Safari Stories

Land ho! After crossing the Drake Passage, we finally reach the South Shetland Islands and all the amazing wildlife that calls it home. Jomi shares what it?s like going out on your first excursion (a zodiac cruise or landing) and some of the most memorable sightings he has had there. Think: playful seals, newborn gentoo penguin chicks, and some gnarly interactions between nesting penguins and predatory skuas.

How does one get to Antarctica? What?s it like to cross the Drake Passage? This week, we talk about what traveling down to Antarctica entails, from getting to Ushuaia, to heading out through the Beagle Channel, and into the famously turbulent Drake Passage. We also introduce some of the wildlife you might encounter at the start of an expedition to the southern-most continent. Wandering albatrosses, humpback whales, and?you guessed it?penguins!

In the second part of ?Exploring Antarctica,? we discuss Scott and Amundsen?s race to the South Pole and Shackleton?s Transantarctic Expedition saga?the famous story of the Endurance.

What?s it like to spend months down in the Antarctic? It?s the world?s driest, highest, coldest, windiest and least inhabitable continent and Jomi has spent the last two austral summers (northern hemisphere winters) exploring it. This season, we explore it with him. Part one of this two-part episode sets the scene of the remoteness of the inhospitable Antarctic continent by taking a look at how it was initially explored. While Jomi has been able to do this from the relative comfort of a large modern vessel, the original explorers of the region faced more trying challenges.

Three days packed full with amazing lion sightings. That?s what awaited us during our most recent return to Vumbura Plains camp. From three massive males feeding on a buffalo kill, to a lioness nursing her cub beside her lechwe kill, to an adorable reunion between the cubs and mother lionesses of a pride, it was an action packed, lion filled stay, and we are bring you all the details of the various sightings in this week?s episode. 

We?re back at Chitabe this week to round up the second part of our recent safari there. Sightings included following a large male leopard hunting by day and seeing a pack of 19 wild dogs digging their dens (plural) for TWO pregnant females.

Jomi and Hadley go to the renowned Chitabe, whose reputation as one of the top camps in one of the most productive parts of the Okavango does not disappoint one bit as predators show up in numbers. They include a cheetah mother with SIX cubs, a young leopard trying not to drop its impala meal and four lions that try to ruin the leopard?s day.

Are lions nocturnal? Not entirely, and definitely not at Tubu Tree. Join us in the Okavango Delta as we recount some epic sightings of lions hunting during the day. What was on the menu? Find out here...

We?re back! After a healthy hiatus, we come back to you while on safari in Botswana's Okavango Delta, reflecting on a few incredible days at the wonderful Tubu Tree Camp. We talk about our gifted guide, Kambango Delta, discuss some Tubu leopard family history, and how we?ve seen more leopard history in the making!

Jomi chats with Cannon Winkler about his Walks of Life art, a series of paintings inspired by his time in the African bush. Cannon uses direct moulds and castes of tracks which he paints onto canvas to create his paintings. A portion of proceeds from selling the paintings are donated to African Parks. We talk about what Cannon enjoyed about his time in the bush, what distinguishes his paintings and why we both find African Parks such a worthy cause to donate to.

On our last day in the Okavango Delta, we have a series of sightings at Mombo Camp that absolutely blow our minds and leave Hadley speechless and Jomi in tears. A young male leopard puts on a spectacular show for us, attempting to snuff warthogs out of burrows on the ground before climbing into a tree above the burrow to try for an aerial approach. The next day, we spend the whole afternoon with the same leopard. The sighting begins with the leopard having has his first romantic encounter with a female and ends with what Jomi and Hadley say is an image they will never forget for the rest of their lives. This is truly a must-listen episode, action-packed from beginning to end.

We are back in the Delta and talking about our time at Tubu Tree Camp, a camp set in the trees on an island in the Okavango Delta. While looking for leopard (the area is renowned for its leopard viewing), we stumbled upon so many other animals and ended up spending hours alone with a pack of hunting and playing wild dogs. Listen as we share some of our favorite sightings, why this camp is so special, and which animal decided to den her cubs in the lodge?s main area bathroom.

This week, we?re back at Vumbura Plains talking about the second game drive we went on in this slice of safari paradise. Seeing various nocturnal animals by day, another elephant carcass, tracking lions through channels from one island to the next, and an incredible sighting of a predator stalking some very large prey to cap off the drive: this is another action-packed episode from the heart of the Okavango.

?From the moment we landed, we were in safari heaven.? This week, we are at Vumbura Plains on the northern side of the Okavango Delta. The area has to be one of the most productive safari areas we have ever been to. Listen in as we share the story of our incredible drive from the airstrip to the lodge which included elephants, buffalo, and two cheeky warthogs chasing a pack of wild dogs away from a waterhole! The madness continues as we go off on our first game drive that was action packed from the moment we left the lodge. Listen in to hear what we saw!

A lion pride feeding on an elephant carcass, herds of elephants swimming across the Linyanti channel, and so much more. This week, Jomi and Hadley come to you from Botswana?s Linyanti Wildlife Reserve. Find out how it?s different from the Okavango Delta, why it?s so special, and what amazing surprise Jomi and Hadley got while out on game drive! Bonus: find out which special bird Jomi finally managed to see after years of looking for it!

This week, Jomi and Hadley come to you from Botswana?s famed Okavango Delta. They tell stories from their time at the stunning Qorokwe Camp, including stumbling upon a pride of lions walking across a rickety wooden bridge and tracking down the famed male lion known as ?Tripod,? and more!

This week, we reflect on our latest trip to South Africa, specifically recalling some of our favourite sightings while in the Kruger National Park. From seeing a male white lion, to strange baboon behaviour, and cheetahs on the hunt, this episode is all about the safari stories!

This week, Jomi is by himself in the Kruger National Park, reflecting on a month well spent in the South African bush. He recalls some highlights from his last week in South Africa, which include a camping excursion to the unique Makuya Game Reserve, an afternoon spent looking for Pel's fishing owl and a morning birding adventure with old friends and an unlikely visitor. Jomi reflects on why he and everyone else should spend at least a small part of every day in nature and how it can help everyone going forward.

In this week's episode, Jomi sits down with Hein Myers to chat about Marataba, a game reserve in South Africa where they both worked as guides several years ago. They recall some of their favourite vehicle and trail-based sightings, which include a very special black rhino sighting at a dam, encounters with territorial hippos, male lions using tactics to hunt impala successfully, habituating leopard cubs, and a few gnarly moments that they will likely never forget.This episode is all story-telling action and shows how much Hein and Jomi both enjoyed working in this very special reserve.

In Season 3's first episode, Jomi and Hadley come to you live from the South African bush. They sit down with Mike Anderson and tell stories of their most recent safari to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Tune in to find out where the name "Kgalagadi" comes from, what makes this part of the world so special, their top three most memorable sightings, and one of the strangest sightings they've ever had of a very ambitious ground squirrel.

On the last episode of Season 2, Jomi comes to you from Hoedspruit, South Africa with a true bush legend: Bruce Lawson. Bruce tells us what it?s like to live in Antarctica, what drove him to decide to spent two years walking from Cape Town to Cairo (that?s right), how he helped to create the Trails Guide qualification, and why primitive trails and birding are his passion. This is an absolute must-listen for any bush enthusiasts!

This week, Jomi is in White River, South Africa talking to best friend and Africa expert, Hein Myers (and his 10-week-old jack russell puppy, who makes more than one appearance). This week's episode is full of laughs, reminiscing, and stories of some of the shenanigans Jomi and Hein have gotten up to while working in the bush over the last 6 years. They also cover some practical topics like why Marataba in South Africa's Waterberg is the ideal spot for a first safari, which one item every person needs to buy (whether you're going on safari or not), and why Magashi camp in Rwanda's Akagera National Park is a must-visit for everyone. They hope you enjoy the episode and admit they enjoyed recording it, a lot!

This week Jomi comes to you from out in the bush (seriously--you'll hear all the sounds of nature) with friend and guide extraordinaire, Sarah Nurse. Sarah shares how she got into the guiding industry, what has kept her in it for the last decade, and how she went from tracking chimpanzees in the Congo to tracking pangolin in the Kalahari!

This week, we chat to Dan Fincham, head guide at Savanna Lodge in the Sabi Sands, which falls within South Africa's Kruger National Park. Dan shares some of the incredible sightings he?s had and why the game-viewing at Savanna is arguably second to none in this area. From a lion pride taking down a buffalo over the course of an hour to watching two leopards grow from cubs to adulthood and raising youngsters of their own, this is an action-packed podcast about a head guide, his phenomenal tracker, and the mind-blowing sightings they continue to have.

This week, on location from Kruger National Park, Jomi chats with Safari Guide Trainer, Mike Anderson. Mike has guided at various five star lodges in South Africa?s lowveld and now spends his time sharing his profound bush knowledge and passion with the next generation of students training to become safari guides. Jomi and Mike discuss an incredible sighting of wild dogs they had this week, what it's like guiding at a lodge, Mike?s absolutely legendary tracker Fanie, and why doing a safari guide course in the COVID era is the perfect way to reconnect with yourself and nature.

This week, Jomi comes to you live from the South African bush with our first guest on the show: Michelle Sole! From guiding safaris in South African to guiding polar expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic, Michelle shares some stories from her adventures guiding around the globe over the last decade. Tune in to find out what it's like to go from viewing rhino, elephants, and lions in the African sun to viewing penguins, orca whales, and polar bears in the north and south poles!

Have you ever dreamed about spending two weeks in the African bush learning about the animals, the tracks they leave in the soil, the stars of the southern hemisphere? What about for 4 weeks? Or 4 months? Or a full year? Luckily for you, all those options exist.In this week's episode, Jomi and Hadley talk about the safari guiding courses they did as well as some of the many new courses that are available today. If you want to spend more time in the bush, immerse yourself fully into nature, learn from the best in the business or simply take a break from city living, this podcast is a must listen!

This week, Jomi and Hadley share some more of their favorite sounds of the African bush. From a bird call that they have a love-hate relationship with, to a hair-raising sound that most guides are all too familiar with. And what cat sounds like someone using an old saw to cut a log? Listen in to find out!

This week, Jomi & Hadley talk about what's making headlines on the African continent. Why were elephants dying in Botswana earlier this year? What has been going on in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe? Which countries are open for travel? Find out this week!

This week, Jomi and Hadley go back to basics and tell some good old-fashioned bush stories. From a gruesome lion kill to spotting one of Africa?s shyest creatures on foot, each of these sightings left Jomi and Hadley gaping at each other, wondering ?did that really just happen?!?

In this week?s episode, Jomi and Hadley discuss some of their favorite sightings and photographs taken in the bush. They talk about how photography is constantly evolving and how things like social media have altered?if not outright stigmatized?the practice of taking photos. While describing some of their favorite photos and videos, Jomi and Hadley walk you through the various ways you can document your safari?from taking photos to writing journal entries to keeping species lists, there is a perfect way for everyone.

They?re back! Having finished Tiger King, The Last Dance, and too many other Netflix series to count, Hadley and Jomi found themselves returning time and time again to the ?Nature? genre of Netflix. In Safari Stories? first episode of Season 2, find out which Africa documentaries, shows, and movies made their list of the absolute best, must-see films & series to get you ready and excited for your African safari.

What is overlanding? Hadley and Jomi share some of their chaotic adventures while overlanding through Namibia in this week?s episode. Find out how challenges such as dodgy ferry crossings, flat tires and broken fridges were overcome and why the sheer beauty and raw nature of Namibia makes it all more than worth it.

This week, Jomi and Hadley recount their experiences fighting fire (and the other elements) in the African bush. From fire-beaters to make-shift fire trucks, canoeing out of camp and roads washing away, this episode describes what it's like experiencing the radical highs and lows of the elements in the bush.

Did you know there is a bird that, after learning to fly, doesn?t set foot on land again for four YEARS?! And that there is a bird who sheds all its feathers to help insulate its eggs from the cold? In this week?s episode, Jomi and Hadley share stories about some of the super cool things birds do, why anyone can be a birder, and why everyone should!

It?s time for some more safari stories! This week Hadley and Jomi share some more of their wildest and most memorable experiences in the bush. From a leopard walking past their bedroom window to a warthog giving Jomi?s guests the fright of their life, these stories are testimony to why being in the bush is so addictive.

With travel restrictions slowly easing around the world, people are beginning to dream of when and where they will be able to travel next. For those dreaming of wide open spaces and remote nature, Africa may just be the perfect destination. In this week's episode, Jomi and Hadley walk you through the process of planning your first safari. How do you begin? How do you narrow down which country to go to, what time of year to go, how much money to spend, and lots more. For anyone that is thinking about going on safari, or knows they want to get planning, this is an essential listen!

In part 1 of this 2-part episode, Jomi & Hadley answer the questions they often get asked by people thinking about traveling to Africa: Is it safe? Will I get malaria? Is there Wi-Fi? Can my kids come? ?and much more! For anyone that?s thinking of going on their first safari (or is perhaps a bit nervous about going on a safari), this is an essential listen.

In this week?s episode, Jomi and Hadley reminisce on some of their favorite places in Africa and quickly walk you through what makes these places so special. They reveal their favorite place to: go on a walking safari, get off the beaten tourist track, go on a first time safari, feel like it?s your first time to Africa even if it?s your tenth, and more. They?ll also reveal what countries they are dying to go to next and why!

While on safari, it's not uncommon to wake up in the middle of the night to an unfamiliar sound. But what was that sound?! In this week's episode, Jomi and Hadley walk you through some of the most common (and their favorite) sounds of the bush. You'll learn what animal makes each sound, what it means, and why it's so special to get to hear it.

Want to know what it?s like living in the bush? In this week?s episode, Jomi and Hadley share some of the craziest (funniest) experiences they?ve had living in the bush. Find out which animal would wake them up in the middle of the night, which creature sent Hadley to the hospital, and as a bonus: why Jomi ran 150km in 3 days last week!

Take a walk on the wild side! This week, Jomi and Hadley talk about walking safaris--what they are, why they love them, and why it's safe to go walking in the bush alongside some of Africa's most iconic species. Tune in to hear them tell the stories of two of their favorite walks in the African bush and why they will never forget them.

Do you ever look around and wonder to yourself, how on earth did I get here? Well, we recently wondered the same and we got to reflecting on how we ended up moving to Africa, becoming safari guides, and all that followed. During this week's episode we discuss what brought us to Africa, why we fell in love with the continent, and why it's impossible to only go to Africa once.