About Us
The Judgement behind every choice
The value of an expertly designed safari is not found in the act of booking it. It is found in the judgment behind every choice.
Think of the old story about the engineer called in to fix a machine that has shut down a factory floor. He looks it over for five minutes, pulls out a hammer, taps one bolt, and the machine roars back to life. His invoice reads $1,000. The breakdown: $1 for the tap. $999 for knowing where to tap.
A safari may look seamless from the outside — the right camps, the right guides, the right pacing, the right private access.
What you are paying for is not the mechanics of a reservation. It is nearly four decades of firsthand experience and the intuition to know what is truly worth it.
That expertise has been built since 1987 across 17 African countries — through direct relationships with guides, lodge owners, conservationists, pilots, and operators, including work in Botswana when it was still a rugged outpost, long before it became one of Africa’s most coveted destinations.
It has been deepened through hundreds of meals, countless scouting trips, and long conversations in the field and, over the years, in each other’s homes and offices.
Africa can feel thrilling, remote, and a little intimidating. Our job is to place you into the hands of trusted friends—people we know personally and choose with complete confidence. That trust is proven. We have evacuated clients from a rising Lake Malawi within five hours because the right people were on speed dial. Private gorilla treks have been arranged — including rare time in the field with the Gorilla Doctors — with stretcher carries and porters organized so that less able-bodied clients could experience the trek too.
The work has extended to remote regions such as Kenya’s Suguta Valley and other corners of the continent that rarely appear on standard itineraries — and expressed in journeys so meaningful that clients came home inspired to donate 100 mattresses to an orphanage after seeing firsthand how deeply travel, conservation, and community are intertwined.
The work has been recognized by Travel + Leisure as A-List Advisor for Africa and by Condé Nast Traveler as a top Africa specialist— both across multiple consecutive years.
Anyone can find a camp online.
What is far rarer is the discernment to see past a beautiful photograph — and know whether a property is truly the right fit for your specific style of travel.
That means knowing whether Zimbabwe or Zambia best suits your pace, when to bring in an art expert or birding guide and how to arrange a home-hosted cooking experience that feels genuinely intimate rather than staged, or how to get you out walking with a Hadzabe tribe in a way that is respectful, meaningful, and well handled.
The difference is not simply what we book. It is what we know, who we know, and how thoughtfully we bring it all together.
meet the team
The Faces Behind the Magic: Our Safari Artisans
"Since 1987, I have worked across 17 African countries, from traditional safari icons to emerging destinations few specialists ever reach. I remember when places like Botswana were rugged outposts, long before the country became a luxury hotspot. I knew pilots who now own airlines. That history is not incidental to the work — it is the work."
Karin Jones
Founder/Chief Safari Whisperer
Africa first called Karin Jones in 1987, and it has shaped her life’s work ever since. She still spends extended time on the continent each year, sleeping in the rooms, flying the bush flights, and meeting face to face with the guides, camp owners, and conservation leaders behind the experiences she recommends. That firsthand knowledge — continually refreshed on the ground — is part of what sets her apart. With an Executive MBA and a rare combination of intuition, discernment, and operational depth, Karin designs journeys that go far beyond a checklist of beautiful places. She listens closely, uncovers what matters most, and shapes each safari with precision, imagination, and care. For top travel advisors, she is a trusted expert behind the scenes — the person they turn to when they want Africa done properly, creatively, and with extraordinary access. Karin is also the host of Safari ChangeMakers, a podcast spotlighting the guides, lodge owners, conservationists, and community leaders helping shape the future of travel in Africa. For travelers seeking a safari with depth, beauty, and real meaning, Karin brings trusted access, personal dedication, and a lifelong devotion to Africa
W. A (Bill) Jones
Chief Financial Office/Fellow Adventurer
William, our financial maestro, brings a unique blend of fiscal acumen and African adventure to our team. With a keen eye for numbers and a heart that beats for the continent, he ensures our company's financial health while nurturing a deep passion for Africa's diverse wonders. His journeys have taken him from the ancient pyramids of Egypt to the thundering Victoria Falls, and across the wildlife-rich savannas of Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa. Bill has traversed these lands countless times, each visit deepening his understanding of Africa's complex ecosystems, cultures, and economies. But Bill's talents extend far beyond spreadsheets and safaris. A man of many facets, he's graced stages as a charismatic big band singer and made his mark in the entertainment world as a TV and film actor. As a radio personality and presenter, Bill’s engaging style has made him a natural host for travel documentaries, sharing the magic of distant lands with audiences around the globe. In Bill, we have not just a financial officer, but a true Renaissance man whose diverse skills and experiences contribute immeasurably to our team's success and our clients' unforgettable journeys.
Paolo Torchio
Private Guide
Born in Turin, Italy, in 1961, Paolo Torchio came to Kenya in 1990. As a professional wildlife photographer, Paolo has travelled widely in Kenya, Tanzania and other parts of Africa, India and Madagascar. Paolo’s work has appeared in international publications such as Oasis, in his native Italy, BBC Wildlife Magazine and books of Africa Geographic. Paolo is adamant that photography has a decisive role to play in securing Africa's wildlife and their long-term conservation. Paolo was a 2018 finalist and is also the finalist for January 2020. Paolo’s greatest moment in Mara was on the bank of the river while waiting for one of the first wildebeest crossings of the year. He intended to take pictures of the very hungry crocs, but a few seconds after the beginning of the awaited crossing, a huge male leopard came out from nowhere and killed a young wildebeest in the middle of the mayhem and in full daylight. One of the most exciting and unexpected moments of his life.
James Suter
Private Guide
James Suter is a private photographic guide who gained much of his experience working for the world renowned Singita Game Reserves. Now based in Cape Town, he offers a unique photographic safari experience and has recently pioneered the video safari capturing his clients in action while on an adventure through Africa. His passion for the outdoors started at a young age and was passed down from his father. James is actively involved with conservation, particularly in assisting in creating awareness and raising funds for teams working on the ground. < James wears many hats, serving as a spotter, tracker, naturalist, cultural interpreter, host, storyteller, problem-solver, and concierge, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable safari experience for you. J
Sallie Jade
Operations Coordinator
Sally Jade is the behind-the-scenes wizard who keeps the travel machine running smoothly when everyone else is focused on the adventure ahead. With roots in television and film production coordination, Sally developed that uncanny ability to anticipate problems before they even appear on the horizon – like spotting a distant elephant long before anyone else. Sally made the jump from production schedules to travel logistics, bringing her sharp organizational skills to the premium travel sector. She's the ace handling all those crucial details that make the difference between a good trip and an extraordinary one. As your journey approaches, Sally is the steady hand ensuring your final documents arrive with crystal clarity and those special requests – whether it's a birthday surprise under the stars or securing extra luggage space on your bush flight – are seamlessly arranged. Her attention to detail means you can focus on the excitement of your upcoming adventure rather than worrying about the logistics that make it all possible.
Emily Cramer & Team
IT Director
Emily Cramer stands as our tech powerhouse, the brilliant mind who keeps our digital realm humming while the rest of us connect with clients and craft journeys. Coming from a robust background in enterprise systems, Emily brings the kind of technical know-how that transforms potential IT disasters into non-events before anyone notices a glitch. Unlike traditional IT leaders, Emily thrives on creative problem-solving in our unique environment. She heads our tech team with a refreshing blend of innovation and practicality – implementing cutting-edge solutions while ensuring rock-solid reliability when it matters most. Need remote access in the middle of nowhere? Worried about data security? Emily and her talented crew have already handled it. Her leadership means we can focus on what we do best, knowing our digital foundation is unshakable and ready for whatever challenges tomorrow brings.
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We know the best places, people and experiences. We sweat the small stuff so you don’t have to, ensuring a seamless trip!