“…When I was about 6 years old I went on my first ‘real’ safari to Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. That is where my love and passion for safari started.”
Speciality Destinations : Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda
Speciality Travel Categories : Family Travel, Multi-generational Families, Out-Of-The-Ordinary Travel, Fly-In Safaris, Photographic Travel, Wine, Food, Art, Adventure, Private Villas, Walking Safaris, Gorilla Trekking, Honeymoons, Community Impact Travel, Conservation Safaris
Q&A WITH AFRICA TRAVEL SPECIALIST, CAMILLE ROWE
If a client was adamant that he/she wanted to stay at (what you considered) the wrong places at the wrong times, how would you handle that situation?
I am always extremely honest with my clients. I recently had a request to travel to Kenya in April which is when they have their ‘long rains’. I could have booked the trip and made some money during these uncertain times but there is no ways that I could have done that in good conscience. Naturally I gave the client a number of different options / ideas but unfortunately due to COVID, our options were limited.
Where would you recommend for a family travelling with young kids / young adult kids
I think for a first time visit to Africa, a combination of Cape Town, Kruger and Victoria Falls is the perfect itinerary for a family with young or older kids. The variety of activities in each destination means that the kids won’t get bored – happy kids = happy parents.
In Cape Town, the beaches, nightlife and huge array of outdoor activities would keep any kid happy.
Safari is the perfect time for the family to spend time together. The rangers are extremely well trained and have a real ability to keep children involved and engaged.
Finally at the Victoria Falls you can visit a village, ride a quadbike, go whitewater rafting or do a Bungi Jump, or simply do a cruise on the Zambezi River while sipping a G&T.
Where and when was your first safari?
I was born and grew up in Zambia. We used to go fishing on the Kafue River from when I was old enough to hold a fishing rod. Fishing holidays were my absolute favourite. Now that I have my own kids, I realise how patient my Dad was with me – taking fish off the hooks, unwinding a bird’s nest in my reel. It was endless but it was incredible to spend days as a family on a boat on the Kafue River.
When I was about 6 years old I went on my first ‘real’ safari to the South Luangwa National Park. That is where my love and passion for safari started. My Mum recently treated me and my family to a safari in the Lower Zambezi National Park. It was so exciting to take my children on a safari to a place where I have such happy memories.
Tell us about your most memorable safari?
I will never forget my time at Vumbura Plains in Botswana. I was there with a friend from the UK and another from the US. We saw some much game that they both said it was like being in a scene from Jurassic Park (but the animals weren’t dinosaurs!). We stopped to look at the sunset one day, glanced up and there was a leopard in the tree above us, we followed lions on a kill and saw them make their way through fairly deep water, there were elephants all around our suite at all times of the day, where-ever we looked we saw animals. I will never ever forget that safari.
My other favourite safari was at Chindeni (Bushcamp Company) in the South Luangwa, Zambia. What sets Zambia apart (especially at the remote bushcamps) is that you can drive for hours and not see another vehicle. There aren’t many places in the world where you can have such a private safari experience. The walking safari’s are also very special.
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