|
Our Safari Guides
Jakob von Plessen
Jakotango safaris owes its existence to a conversation Jakob had with an army Major he met at the beginning of his gap year. Like most 18 year olds he was lacking in direction and profession but knew one thing for sure...that his life would be spent in the great outdoors and in the company of horses. He didn't require much convincing that Tristan Voorspuy's Offbeat Safaris was the place for him and packed his bags and left for Kenya.
Seven months work experience under the charismatic Tristan brought the realisation that this was the life for him and he has not looked back since. After the gap year he returned to Argentina to finish an agricultural degree, he got his pilot license and rushed back to Kenya where he made a rapid rise in the Offbeat ranks and he was soon guiding riding safaris alone at the tender age of 23.
His passion for his homeland drew him back and with the knowledge accumulated in Africa he decided to set up his own trips in Argentina. By emphasizing quality of hosting and guiding and marrying comfort with wilderness he has managed to make out of his riding safaris an experience of unique adventure.
Born and raised as a horseman in the Argentine Pampas, Jakob mixes his rustic gaucho customs with a touch of European finesse through his families Austrian, German and French heritage.
|
Susie McGregor
In 1976 Susie, her husband Graham and 2 sons left Australian to live in Iran for 3 years. Susie was already a very keen gardener and their new home in the foothills of the Alborz Mountains above sprawling Tehran had a small garden with a traditonal Persian design. It had a high wall with running water shaded by tall Chenar trees it was a haven from the outside world. A month later they visited Isfahan and saw the true wonder of Islamic architecture.
Susie's fascination with Islamic Art and Architecture has continued over the years and when she first visited Morocco she realised how far reaching Persian design had travelled due mainly to the spread of Islam.
From the deserts of Arabia, through the middle East to India, across the top of Africa to Morocco. Susie has escorted tours as far a field as India, Argentina, Peru & Chile and has experienced the Palaces, Forts & Gardens of India first hand and hosted two of our Moroccan Landscapes journeys.
|
Ralph Bousfield
Ralph comes from a long line of African pioneers and adventurers. His family have guided safaris for four generations, the first guide being his maternal great grandfather, Major Richard Granville Nicholson, who escorted Princess Eugenie to see her son's grave and the site where he was killed in the Zulu war on the 1st June 1879. Ralph's father, Jack, grew up hunting crocodiles in Tanganyika with his father and was one of the first Great White Hunters to turn his back on hunting become a conservationist. Ralph spent the first 20 years of his life exploring Botswana with his father - the Makgadikgadi, the Delta, the Central and Western Kalahari. He then studied Nature Conservation and did his thesis on the Wattled Crane as an Indicator Species of Wetland Destruction. He furthered his studies at the International Crane Institute in Wisconsin under the famous George Archibald, who captive bred the whooping crane back from extinction. Ralph then worked with his mother to establish Botswana's first Wildlife Orphanage and Education Centre and upon Jack's tragic death in 1992 built Jack's Camp (with his partner Catherine) in Jack's memory (on the site of Jack's original, and considerably more rustic, camp from the 60's). In 1998 Ralph co-produced and presented a sixteen part series for the Discovery Channel entitled "Uncharted Africa", which was filmed in Botswana, Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania.
He knows the Pans better than almost anyone else in Botswana, has an affinity with the Delta, and a very special relationship with the Zu/'hoasi people of the Western Kalahari. He is one of the best (and most charming) guides in Africa, and a real Botswana expert - he's been there all his life, and has dedicated himself to knowing all there is to know about it's people, it's fauna, it's flora and it's ancient past...
|
Angela Bellew
Angela spent her first 22 years living in and exploring Africa before moving to London and ultimately settling in Australia in 2003. Although having travelled extensively around the globe it is India that infuses and inspires her. Whilst satisfying her passion for travel by working with The Classic Safari Company, Angela is also a practising, professional Kinesiologist.
As a Kinesiologist Angela's focus is on transformation and empowerment on an emotional, mental and spiritual level, working with women and men to re-energise their career, relationships and life. She believes that everyone has their own unique and unlimited potential and whilst travelling through India Angela will assist you to realise and live this potential.
With her vast life experience, her deep understanding of people and her passion for travel Angela hosts journeys through incredible India that will, inevitably, change your life.
|
Guy Cooper
Guy Cooper is one of Australia's top wildlife conservationists and has played a leading role in the zoological industry, both internationally and nationally. Whilst presiding at Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoo for over a decade his vision led to the formation of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia to better reflect the diverse nature of the Zoo's endeavours and to the creation of the Taronga Foundation to support and endow the Zoo's ongoing and wide ranging conservation work. Guy has previously escorted a safari through Africa on behalf of The Classic Safari Company and now invites you to join him on this amazing voyage around the unique islands of the Galapagos.
|
Dr Julia Salnicki BSc, M.Phil. Elephant Research in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Julia’s passion for Africa started when she volunteered for 2 years in Zimbabwe to study the endangered painted dog. Having then found her vocation she returned to Macquarie University in Sydney and completed her B.Sc (Zoology). It wasn’t long before she returned to Africa to run her own wildlife research project studying the spotted hyaena. In her own words these were an amazing 5 years, living and working in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. 'I loved life in the bush, working with these relatively unknown carnivores, teaching the children Science every week and being part of the whole community'. Julia also found time to complete her Masters Degree (M.Phil) through the University of Zimbabwe. At the end of the 5 years she was asked to take over a project for one year in the Okavango Delta studying the behaviour of adolescent male elephants as they leave the social and tight-knit structure of their natal herd. 'This has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth and a real privilege to study such an incredible animal as Africa’s majestic elephants'. Once the project had finished Julia moved to South Africa to take up work at Kwandwe, a private reserve near Port Elizabeth.
Julia recently returned to Australia and is working at The Classic Safari Company, consulting and leading interested trips here and there.
|
Peter Allison
On his nineteenth birthday, Peter Allison flipped a coin. One side would take him to Africa and the other to South America, the two places he wanted to explore before he died. Africa won.
After spending more than ten years working in some of Southern Africa's finest wildlife reserves his knowledge and passion for the region eventually led him to training guides, and he was appointed head guide trainer for Wilderness Safaris, the largest eco-tourism operator in the region. He recounted his time spent as a safari guide in Africa to much acclaim in his two novels "Whatever You Do, Don't Run" and "Don't Look Behind You."
Many years later Peter finally made it to South America, to seek out the continent's best, weirdest, and wildest adventures, and to chase the elusive jaguar. The result is his recent publication 'How to Walk a Puma'.
A gifted storyteller, with a keen sense of humour, Peter is now back in Africa where he puts is specialist knowledge to work on safari.
|
Chris Manfield
Christine Manfield is a perfectionist inspired by complex flavours and a writer whose successful books, Christine Manfield Originals, Christine Manfield Fire, Christine Manfield Spice, Christine Mansfield Stir, Christine Manfield Desserts, have spiced up the lives of keen cooks from Melbourne to Manchester and Manhattan. She has just published her long awaited sixth book Tasting India which is proving to be as successful as the others. Chris has travelled on a number of spice trips and has an in-depth knowledge about the destinations we have chosen for these unique trips.
|
John Rendall
John Rendall is the co-author of 'A Lion Called Christian', the best selling story of the lion cub, whom he bought from Harrods, London, with fellow Australian Ace Bourke. Christian the lion lived with John & Ace on the Kings Road, Chelsea but when Christian 'out grew' his surroundings George Adamson, of Born Free fame, accepted the challenge of rehabilitating him back into the wild. Christian was successfully rehabilitated in Kora National Park, Kenya, with George describing it as a 'monument to a mischievous & brave little lion from England'.
Having escorted several successful 'Christian The Lion Safaris' through Kenya John is branching out and heading up our 'Go Wild in Rwanda' safari. As a Trustee of the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust, an associate of the Elsa Conservancy Trust and the original co-owner of Christian there is no better person to showcase the leaps in conservation that Rwanda has made. As John is an exceptional raconteur and a great host there will be plenty of stories to be heard, and no doubt created, whilst on safari!
|
Howard Saunders
Howard Saunders is part of a legendary African company known as The Original Ker & Downey Safaris (Kenya).
After being raised in Australia he moved to Kenya to fulfill his passion to work with wildlife. Since his first safari in 1980 Howard has travelled the length and breadth of Africa, guiding professionally in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. A firm believer that to conserve the wildlife you must first know something of it, Howard helped set up an Outdoor Education Program for African children of various ages, exposing them to not only the animals but to the particular environment each species lived in. He has also conducted safari 'field trips' for undergraduate student groups from American universities as part of their zoology degree curriculum. And in October 2005 married Stephanie Dloniak, herself a PhD researcher from the USA.
Howard began working with Ker & Downey Safaris (Kenya) in the late 1990's and has never looked back. Recognising his knowledge and leadership abilities, the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA) asked him to join their Board of Directors several years ago. More recently he has also worked as a director of Campfire Conservation Ltd, a conservation management company working to ensure the healthy future of the wildlife and communities of Kenya, especially in the well-known Masai Mara National Reserve.
|
Joe Charleson
Joe was invited to join the prestigious partnership at Ker & Downey Safaris in 2004 after many years of experience working around Africa in the safari industry. He has lived in Kenya from the age of 10 and the move to guide on Ker & Downey private mobile tented camping safaris is a great privilege which he is revelling in.
In his time as a professional safari guide throughout East and Southern Africa Joe has led safaris through Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Botswana. He has a deep interest in wildlife and its conservation.
As a Kenya Professional Safari Silver Level Guide, Joe's knowledge is wide ranging and his greatest area of interest is in animal behaviour. When not out on safari with guests, he can be found at Leleshwa Camp in the Maasai Mara or exploring new safari destinations with his wife Gillian, their son and their 2 dogs.
|
Margaret Jones
Margaret's love affair with wildlife started reading Born Free when she was eight years old. Her first safari in 2004 ignited her passion for Africa and she's since returned on multiple private trips and escorted safaris for The Classic Safari Company.
Margaret left the corporate world a few years back to pursue her passion for animals and travel. With a head start from her work at Werribee Open Range and Melbourne Zoos, and an eye for a great photo, she's in her element bringing Africa to life for people, whether it be transporting them to Africa inside themed zoo exhibits, or accompanying them on the ground for the real thing.
In 2010, Margaret organized and delivered an international leadership conference for the parks management industry. She now lives in beautiful Hobart working on animal ethics in research, consulting on the coordination and training of volunteers and volunteering in wildlife conservation facilities.
"Picking a favourite safari destination is impossible" Margaret says. "I've had some extraordinary wildlife experiences in Botswana, Zambia and Kenya, including at the camp where Elsa the lioness was released to the wild. But I just can't wait to get to the very special Phinda and Sabi Sands in 2012".
|
Robin Pope & Keyala Phiri
Robin Pope has lived in Zambia all his life and is one of Africa's leading safari guides. After schooling in Zimbabwe, Robin studied geography and zoology for 3 years before taking a break in 1974 to work in the bush. He never returned to university and from this time developed his bush knowledge, guiding skills and his international reputation. In 1982 he opened a fly camp offering walking safaris at Tena Tena and Robin Pope Safaris was formed. Shortly thereafter Robin Pope Mobile Walking Safaris was launched and rapidly became famous for its adventure and "true Africa" experience.
Robin holds the credit for establishing the most successful safari operation in Zambia, one that many years ago set the standards in "bush" luxury that we take for granted today. Robin Pope Safaris is a pioneer of responsible tourism in Zambia and, along with their small and intimate safari camps and walking safaris, support many community projects including a village school. Whilst having handed over the management reins of Robin Pope Safaris, Robin continues to lead walking safaris with his unique style.
Born in Mfuwe and looking up to his father who worked as a ranger in National Parks, Keyala dreamed of following in his footsteps whether it be working for the Zambian Wildlife Authority or in the safari industry. After finishing his schooling he soon found a job with Robin Pope Safaris working in the office and learning the ropes of a safari operation. It soon became apparent that his huge personality and infectious laugh was not going to remain confined to the office and Keyala started guiding full time in 1997, becoming the manager of Nkwali Camp in 2002. In 2006 with the company expanding further Keyala became the overall manager of Nkwali as well as heading up the entire guiding team.
|
Elisabeth Cummings
Elisabeth Cummings is one of Australia's greatest and most collectable artists. During her remarkable career she has won many coveted art prizes including the Fleurieu which is Australia's richest landscape art prize. Her paintings are distinguished by their marked and heavily-textured surfaces and complexity of colour. She has a loyal following established through 50 years of teaching and exhibiting and is well represented in many public and private collections. Elisabeth, and Beryl Miles, a Director of Art Workshops and who will be travelling on the safari, are both really excited about exploring the contrasts of the African landscape. For further information on the safari please contact www.artworkshopsaustralia.com.au and to view Elisabeth’s works visit www.kingstreetgallery.com.au
|
|
|
|
