Africa with André

What happens when luxury safari tourism becomes a tool for conservation and community empowerment? In this episode, I speak to Fabia Bausch, co-owner of Chem Chem Safaris in northern Tanzania. Together with her partner Nicolas, Fabia helped create one of the most inspiring conservation success stories in East Africa: the restoration of the Kwakuchinja wildlife corridor between Tarangire National P...

I sit down with Ntsiki Biyela, South Africa’s first Black female winemaker. A woman whose journey into wine started in the most unexpected way… by saying “yes” to an opportunity that had the power to change her life, and absolutely hating it after tasting it for the first time. We talk about what it feels like to enter an industry where you don’t see yourself represented, and the quiet (and someti...

Broadcasting from the banks of the Chobe River in Botswana, I sit down with Lebo, one of the inspiring “Chobe Angels” at Chobe Game Lodge — home to Africa’s first all-female safari guiding team. We talk about her journey from a village near Gaborone to guiding in Chobe National Park, the realities of working in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Lebo shares honest stories about: The pressure...

Can you really take children on safari…? In this episode we explore the magic, and the practical realities, of taking children on safari. Where early wake-up calls meet endless curiosity, and where animal dung can be just as exciting as spotting a leopard. We talk honestly about: The right age to take kids on safari, private vehicles (sanity-savers for everyone), Malaria questions and how to balan...

The Big Five might get all the attention - but game viewing goes way beyond lions, leopards and large grey animals. Travel with me to Botswana to chat with Grant Reed, co-founder of Letaka Safaris and veteran safari guide who has spent decades exploring the bush, training guides, and reminding guests that the “Small Five,” the “Ugly Five,” and even the “Sexy Five” deserve their spotlight too. Andr...

What do rhinos, elephants… and succulents have in common? Sadly, they are all poached. In this eye-opening (and occasionally eyebrow-raising) episode, we meet Paul Vorster from Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in South Africa’s Western Cape. André and Paul unpack the wild world of plant poaching , where tiny succulents worth a few dollars at your local market can fuel international crime syndicates . From...

South Africa has long been known for more than just safaris and Table Mountain – it is an absolute paradise for foodies. In this episode, I chat with Michi, a Swiss chef and food scout who regularly visits Cape Town. He is always on the lookout for new culinary highlights. Michi shares his favourite restaurants with us, including real insider tips such as the South China Dim Sum Bar and the stylis...

What connects the friendliest people in the world with 500 elephants on trucks, and fish with amazing fashion sense? Malawi. In this episode, André chats with Lindsay, a Malawi-born tourism expert who has been showing travellers the magic of her country for over 25 years, about why Malawi is Africa’s best-kept secret. From safaris without the crowds, to the sparkling waters of Lake Malawi (a.k.a....

In this episode, we head to the rugged beauty of Namibia’s Damaraland to meet some very special residents: the last 150 desert-adapted elephants. My guest, Daniel Oswald, shares how a volunteer project with the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) not only brought him face-to-trunk with these remarkable giants, but also inspired him to swop his Swiss banking career for a life in Africa tourism. Fro...

In this episode we share the remarkable story of "Mary" (a pseudonym to protect her privacy), a woman whose determination, integrity, and resilience helped her rise from humble beginnings to the role of General Manager of an hotel in Africa. Starting with no connections, no job prospects, and even being asked for unspeakable "favors" just to get a chance at work, her story is one of courage i...

In this second part of our Angola travel series, André takes you on an unforgettable tour of Angola’s natural wonders and hidden landmarks. Discover the majestic Kalandula Waterfalls, the impressive Tundavala Gorge, and the iconic Serra da Leba mountain pass – all must-see sights for any visitor. You will meet João, a passionate local tour operator, who is on a mission to share Angola’s magic with...

Join André as he visits Angola, a raw and authentic corner of Africa, ready to reveal its secrets. In this first of two episodes, André explores the vibrant capital Luanda, the cooler highlands of Lubango, and Angola’s complex history - from the ancient African kingdoms, the colonial era, the Civil War, and the period of re-building since then. We meet local tourism professionals, including Irene,...

It’s probably something you wouldn’t have thought to do – but do yourself a favour and book a Cycle Tour through Soweto, near Johannesburg. We chat with Maria Malepa from Lebo’s Backpackers & Cycle Tours about why this vibrant, historic part of South Africa deserves a deeper look. Maria shares the inspiring story of her late husband Lebo, who turned a small homestay into a thriving community t...

How does a luxury train company give back to the communities it travels through? In this engaging follow-up conversation, André reconnects with Tiffany Vos-Thane, and we dive into Rovos Rail’s sustainability efforts—from using bamboo products and locally made amenities to cutting water use by 90% with custom-built vacuum toilets (yes, it’s fascinating!). We also explore Rovos Rail’s ambitious jour...

Ever wondered how a family with zero tourism experience created the most luxurious train journey in Africa? In this first of 2 episodes, we chat with Tiffany Vos-Thane, daughter of Rovos Rail founder Rohan Vos, about how her parents turned their love for trains into a world-famous experience. Tiffany shares behind-the-scenes stories, from the early struggles to setting new standards in train trave...

Ever dreamed of running a safari lodge? Thijs Claassen did—and then found himself fixing water pipes at dawn, dodging elephants, and managing last-minute vegan wedding requests… in the middle of the African bush! In this episode, we take you inside Elephants Crossing , a lodge nestled in the breathtaking, malaria-free “Welgevonden Game Reserve”, where Thijs and his wife Noortje built their dream a...

Botswana is one of the ultimate destinations if you want to go on safari. Why is travelling to Botswana more expensive than other destinations? How do you run a camp or lodge in what feels like the middle of nowhere? What should you know about a visit to this country in southern Africa? James, who works at Desert & Delta Safaris, explains this to us. He also talks about his favourite birds (on...

What happens when a child growing up in a remote village never sees a map, a book, or a story about the world beyond their home? Hilma Weber knows firsthand—and she’s on a mission to change that. In this episode, we chat with Hilma about her journey from Namibia to Switzerland and how her passion for books led her to create library boxes for underprivileged children. We dive into her beautifully i...

Lukhanyiso is a dynamic young South African woman who tells us about following her dreams through good times and tough times: from South Africa to Switzerland and back again. She now runs a travel company giving visitors the chance to meet local South Africans – and thereby get a deeper understanding and love of our country. We chat about what South African food is, and where to find the loo with...

Koinonia Baloyi tells us about some of the fascinating projects that the African Bush Camps Foundation runs – funded in part through your stay in their camps & lodges. The Foundation has excellent projects that empower women, and a nifty project that prevents lions from stealing cattle in communities around the national parks. This is critical to reduce human-wildlife conflict. And Koinonia al...

Beks tells us his life story: how he occasionally met Elephants while walking to school as a child, and how this led to him working with communities to help them see Animals and Game Reserves & National Parks as something of value. And how tourism creates jobs and reduces poaching in wildlife areas. We chat a bit about elephants, and Beks’s Favourite Spots in southern Africa.   Deutsch :...

The two things that we get the most comments about regarding a visit to Zanzibar are these: “The tides are a pain – either it is so high that there’s no beach, or it is so low, that the ocean is so far away” and that guests find the seaweed on the beaches “gross”. This is nature (and thankfully we cannot control that) - Nadja explains what some of the benefits of this are for you as a visitor – an...

Jaco tells us some inspirational stories about how the reserve assists and uplifts people from their community, like Ranger Neil and Aunty Linda who runs the kitchen, and aids them in developing their careers. We also find out why missing teeth have inspired this interview. Unemployment is high in South Africa, and it is good to hear how this support benefits not only the staff and their families,...

Should we protect ugly birds too? We talk about that, and other interesting projects. Jaco explains how muppets prevent sibling murders amongst the surprisingly valuable Shoebills in Zambia, and chats to us about other conservation projects in Chad and Ivory Coast. He also tells us about game drives, horseback safaris and the fascinating veterinary safaris they offer with elephants and lions at Bo...

Most people only think of Game Reserves as places to see wild animals. But what you pay to stay does more much more than give you a comfy bed and coffee at breakfast. Jaco Koekemoer of Botlierskop Game Reserve explains what these reserves do for conservation: listen to stories about how they fight alien species, how they work with their neighbours to save the red-billed oxpecker birds, and how som...