitive work "Roberts Birds of South Africa". An accomplished photographer, Chris won Zimbabwe's Wildlife Photographic Competition in 1993 and has done several presentations for wildlife charities each year since.

Chris is a company Director and our resident Pro Guide spending most of the year planning specialist itineraries to his favourite destinations in Southern Africa.  Chris spends a few months every year conducting private safaris for wildlife photographers and specialist clients.

In his spare time Chris is also our official Hardware and Software Test Engineer and over the years has pushed every element of our office system to its limits ... using two typing fingers!

Chris was found in Gabon, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and New Zealand (!) this last season, he'll be on safari again in Gabon and Zambia this coming season. 

If not on safari or in the Devon office, Chris can be found at consumer shows in Scotland, England (x3) and Indaba in South Africa this season.

Jackie Pearson

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Jackie finished her schooling, earned a Diploma in Tourism and worked for 9 years in sales and marketing for two leading safari operators in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Her speciality then was adventure travel and canoe safaris in Victoria Falls and the lower Zambezi.  During the 1990's Jackie worked closely with our team in the Kariba offices. 

It took a few years of badgering her to join us before she relented - Jackie emigrated from Zimbabwe in 2002 and joined the UK team.

Jackie has travelled extensively through Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zanzibar and regularly visits her family living in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Jackie specialises in tailor made safaris to East and Southern Africa and works with many of our returning clients.

With a young son and a busy husband, Jackie works from her home office in Lincoln - always ready and enthusiastic to help in whatever way!

When not in her office this year Jackie will be found in East Africa....(again and again).

Debbie Stubbs

Based in a satellite office on the edge of Dartmoor National Park with two furry co-workers, Debbie is fortunate to have glorious views and wonderful moor land walks on her doorstep.

Two post graduate daughters are now ‘free-range’ - one living in Devon working in habitat management and the other was last sighted in the South Luangwa, Zambia (her middle name should have been ‘walkabout’ as she has the travel bug).

Debbie has worked in the safari industry since 2000 - first with one of the UK's best safari marketing and representation companies and since 2004 as our Sales Team Manager.

The Africa bug bit hard during Debbie's first safari experience - the sights, smells and sounds of Africa have had her hankering after the continent since.

Within Africa Debbie has travelled through Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana but regularly hears the next trip calling and is ever ready to answer!  If she's not in the office, Debbie will probably be somewhere in Botswana or Namibia.

Liz Ferreira

Liz was born in England, moved as a baby to Africa and grew up in Zimbabwe. Based in our Zambezi valley office she lives with her husband and young son in a stunning house perched atop Sugarloaf Hill with an almost 270 degree view overlooking Lake Kariba.

Liz regularly sees buffalo, elephant and lion on trips to the supermarket and is passionate about Kariba, sunny days at the pool and "big town big time" shopping whenever she's near a real city!

As a part of the original team in the Kariba office, Liz initially managed products for the company and is now a mainstay of our consulting team.

Liz has travelled throughout Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa and much of Zimbabwe and continues to work with a strong following of old and new clients travelling to Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

When not in the Zambezi valley office this year Liz will be found in South Africa and Botswana with a short stint in our UK head office.

Delene Dempster

Delene is one of the busiest people in the company. Always an excellent ambassador, Delene used to be the first voice you'd hear in our Kariba office before moving to an even remoter haunt in the Luangwa Valley.  Delene is still very fond of her phone but unfortunately lives in an area where there are none!

Part of our original Zambezi team responsible for managing flowcharts and client movements, Delene is now based in Mfuwe, Zambia and serves as one of our specialist consultants taking care of clients travelling on the Zambezi and Luangwa valleys. 

Delene has a closely knit family life with two grown sons and a busy husband - she's always keen to test a new camp, attend a trade show or just go on safari!

When not in the Luangwa valley, Delene can be found in the UK and South Africa this season.

Julie MacKenzie

Born in Zambia Julie spent her youth in Zimbabwe before travelling to America for the final part of high school. Well and truly bitten by the travel bug at an early age Julie returned home to Zimbabwe just long enough to go to college and work and earn enough money to travel through Australia and on to England via Hong Kong.

Julie has enjoyed a Nomadic life between the UK, Zimbabwe and South Africa over the years and is now based in Johannesburg. Julie has worked in the safari industry with a focus on Southern Africa for over ten years arranging tailor-made and incentive safaris.

With a great love of wildlife, particularly birds, Julie is a single girl who loves a bit of banter and a good old party!

When away from the South African office Julie could be found in Namibia and Botswana this year.
 

Julian (Jools) Simpson

Based in our UK Head Office, Jools is a born and bred Devonian who joined us after graduating from the University of Plymouth and University of Kansas with a BA Geography degree.

Although Jools is the youngest member of the team he's already travelled throughout much of Southern Africa over the past six years especially comparing the standard of Gin & Tonics en route!

Diagnosed with "itchy feet" at an early age, Jools has travelled much of continental Europe and spends the majority of his leave skiing in the Alps or travelling around the USA.

Jools has done every possible Zambezi adventure activity, from bungee, microlight, canoe to quad bike in an effort to avoid having to raft the mighty Zambezi River.

Jools is seasoned in Swaziland and Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa but his special interest areas include Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Botswana and Zambia.

(Jools dreams of exploring more of Africa – but we won’t let him until he’s been rafting!)

Lynda Walker

Lynda relocated to Devon with her children for a "lifestyle change" a few years ago and now supports our consulting team in an admin role. Her previous life in the travel industry was in the English South East and Midlands where she worked as a travel consultant for Cox and Kings, Travelsphere and Travelscene.

Lynda now spends her spare time enjoying the moors and sea, surf and much loved old VW campervan.

Claire Perry

The rookie in our UK team, Claire manages our debtors administration. With a degree in Economics & Management and loads of Finance and Administrative experience, Claire worked for 4 years at Lloyds Bank and then 5 years in the Financial Advisory Department of a local accountancy practice.

Claire has lived in the South West of England most all of her life and enjoys the countryside and coastal areas of this part of England.

Most of her leisure time is spent with her husband and two small boys who keep her busy all hours of the day and night.