This is Brian's second very kind foray onto our podcast - he has travelled so extensively in Africa that we could record hundreds of safari podcast episodes with him. His story telling manner, as well as the safari stories themselves, is spell binding. He has just released his memoirs West With The Light and if you only ever read one book about Africa read that.  'Britain's best wildlife writer' – The Scotsman ''A beautifully written book' – Tony Fitzjohn 'Don't send him to Torremolinos;...

We were so honoured that Kim agreed to do our podcast - he has made so many immeasurably magical wildlife programs, all completely unique because Kim actually immerses himself into his subjects lives, gains their trust and thereby catches a lot of unseen footage of the species he is following. Man Cheetah Wild is one of the best cheetah programs we have ever seen. "It’s about the lifestyle and cameras provide me with the challenge to bring home stunning images and footage to share with the...

You really get a sense of what being on safari with Gordie & Felicia would be like in this amazing insight into some of their own safari experiences. They are such a wonderful safari couple, with two wild safari babies now having joined their family. Safaris Unlimited runs some of the most exclusive riding safaris in Kenya, with top quality horses and remote campsites in the Masai Mara, Laikipia and Amboseli. Gordie's family have such a long standing history in Kenya which is also...

We've known Ryan for years and are thrilled to say he has now joined The Luxury Safari Company team since leaving the Zambian bush to be with his wife and forthcoming baby. His time guiding has meant that he has tonnes of tales of living the safari lifestyle - here are just a few. Ryan Wilmot has spent the past 17 years as a professional guide and camp manager in some of Southern Africa’s top lodges, National parks, and private reserves. He holds an honors degree in Nature Conservation...

Riccardo has had such a varied career before he founded Saruni Camps (Saruni Mara, Wild, Samburu & Rhino) in Kenya that we are sure we could record several podcasts but here we have a few of his tales of his life in Kenya. Born in Italy in 1961, Riccardo Orizio is a reporter, author, safari guide and conservationist. As a foreign correspondent for the Italian daily newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica, for the magazines Il Mondo, Fortune and Epoca, and then for CNN, in his...

To kick off series 4 of Talking Bush, Safaris & Luxury Travel we have Bruce Simpson - Bruce has probably spent more time on safari in his life than anyone else and has unrivalled experience of running luxury safari camps and companies within Africa. Bruce Simpson started his ecotourism career in 1990 working as a guide at Londolozi in the well-known Sabi-Sand Game Reserve of South Africa and ended up in various management roles with companies including Londolozi, & Beyond and...

Richard Yoga manages Asilia Naboisho Camp in the private Naboisho Conservancy in the Masai Mara - he has a wealth of experience and this really shines through in his quiet and confident manner. We had a great laugh with him and he has the perfect mixture of professionalism and humour. The camp had the most wonderful atmosphere and this is no doubt down to the amazing management, lead by Richard.

Douglas Dichana is a larger than life character who is truly the warm heart of Great Plains Mara Plains Camp in the exclusive OLARE MOTOROGI CONSERVANCY in the Masai Mara. He is full of laughter, jokes and passion for hospitality and the wilderness. In short he is just brilliant and we loved our time spent with him at Mara Plains. Mara Plains is one of the most luxurious safari camps in the whole of the Masai Mara and they have access not only to the busier reserve, but to game rich private...

Marietta has been in the Mara for years, and now runs Great Plains Mara Nyika Camp with calm efficiency, while making the camp feel warm and inviting with her friendly and smiley manner. This camp is luxury personified in a remote corner of the wildlife full Naboisho Conservancy. Please note we work with lots and lots of safari camps in the Masai Mara, and this short "Masai Mara" safari podcast series is just an intro to some of the characters you will meet when on safari here.

Gosh Lucas is a fantastic guide - he guides all the photographers and bush walkers from Asilia Naboisho Camp, in the remote Naboisho Conservancy in the Masai Mara. The conservancy lends itself to Lucas's style of guiding, which is full of laughter, and unrivalled knowledge - there are very few camps here and so very few vehicles, BUT tonnes of wildlife particularly the cats. Lucas has self taught himself everything and is expected to have passed his Gold Level guiding exams by the end of this...

David is a silver level Kenyan guide at Offbeat Ndoto in the Mara North Conservancy, Masai Mara. He is a highly educated man with a twinkle in his eye and a fantastic sense of humour. He has travelled to the States, UK and Hong Kong to educate people about the Masai way of life, and the abundant wildlife the Masai Mara is so famous for. A luxury safari with David is just that, he knows the bush like the back of his hand. We spent time with a cheetah family he had known for years - he...

Family friend John Rendall was privileged to be Christian The Lion's human family, and was the one, alongside his friend Ace who bought him from Harrods and eventually took him on the amazing journey to Kenya where he was rehabilitated by George Adamson into the African wilderness. The story is world famous and to hear it in John's own words is truly amazing.

Benson is head waiter and head of front of house at luxury safari camp Saruni Samburu in Samburu, Northern Kenya. He is decked out in all his Masai finery as despite being in Samburu he is from the Masai tribe. His is a charming and quiet man, with a great sense of humour and a passion for the stars making him one of the leading astro-guides in Kenya. His knowledge of the night sky is second to none and Saruni Samburu is an exceptional place for star gazing as you get good views of the...

Salum Mpapa is head guide at Chem Chem Safaris, which encompasses Chem Chem Lodge, Little Chem Chem Bushcamp and exclusive use Chem Chem Forest Camp - three extremely high end safari camps located in the Tarangire area bordering Lake Manyara. Their conservation and community initiatives are second to none and this suits Salum perfectly, since he comes from a family heavily involved with anti poaching and game ranging in Southern Tanzania.  He has a warm and generous smile and is obviously...

Chad was drawn to the bush and wilderness from a young age and has found his happy place in the wild and remote Timbavati on the border of the Greater Kruger. Here he is the head guide at Tanda Tula Safari Camp - one of the only owner run safari camps in the area. The camp is luxurious, welcoming and has an extremely good reputation for a reason. The game viewing is exceptional helped by their teams of expert safari guides and trackers, many of whom have worked for Tanda for years and years....

Baraka is widely known as one of the best managers in Tanzania - he is a big bear of a man who has managed a variety of camps and lodges in Tanzania but is happiest in the bush. Namiri Plains runs like clockwork with an exceptionally happy atmosphere all thanks to Baraka. It is a joyous place with some of the best wildlife viewing in the whole of the Serengeti. Manja is a safari guide at Namiri Plains and recently made an exceptional discovery out on the plains of the Serengeti which has now...

We have known Cecilia for a long time and her career path has been incredibly impressive, leading up to this point where she has become the first ever Masai lady to manage a lodge. She is a warm and friendly person and fiercely intelligent. Her passion for safaris and the bush is infectious and we're not surprised safari guests absolutely adore her. She was brought up in the Mara to a father who was head of the conservancy, and instilled a great passion for the wildlife and landscape in all...

Thuso's story is one of achieving your dreams and he really has done everything you can possibly do in the safari industry, born from a passion for wildlife cultivated on a school trip as a teenager. He is the most endearing, cheerful and jolly man - but his knowledge of the bush and the wildlife is impressive. He was enchanting to talk to and he instils this in the guides he now trains for Ker & Downey Botswana. Ker & Downey have several luxury safari camps in Botswana and are a...

Deirdre is an inspirational woman who has been an esteemed safari guide for over 20 years and is now settled at Tswalu Kalahari as their indomitable Safari Manager.  She too has so many stories of the various places she has worked but it was Tswalu we talked about mostly - this amazing wilderness in Northern South Africa is located in the Green Kalahari and is a hotbed of endangered and rare species, all of which are highly protected in this well funded area.  Tswalu is unrivalled in their...