2007 was such an amazing year wherever we all went in Africa.  Floods in our home valleys swept out the cobwebs plus some (from Delene’s satellite office and house contents on the edge of the Luangwa to James Varden’s flycamps on the Zambezi). 

Early and heavy rains in East Africa threatened all sorts of chaos from Katavi to Kenya’s northern frontier district.  We saw it all and had another year of trips that matched and beat everybody’s expectations. 

On the Zambezi team side, Trish and John flavoured the best of Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zanzibar, Namibia; Chris guided again in Malawi/Zambia and then did a private Botswana/Zimbabwe/Zambia safari. 

Jackie, Julie, Liz, Delene, Jools, Jane, Char, Debbie all did their own safaris – only the office dogs stuck to home turf (Digger, Jet, Boogie, Tarmac, Izzie, Mazie)…too many predatory cats in Africa!

2008 started with such a good bang and then January turned blue.  Kenya erupted, the UK and US markets are shuddering, Zim elections are announced for end March at home, Zuma leads the race in South Africa, US elections will produce no end of entertainment/concern elsewhere and suddenly we’re all into the new year before it feels like it even started.

Victoria Falls remains Africa’s “adventure capital”, no small change by Queenstown-NZ standards, and seriously better than the Colorado, perhaps comparable to Europe’s finest ski-villages on quiet nights, definitely quieter than most city nights at their best. 

Victoria Falls will always pump – loud or quietly and as you like it we’ve the team for it. 

Victoria Falls remains the best launching point into Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe.  The flights are simple in and out of Johannesburg or Cape Town.  Take a look at some easy packages or chat to any one of us .

It doesn’t matter what time of year, both Botswana and Zambia are simply excellent throughout.  We’re taking big rains now like we did in early 2007, perhaps not on the scale of 2002.  But it doesn’t really matter because the green season is just so dramatically productive for photographers, for birders and wildlife enthusiasts. 

In southern Africa the crowds are at their quietest between February and May…and if you catch the right spots you’re going to get some of the very best guides in Africa in their element.

Our dry season from June to October is prime time for walking safaris and the Luangwa in particular just keeps coming out on top.  See our Zambian safari selection or get in touch with Jackie, Chris, Liz or Delene for our other options on the lower Zambezi or Kafue.  

Botswana’s in big demand again this year and we’ve updated our range of short explorations of the Okavango, Linyanti, Chobe and Zambezi water systems.  Speak to Sam, Chris, Liz, Julie, Jools or Jackie about your Botswana safari plans this year. 

If only the heavy rains were our biggest concern.  Kenya’s Nairobi slums and western rift have gone crazy, been hammered by the authorities, gone to ground, risen and been hammered again. 

The tribal undercurrents run deep – there’s no quick fix here.  Let the politicians and media settle and we’ll listen to friends in Kenya…here’s the latest

We’ve had such good fortune on our Tanzanian safaris that we should probably keep quiet.  Such good people and such wonderful spots from the Serengeti, Loliondo, Tarangire and Manyara down south to Selous, Ruaha and then west to Katavi and Mahale. 

We’re still finding quiet and remarkable places with abundant game, rich habitats, lots of resident game without the crowds.  The migration is always a highlight but there’s a trick to avoiding hordes of tourists – get an update on our migration planner.

The Greater Serengeti Safari

Typical 7 night safari in high season - $4995 per person sharing     A flexible flying safari combining Serengeti, Loliondo and Tarangire hosted by private Nomad Guides with exclusive vehicle use in small camps safari starts and ends in Arusha, includes transfers/flights, with full board tented accommodation and all Parks Fees easy add-ons for Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara [trip code TZN801] | ...safari notes ... | ...check availability ...

If you’re planning something for this year then set your dates now or get us to pencil in dates for 2009.  Speak to John, Sam and Jackie for East Africa.

Our expeditionary trips through Gabon a few years ago have resulted in a series of set date safaris for 2008 and 2009. 

It’s not an easy destination with some erratic standards and dodgy logistics but it’s ideal for seasoned travellers where equatorial jungle meets the ocean.

Excellent birding, whales, gorillas, chimpanzees and a wide variety of forest wildlife.  Get in touch with Chris for Gabon.

If chimps and gorillas are on your “bucket list” then Rwanda and Uganda are the places to go.  There’s more to both than simply primates though – hiking, rafting, birding and history.  Speak to Sam for Central Africa.

Home  |  Safaris this season  |  News archive  |  Contact us...