The Awards Judges
All the Good Safari Guide Award Judges have been nominated by the trade as the most highly-respected, knowledgeable independent tour operators. The judges sit at the head of the Good Safari Guide, ensuring that the lodges, camps and operations presented both in the guides and in the Awards really are the best in Africa.
Albee Yeend
Albee Yeend's intense love of Africa was ignited on her first trip; a 5 day canoeing expedition down the Lower Zambezi in Zimbabwe, followed by an elephant-back safari through the flood plains at Abu Camp in the Okavango Delta. Bitten by the Africa bug, Albee proceeded to work in African travel, running San and then Jack's Camp in Botswana, and then Tongabezi and Sausage Tree Camp in Zambia.
In 1998 Albee returned to England, where she became GM of Art of Travel (which is now part of Steppes Travel). Albee prides herself on spending approx. 2 months of every year getting to know Africa even better; doing more gorilla trekking in Bwindi, hot air ballooning over the Masai Mara, big game fishing in Mozambique, diving in South Africa, climbing sand dunes in Sossusvlei, quad biking in Botswana, jumping off bridges in Zimbabwe, sailing to Timbuktu, and releasing green back turtles in the Seychelles!
Steppes Travel
Steppes Travel (or Steppes East as it was then) was founded in 1989 with the objective of creating a travel company where service and knowledge are of the highest priority. Steppes offers individuals the ability to travel safely in remote areas in the knowledge that one of the Steppes Team has been there before. Furthermore Steppes runs a 24-hour emergency service, which ensures that at any time, a member of staff is on call to help resolve a local difficulty. To achieve this Steppes demands a very high calibre of staff who, through a combination of upbringing and education, can objectively analyse the resorts they visit and absorb the culture and history of the country and who will, at a moments notice, disappear off to some far flung remote corner to visit a particular treasure which, for what ever reason, has grabbed their attention.
Caroline Grayburn
Caroline Grayburn began her safari career in Zambia and Malawi,
followed by South Africa working with horse safaris. More recently she spent five years working in Botswana and then Kenya. She has a great love and understanding
of Africa and since returning to the UK she has visited many other African countries, some a number of times, including Mali, Morocco, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi,
Rwanda, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda and Botswana.
Original Travel
Original Travel was launched in early 2003 and is an award-winning travel company, arranging unforgettable experiences and tailor-made holidays to destinations world-wide. We use our personal insights and experiences to hand-craft trips into unique and memorable holidays. We have over 150 years of high end travel experience within the team, and specialise in honeymoons, family trips, private properties, experience-filled adventures, safaris, luxury exclusive travel and short breaks. In early 2009 we acquired luxury long-haul travel experts, Tim Best Travel, specialists in Africa, Latin America, the Indian Ocean Islands, Australia and India, Tim Best Travel was founded in 1994 and like Original Travel was born out of a passion for travel. In Africa, the company focuses on small, exclusive lodges, hotels and camps, many of which are off the beaten track where a range of activities and superb guiding are all on offer. The team have all been brought up or lived and worked in many of the countries in which they specialise and invest much of their time revisiting old haunts and exploring new and exciting places and bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience and personal service to their clients. Original Travel is committed to eco-friendly outfitters and companies who are concerned for the wildlife, the environment and feel a responsibility both to their local communities and areas in which they operate.
Gabi Rimböck
Having organized and accompanied a sort of 'fun ralley' in 1984 in South Africa which was filmed for German TV, Gabi realised this is was where her future lay. Gabi swiftly moved to run the company's South African office and immersed herself in all the continent had to offere. Finally returning to her native Germany Gabi founded Jacana Tours and has never looked back; 'to be honest: us tour operators are very spoilt, as we can enjoy the most beautiful places in the world and still call it work!'.
Jacana Tours GmbH
Jacana Tours was established in 1991 and specializes in tailor made tours to Southern and Eastern Africa. The members of the Jacana team are either from Africa or have lived or travelled there extensively. The focus is on the touristic assets of these destinations: the small and intimate country houses, camps and lodges - often owner run, individually designed, and offering high quality accommodation and guiding. Jacana sells the Africa that the team loves - off the beaten track.
Giles Trotter
Brought up the National Parks of Zambia, Giles has led safaris from the age of 18. He worked for 10 years in geological exploration, before returning to Zambia to run Norman Car Safaris and then setting up his own walking and mobile safari operation in the North Luangwa National Park. Giles marred and returned to the UK in 1996 to set up Scott Dunn World, a luxury specialist tour operator. Giles has travelled the length and breadth of Africa and much of Asia. He now continues to run the tailormade holidays at Scott Dunn and lives near Winchester with his wife and three children.
Scott Dunn
Scott Dunn is a luxury tour operator based in London and Chichester. Scott Dunn specialises in tailormade holidays in Africa and around the world as well as operating luxury ski chalets in the Alps and villas in the Mediterranean. Known for its depth of knowledge and individual service Scott Dunn has thrived and its tailormade holidays now account for the major part of Scott Dunn's business.
Jane Durham
Jane Durham had visited South Africa several times but it was not until she ventured to the 'swamps' in Botswana in 1989 that the Okavango Delta worked its magic and she feel in love with the continent. With regular trips to Africa, constantly searching out new properties while revisiting familiar ones, she has been able to spend the last 20 years devising the perfect holidays for clients while renewing her passion for the people, scenery and wildlife in southern and east Africa.
Okavango Tours & Safaris - Voted travel company of the year*
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the company specialises in individually tailored itineraries to southern and east Africa. Each member of the enthusiastic team has either lived in Africa or travelled widely so there is a breadth of knowledge to be called upon. Their attention to detail is reflected by the AITO's Award for the Tour Operator of the year which has twice been given to Okavango Tours & Safaris.
Joost Tania
After finishing his Masters' degree in business economics at Amsterdam University, Joost taught marketing before embarking on his first round-the-world trip that brought him to Asia and Australia. Returning home even a marketing job at KLM could not pin him down and after topping up his travel budgets again he set out to Africa more than 25 years ago, on a 13-month discovery of what was going to change his career and life. First visiting Egypt and the Sudan. For many people, these countries do not typify Africa, but they are the source of Joost's profound love for the continent. From here he entered 'safari-Africa' and was 'sold'. The people, the lively towns and markets, the sights and sounds and, most of all, the smells – these are infused throughout his being.
And then, of course, there is the wildlife. His first experiences in the (Kenyan) bush were not the most memorable ones, due to the mass tourism he encountered on his first safaris. Luckily never old enough to change ways, Joost then discovered 'the other side of safari' further south in Zimbabwe. Expanding his daily travel budget by 1200%, Joost made the best investment of his life by booking a 4 day safari into Mana Pools NP where the old master Jeff Stutchbury ran Chikwenya Lodge. Combining canoeing on the Zambezi with discovering the rich bush life on foot sparked a much deeper interest in the bush. Unluckily foreigners could not become Professional Guides in Zim, so Joost resorted to a converted Landrover that became home and safari vehicle for the next 6 months and the bush never left him again.
Thika Travel
Joost's passion for Africa's wildlife lies at the core of Thika Travel and is the reason the company was born in 1987. It became the ideal 'excuse' to venture into the bush as often as possible, and to share his unique experiences with his guests. At the same time Joost is privileged to be surrounded by an expert team of Africa fundis, eager to share their travel knowledge and passion with you. They never tire of Africa and its wildlife and people. It is part of them, and they hope it will become part of you.
Driving by the requests from many a repeat client, Thika Travel ventured into other – mostly pristine - wildlife areas and now operates bespoke individually tailored journeys into Latin America, Alaska and Canada, the Indian Subcontinent and all the Polar Regions. Grown as a beach extension to the safaris, Thika Travel also runs a resort program into the Indian Ocean Islands, is a long time wildlife travel partner for WWF and is proud to have been chosen by National Geographic Benelux to run their travel program.
Joost is currently on a sabbatical - if you have any queries please contact Thika Travel directly. Details can be found on our Preferred Tour Operators page.
Julian Asher
Julian's first trip to Africa as a schoolboy was rudely terminated when his mum refused to sign the permission form on the grounds that he was going to catch a heinous disease and die. Despite this less than promising beginning the call of Africa could not be denied, and he is now a frequent traveller to the continent.
Julian cut his travel-planning teeth in the offices of Let's Go Travel, publishers of the Let's Go travel guides, and is certified as a South African Fundi (expert). Photography is one of Julian's passions when on safari and he will go to great lengths in the name of the perfect shot, including being duct-taped into a doorless helicopter over the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The risks have paid off and he has won awards for his photography, with his work currently on display at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Julian has made it his personal mission to introduce as many camps as possible to his sundowner of choice: hot chocolate and Amarula ˆ la Londolozi, and remains resolutely free of heinous diseases.
Timeless Africa
Julian is the founder of Timeless Africa and heads up the office in London, England. Timeless Africa specialises in creating customised African safaris to the finest destinations in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Victoria Falls, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Timeless Africa focuses on bringing their clients the best that Africa has to offer, in small intimate camps and lodges set in exclusive wilderness areas undisturbed by mass tourism.
Kate Bergh
Kate Bergh is co-owner of Cedarberg African Travel and heads up the South African office after moving there in 1993. Bright as a button, Kate read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford and worked in Management Consultancy and International Marketing before taking an MBA at Insead, France. Kate has always been passionate about Africa; her most memorable travel experience is a toss up between standing on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and sleeping out on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana.
Cedarberg African Travel
Cedarberg African Travel has offices in leafy Twickenham, London, and in South Africa. Cedarberg began in 1995 and the last 14 years have been spent working solely with people who want a high value, highly tailor-made safari or holiday in Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. Their clients range from parents anxious to make sure that all that the family's needs are met on a first-time safari, via time-pressured honeymooners, to safari veterans keen to try somewhere different. As well as tailormade safaris and holidays, Cedarberg has a particular interest in family safaris and walking safaris & hiking tours.
Kate, and the Cedarberg team of 17, have plenty of first hand experience throughout Africa visiting safari lodges and camps, driving the roads, sleeping in the beds, watching the sunrise over a waterhole on the game drives... It's a tough life!
Marc Harris
Marc held down a succession of deeply unrewarding jobs in the city simply to fund his trips around Africa, before deciding that enough was enough and swapping it all for a Land Rover in Cape Town. After spending the next year researching the continent, he set up Tanzania Odyssey where he remains MD to this day. He still loves being able to devote his time to experiencing the very best of Africa and the Indian Ocean, and imparting that information to those that are about to discover the joys of Africa.
Tanzania Odyssey
Tanzania Odyssey was founded on the principle of knowing the most about the destinations offered, and being able to impart this information in an intelligent and unbiased manner. To this end all of the Tanzania Odyssey consultants regularly visit Africa (usually at least 3 times a year) and one has even written a guidebook to Tanzania (the Cadogan guide).
From early beginnings in Tanzania, the company is now proud to offer Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Seychelles and Mauritius, always without compromising exacting standards, and never selling areas or lodges that they don't know backwards.
With private presentations to clients in the Fulham offices, Tanzania Odyssey will shortly open a satellite office in Texas to provide the same level of service to those in the States. Their extensive video library alone is a fantastic aid for those clients trying to decide where to visit.
Nina Wennersten
Born in New York City, Nina was a permanent fixture at the nearby Bronx Zoo, trying the patience of the staff with incessant questions and forming a life-long fascination with animals. Starting out on her first African safari in 1976, she soon found she had followers on subsequent trips and by 1985 she had turned her passion into a business, escorting small groups off the beaten track in Eastern Africa. With over 100 trips to Africa already undertaken, Nina has no intention of slowing down and loves nothing better than sharing her expertise with all looking to travel to the wonderful continent.
Hippo Creek Safaris
With Nina and her son, Dan Saperstein, at the helm of Hippo Creek, clients can be assured that their dreams for an African safari are realised. Whether Eastern or Southern Africa, visiting gorillas or lions, Hippo Creek will find the safari to make their client's heart soar. The Hippo Creek team is continuously travelling to 'safari' Africa and prides itself on personally inspecting any lodges or camps before recommending them to any client. Since 1991 Hippo Creek Safaris has been selected by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine as one the 'Top Travel Specialists for African Safari', a true testament to the hard work and commitment of the team.
Rob Slater
Rob grew up on a farm in Suffolk and has always had a passion for the great outdoors. His first big African adventures took him to South Africa, Zimbabwe,
Kenya and Tanzania, and he has never looked back. Outside of Africa, he has visited the Nepal Himalaya many times, watched tigers in India and trekked through the rainforests of Peru, Venezuela and Borneo in search of wildlife. Rob
joined Safari Consultants in 1995, and to add to his previous experiences, has been travelling to Africa three or four times a year ever since.
His knowledge and experience cover all corners of 'safari' Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, from the primate-rich forests of Rwanda to the harsh wilderness of Namibia's Skeleton Coast. He has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, rafted and canoed the Zambezi River, led friends and family on self-drive safaris and dived the reefs of Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.
Safari Consultants
Safari Consultants have been leading specialists on 'safari' Africa since 1983. Voted AITO Tour Operator of the Year in 2006, we have always been a small, personal company with a deep passion for Africa. All our safari holidays are individually tailored to suit personal interests and requirements.
We cover 14 countries across East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, and use a very wide range of accommodation options and safari providers, from adventurous mobile tented camps to luxurious safari lodges. Our ability to do this is based entirely on our extremely in-depth knowledge of the regions in which we specialise, and of the safari industry in general.
Sandy Wood
Born in Kenya, Sandy was initiated into tourism by her father who was with United Touring Company. Travelling a great deal as a child, Sandy was inevitably bitten by the travel bug and was convinced that she could make a living out of it. Her first job in the industry was as a tour guide in Kenya and Tanzania, before moving on to running hotels and lodges in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and SA. After a spell living in Europe Sandy moved to South Africa, setting up Pulse Africa from her spare room in Johannesburg over fifteen years ago.
Pulse Africa
Established in 1992, Pulse Africa has a long and successful history of sending discerning clients to all corners of Africa. Pulse Africa specialises in holidays that are original and tailored specifically for individual client needs. Based in South Africa and with a staff of sixteen, Sandy and her team are able to draw on a great deal of local knowledge and expertise and they are passionate about the areas they sell. Each of the fifteen countries and the many destinations offered to clients have been visited by a member of the team, and Pulse Africa prides itself on keeping current with the finest Africa has to offer.
Sarah Read
A back-packing trip around the world as a teenager sparked Sarah's love for travel but it wasn't until she went on a Kilimanjaro climbing expedition a few years later that she realised what she'd been missing out on in Africa! After further visits to Kenya and Tanzania confirmed her love for the continent, Sarah joined Audley as an East Africa Specialist. Over the following few years she has been lucky enough to spend many weeks on safari, fly camping in Zambia, camel trekking in Kenya, mokoro boating in Botswana, mountain gorilla tracking in Rwanda, snorkelling in the Indian Ocean and generally getting Africa more and more under her skin!
Sarah now looks after the East Africa team at Audley and is well settled in the Oxfordshire countryside although still ensures she makes it out to Africa at every opportunity.
Audley Travel
Starting out in 1996, Audley is now firmly installed in its converted 17th Century mill in Oxfordshire. The heart of Audley's business has remained unshakeably its country specialists; individuals such as Sarah who have all travelled independently and extensively to regions and have an infectious passion for what they have experienced.
Sarah is currently on maternity leave - if you have any queries please contact Audley Travel directly. Details can be found on our Preferred Tour Operators page.
Tom Corcoran
Tom Corcoran is the youngest member of the judging team, but vital nonetheless! His enthusiasm for discovering the
off-the-beaten-track gems that Africa hides is palpable, as is his desire to share these gems with anyone wanting to experience this wonderful continent. Tom has always worked in tourism and is the ex-director
and co-founder of to escape to. Now based in Cape Town, Tom is able to continue his quest for new and exciting product throughout Africa and is very active in the travel industry.
to escape to
Tom is the ex-director & co-founder of to escape to, a UK tour operator specialising in tailor made holidays, with offices in London & Cape Town. More akin to a personal secretary than a tour operator, to escape to offers expert advice and a comprehensive booking service, from flight tickets and transfers to added extras such as romantic restaurant bookings, alternative safari experiences and surprise snorkelling excursions to deserted islands. to escape to is committed to staying ahead of the game and bringing unique and interesting resorts to their clients- particularly those resorts featured in the Good Safari Guide.