Live From Camp
From Security Guard to Award-Winning Chef
Moses Iluki began his journey as a security officer at Thorntree River Lodge, but his true passion lay in the kitchen. During his off-days, he experimented with recipes and watched cooking shows, all while refining his skills at home.
Determined to follow his dream, he completed a six-month hotel management course and joined the Thorntree kitchen as a sculler. His dedication and talent quickly earned him a promotion to Chef.
In 2023, he entered Mastercook Zambia, where his bold flavors and authenticity won over the judges – crowning him the Season 5 winner.
From night shifts to national recognition, Moses’ story is a testament to passion, perseverance, and the power of believing in yourself.
Let’s continue to share and conserve Africa, together.
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#chef #masterchef #zambia #mastercook #safari #travel
Seraphina`s journey through Zimbabwe captures what it means to experience authentic Africa.
From close-up encounters with elephants wandering through camp to tracking lions on foot with her guide and cruising across Lake Kariba as the sun sets, her story vividly captures the magic of Zimbabwe and the warmth of its people. Safaris aren’t just about visiting - they’re about truly connecting with the land, the wildlife, and the communities that call this incredible place home.
Thank you, Seraphina, for this wonderful reflection of your time with us in Zimbabwe! We hope to welcome you back soon.
You can read the full story here:
https://www.africadynamics.com/zimbabwe-trip-report/
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#safari #zimbabwe #travel #blog #africa #lion #wildlife
We believe that an extraordinary safari requires an exceptional guide.
An authentic African safari experience is deeply rooted in the expertise, passion, and intuitive nature of the guide. Our guides are trained, knowledgeable locals who love to share their knowledge about the bush with our guests.
Be guided by the best with African Bush Camps.
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#guide #travel #safari #africa #wildlife #bush
Leopards are my favorite animal, and I’ve had some amazing encounters with them in Lower Zambezi.
There’s Dictator, the dominant male, and Mambo, the female whose territory stretches over part of the Lolebezi premises. We cross paths with them on our morning and night drives, and each sighting always leaves me feeling amazed .
They’re such shy creatures, and so I feel very privileged to see their beauty in the wild.
📍: Lolebezi, Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#guide #safari #travel #zambia #africa #lolebezi #wildlife #nature #leopard
My name is Esther Phiri, and I’m from Livingstone, Zambia.
For me, guiding is about more than just being in nature - it’s about understanding the ecosystem and the connections within it.
My first experience in the bush was nothing like I had imagined - it was even better! Seeing buffalos, impalas, and kudus for the first time was incredible. The stillness wasn’t empty - it was full of life, just different from the noise of the city. No cars, no crowds, just nature. A sense of peace came over me along with a deep curiosity. I needed to know more, and it was overwhelming in the best way.
I can still remember the first birdcall I heard in the bush: an emerald-spotted wood dove. I had spent years watching National Geographic, but in that moment, it was no longer just something on a screen. It was real.
📍: Lolebezi, Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#guide #safari #travel #zambia #africa #lolebezi #wildlife #nature
Hyenas live in a matriarchal clan where females reign supreme.
The alpha female (larger and more dominant than the males) leads with absolute authority - overseeing resources, mating rights, and the survival of the clan. Her daughters inherit her high rank from birth, outstripping even adult females of lower status. With this power, they secure the best food and protection.
It’s a fascinating hierarchy in which leadership is inherited, not earned, and passed down from mother to daughter.
📍: Khwai Community Concession & Okavango Delta, Botswana
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#hyena #wildlife #safari #travel #matriarchy #clan #babies
The Vukani Group is a community of women in Zimbabwe who make handcrafted jewelry and home decor from recycled magazines.
Vukani,` meaning `wake up` or `rise and shine` in Ndebele, reflects the mission of this initiative and serves as a powerful call to action, motivating these women to empower themselves, their families, and their communities. Their creations are available for sale to travelers at Trading Posts within our Experiences.
Those staying at any of our Somalisa Experiences can visit the Vukani Group. Let’s continue to empower women and promote a more inclusive society.
📍: Somalisa Experiences, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe ✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#AccelerateAction #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInSafari #AfricanBushCamps #Empowerment
Thandanani, meaning `to love each other,` is a women’s sewing collective from Dete Village in Zimbabwe.
These women create beautiful placemats, bags, robes, travel wallets, and clothing using traditional fabrics. Each piece is made with immense care and love, available for purchase at our in-camp Trading Posts.
Let’s continue to create positive change within our industry and the communities surrounding our Experiences.
📍: Dete Village, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#AccelerateAction #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInSafari #AfricanBushCamps #Empowerment
This is Bae - an inspiring safari guide who is redefining the role of women in the field.
Through our Female Guides Program, Bae stepped into a male-dominated space, proving that skill and determination know no gender. From trainee to trailblazer, she now mentors future female guides, paving the way for greater inclusivity in the safari industry.
In honor of this International Women’s Day, let’s continue to empower women as we share and conserve Africa, together.
#InternationalWomensDay #AccelerateAction #WomenInSafari #Empowerment #AfricanBushCamps
Join us on our Women Empowerment Safari - a transformative 9-night journey through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Discover our Female Guides Program, a trailblazing initiative for equality in the safari industry, and experience it firsthand as you`re accompanied by one of our Female Guides. Engage in hands-on cultural activities with the Vuche Vuche initiative and visit the women-led Maunga Clinic and Dete Community, where women drive local businesses and sustainability projects.
Gather your friends and family to book today. This Safari is the perfect chance to bond, support meaningful causes, and create lasting memories. Together, let`s continue to empower, share, and conserve Africa.
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#safari #travel #women #empowerment #africa #guides #nature
The Okavango Delta offers a peacefulness that is hard to find anywhere else.
As you drift in a mokoro through winding lagoons, gliding past lounging hippos and gazing at soaring fish eagles, you’ll find a solitude that soothes the soul.
A safari here is an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the world around you.
📍: Okavango Delta, Botswana
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#okavango #delta #safari #travel #mokoro #wellness #health #selfcare #holistichealth
Introducing Mai, Lady, and Scar.
Mai (center), an established female to the east of Lolebezi, is the mother of Lady (left) and Scar (right). In typical leopard behavior, mothers and daughters don’t remain close - usually exchanging snarls rather than companionship. Yet, Mai seems remarkably tolerant, allowing her grown cubs to interact with her long after most leopard bonds would have loosened.
These are the Leopards of Lolebezi.
📷: @jamotyrrell
📍: Lolebezi, Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#LeopardsofLolebezi
Linyanti Reserve is our secluded private concession, located between the Okavango Delta to the south and west, and Chobe National Park to the east.
Among splendid scenery, encounter curious elephants, thundering buffalo herds, prowling predators, and elusive wild dogs.
Linyanti Reserve offers the quintessential safari experience: elevated, breathtaking, and exclusive.
📍: Linyanti Reserve, Botswana
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#safari #travel #okavango #linyanti #botswana #elephant #lion
“Wow! Just got home from our stay with African Bush Camps and Linyanti was by far our favorite stop!
The area is absolutely gorgeous, with plentiful animals and wildlife. We saw lions, herds of elephant, hundreds of zebras, and much more. Plus, we enjoyed the fact that we were the only guests in the private concession, so there really was a feeling of remoteness!
Special shout-out to Max who was simply the BEST guide and knows the landscape so well. He was also so accommodating to the interests of my husband who is a birder.”
- Yasminebey28 via TripAdvisor
📍: Linyanti Bush Camp, Linyanti Reserve, Botswana
✉️️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#travel #safari #bush #wildlife #elephant #linyanti
Our annual Guides Training Program is a time for our guides to step forward and tell their stories.
More than guides, they are local community members, profoundly connected to the places that surround our Experiences. Driven by a passion for nature, they bring the African bush to life through their knowledge and storytelling.
Journey with us to experience Africa through their eyes as you are guided by the best.
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#safari #travel #guides #training #astronomy #tracking #wildlife #africa
In January, our team of 90 guides from all 17 Experiences participated in our annual Guides Training Program, hosted in the iconic Hwange National Park and Okavango Delta.
The Program combines hands-on practice with in-depth theory, covering everything from geology, biology, and ornithology to astronomy, animal tracking, and plant and insect identification. Guides also complete an advanced first aid refresher and a shooting course - focused exclusively on ensuring guest safety in the field.
Be guided by the best at African Bush Camps.
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#safari #travel #guides #training #astronomy #tracking #wildlife #africa
A great safari isn’t just about Africa’s wildlife; it’s about the connections our guests forge with nature and local communities – made possible by our exceptional guides.
Our annual Guides Training Program brings together over 600 years of guiding expertise, creating a space for learning, sharing, and inspiring. This dedication to continuous growth and mentorship is why we can proudly say that with African Bush Camps, you are guided by the best.
When our guides grow, so does the depth of every safari experience we offer.
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#safari #travel #guide #learning #wildlife
Love comes in many forms.
Whether it’s the passion of romance, the bond of family, or the connection of friendship, the African bush is where love flourishes.
How do you say ‘I love you’ in your language?
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#love #safari #travel #wildlife #bush #valentinesday
In the wild, nothing goes to waste.
A buffalo was brought down by two male lions, only to be swiftly claimed by a hungry pack of hyenas.
Experience authentic Africa with us.
📍: Atzaró Okavango Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#buffalo #hyena #lion #nature #travel #safari #botswana
Discover Botswana during Emerald Season on this 6-night safari.
Stay at two of our stand-out signature Experiences: Kwhai Lediba and Linyanti Bush Camp. Marvel at Botswana’s lush landscapes, baby animals, and blooming flowers. Embark on a safari where every moment shines with brilliance.
Delight in the Vibrancy of Emerald Season.
📍: Linyanti Bush Camp, Linyanti Enclave & Khwai Lediba, Khwai Community Concession
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#emerald #safari #botswana #travel #wildlife
"We witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime encounter during our annual Guides Training Program.
One morning, while driving south of the Somalisa Concession in Hwange National Park, we spotted a number of yellow-billed kites feeding on termites in the trees. To our amazement, an African rock python had captured one of the kites and was hanging from a branch.
We observed for about an hour, and when we returned later, the python had completely swallowed the bird.”
- Calvet, Head Guide, Somalisa Camp
📍: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#zimbabwe #python #kite #safari #travel
A heart-stopping moment in the wild:
An African rock python has captured a yellow-billed kite in a deadly embrace.
Journey with us to experience authentic Africa.
📍: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#zimbabwe #python #kite #nature #travel #safari
Seeking an extraordinary luxury safari in the Okavango Delta?
Khwai Lediba offers just this. Tucked along the winding Khwai River in the northern Delta, surrounded by vast floodplains and towering leadwood forests, this Experience is your perfect escape into the heart of Botswana.
Are you ready to discover luxury in the wild?
📍: Khwai Lediba, Khwai Community Concession, Botswana
✉️: enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#safari #botswana #travel #luxury
“Just returned from an incredible trip to Botswana during the green season, and I’m still processing how amazing it was.
The landscapes were absolutely unreal. Everything was so lush, and the skies were this perfect mix of blues and grays from the rain. Honestly, the rain was magical. The showers cooled everything down and made the whole place feel fresh and alive. Plus, we saw so many baby animals, which were definitely my highlight... especially the baby lions, who were so playful and curious.
January in Botswana exceeded all my expectations. If you’re looking for something special, this is the time to go on safari.” - Patrick, 29/1/2024
📍: Khwai Lediba, Khwai Community Concession, Botswana
✉️:enquiry@africanbushcamps.com
#safari #travel #elephant #wildlife #botswana #green #season #khwai