Who can travel with us on the “escorted” Safaris?
Who can join us on our escorted African safaris? Kim and I are always delighted to welcome like-minded, go with the flow, nature lovers! Whether you’re passionate about wildlife, photography, or simply exploring the beauty of Africa, our safaris are open to anyone who shares our love for nature and adventure.
After several years of traveling to Africa and returning home to share our safari photos and stories while working as the Official Photographers at dog shows, we realized how many people we knew loved the idea of going to Africa but were hesitant to venture on their own. In 2008, we took a group of those adventurous travelers with us and discovered how much we enjoy traveling with like-minded nature lovers. Each safari allows us to experience Africa anew through the fresh eyes of our guests. In some countries it is very difficult and expensive to book your own personal safari vehicle. We met some interesting people on our first solo safaris. Some were amazing and so much fun to share an African Adventure with. Unfortunately, we also had some sad situations where we were paired with travelers with much different ideas on what constitutes a pleasant game drive. After one safari with our hand picked group of travelers we never looked back. We love traveling with our groups of enthusiastic nature lovers.
We initially started by taking dog show friends and acquaintances on safari, but that quickly expanded to friends of friends, family members, their friends, horse friends, and even a fellow chicken enthusiast who returned and titled her safari photo book, "How a Chicken Got Me To Africa." You don’t have to be our friend now to travel with us—our relationship will grow as we plan and anticipate the journey together. We think of our guests as Travel Family, and we love watching that family grow!
We’ve had safari mates of all ages, from older, mature teenagers to couples in their 80s. However, we do not recommend bringing young children, as there are too many risks for little ones. On most of our safaris, you don’t need to be marathon-ready. Some camps do require a bit more walking on uneven terrain than others, but if you have minor mobility concerns, we can discuss them to ensure you’ll be able to fully enjoy your safari. I’ve personally gone on safari while recovering from serious injuries, so I understand the challenges. There may be some opportunities for walking or hiking, but participation is entirely optional—you can always choose to relax and enjoy the view instead.
TIA—This Is Africa—is a motto we've wholeheartedly embraced. Things don’t always go as planned or follow a strict schedule. Sometimes, plans need to be adapted or completely tossed aside in favor of a revised, often better plan. And occasionally, things just simply go wrong. But we calmly roll with the flow, knowing it’s all part of the experience. Often, these misadventures turn into some of our most cherished memories, largely because of how they were handled by our safari mates, guides, camp staff, and even strangers we meet along the way. There’s no challenge the people of Africa won’t help us navigate successfully.
Our top priority is connecting with others who share that passion. We seek nature, animal, and wildlife enthusiasts who are kind, flexible, and patient—people who are willing to linger at sightings and watch as the wonders of nature unfold.
On each of our safaris, we’ve had photographers join us, and it’s an incredible opportunity for anyone interested in honing their photography skills while capturing one-of-a-kind images. Although we don’t hold formal photo workshops, we’re always happy to share tips, offer suggestions, and answer questions. Many non-photographers also travel with us, and this has never posed any issues—only benefits. Non-photographers are always kind about sharing viewing space, and the photographers are generous in sharing the stunning shots they capture.