I had visions of leaving a cold and wet Edinburgh for an outrageously hot and even wetter Botswana - I was wrong. I spent a couple of weeks in December (their summer) exploring parts of this large but under populated country, and even though I went in the supposed rainy ... Read more

South African Battlefields The hairs on the back of my arms stood to attention like soldiers ready for battle as Rob Caskie’s voice boomed through the auditorium of the Royal Geographic Society. Rob’s passionate account captivated the audience and transported all of us to one of the smallest battlefields in ... Read more

Kenya Beach Resorts Jo and Sarah sent this dispatch from the Kenyan coast while we were shivering in early December. It’s worth remembering that although inland areas of Kenya tend to get some rain in November, this is actually one of the best times to travel to the Kenyan Coast ... Read more

Francis and Jo recently spent three weeks on an unforgettable exploratory trip to Madagascar which was neatly summed up by Francis as, ‘an intoxicating blend of people, landscape and wildlife. Combine the best bits,' he says, ‘and you get a wonderfully diverse holiday. It’s not for the faint hearted, there’s ... Read more

She is no longer a baby at nearly five years old, but she certainly loves the bush and the beach. My wife Liz and I took Jemima (said five year old) to Zanzibar and Tanzania in February for a combined holiday and work trip. We stayed in some wonderful places, ... Read more

I’m fortunate to travel widely in order to keep my Africa knowledge up to date. It’s always exciting, but even more so to visit a country I’ve not spent time in before. From the minute I landed for a Uganda safari I knew I was in for a treat. Uganda ... Read more

One of the pleasures of helping people plan their holidays to Africa is the incredible diversity the continent has to offer. If you want to experience a dug-out canoe in a reed-lined channel, go to the Okavango Delta; for gorillas or golden monkeys in a bamboo forest, then Rwanda is ... Read more

When John Spence rides into a herd of grumpy elephant, he's very happy his alert horse seems already poised for a quick exit! I'd forgotten what a great experience it is to ride among Africa's game. On my last trip to Botswana we got fairly close to some grumpy bull ... Read more

Landlocked Malawi is full of surprises. In the heart of the continent John Spence discovers some of Africa’s finest beach destinations. The turquoise pan-flat waters stretched on every side. The beach on Lake Malawi was of the softest golden sand and I’d just finished snorkelling among shoals of kaleidoscopic fish. ... Read more