Drumbeat UK Autumn 16

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Q1: What’s key to planning the
perfect safari?
A: Understanding the wishes of whoever I’m
planning the trip for. My suggestions for a family
holiday would be quite different to those for a
honeymoon safari. I enjoy taking time to really find out
what my clients are hoping to get out of their safari.
Q2: What’s your most memorable
safari moment?
A: Having a sundowner in Liuwa Plains in Zambia
and watching around 1,000 pelicans fly in formation
towards the lagoon in front of us. They settled there
while African skimmers flitted around the stream
behind us. The whole thing was tinged pink by the
setting sun – quite magical.
Q3: What do you love most about your job?
A: Without doubt, it is hearing wonderful feedback
and knowing I’ve helped someone else fall in
love with Africa.
Q4: What’s the strangest safari request
you’ve had?
A: When I first worked in Zambia I was asked over
the radio to bring a ‘lake’ into camp. When I questioned
this I was told it was to get the ‘reaves’ into the ‘liver’.
Much confusion followed until the giggling office
staff told me that sometimes r’s and l’s get mixed up.
Actually what was needed was a rake for the leaves to
put them in the river - which made much more sense!
Q5: What would be your dream day?
A: I would start gorilla tracking in Rwanda, then
lunch at Luangwa House watching the elephants. Off
to the Okavango Delta next before sundowners on the
spectacular Makgadikgadi Pans.
Q6: Favourite safari activity?
A: It has to be riding. There’s nothing like exploring
the African wilderness on a horse. You get so much
closer to the wildlife and can get into areas simply
inaccessible to a vehicle.
Q7: Where are you going to visit next?
A: South Africa and Mozambique in October. I’ll be
revisiting a few old favourites in South Africa and I am
particularly looking forward to riding at Tswalu as well
as my first trip to Azura Benguerra in Mozambique.
Q8: How did you end up in the
safari business?
A: I climbed Kili in February 2007 and fell under
Africa’s spell. By June the same year I’d got a job
managing a camp for Norman Carr Safaris in Zambia.
I was supposed to be there for five months but stayed
nearly four years. I joined Aardvark Safaris
in 2010 and haven’t looked back.
Q9: What’s your favourite animal?
A: Impossible. As long as it’s not a snake
I’m happy.
Q10: What’s your sundowner choice?
A: G&T.
Q11: Favourite country?
A: Zambia. It’s where I spent so much time and the
South Luangwa Valley is like a second home to me.
Q12: Best ever sighting?
A: An extraordinary encounter with a leopard and
wild dog in Botswana: the leopard was mid-way up
a tree with its kill when a pack of wild dog shot
into view causing it to drop the quarry. The
ensuing fight over the spoils was high octane
stuff. The wild dogs were the eventual winners,
with a furious leopard slinking off through
the bush.
Q13: Most precious piece of safari kit?
A: My camera - and a kikoy to wrap it in to keep
the dust off.
Q14: What do you like most about
being on safari?
A: Space, peace and being in the wilderness.
Continuing our series of interviews with the sales team,
Lucinda Rome from Aardvark’s Hampshire office gives
an insight into her role planning safari holidays.
Ask the Expert
LUCINDA ROME