www.
aardvarksafaris.co.uk l
P6
Q1: What’s key to planning the
perfect safari?
A:
To listen and not to assume that you know
best, but not to be afraid to use your experience
and knowledge either.
Q2: What’s your most memorable
safari moment?
A:
It’s hard to give a single answer, but watching
my daughter’s face when she saw her first lion, and
seeing more than 1,000 elephant in an afternoon in
Botswana would be pretty high up.
Q3: How did you end up in the safari
business/what is your background?
A:
I started life as a farmer, with good intentions
of spending my working life in that field, but I got
hooked by Africa at an early age too. In the end the
wanderlust won and I spent six years guiding all over
Africa before coming home to ‘settle down’, joining
Aardvark Safaris a while after.
Q4: What do you love most about your job?
A:
Putting clients in touch with the most
exhilarating continent on earth, hearing their
feedback, the chance to do something positive for
the people and wildlife of Africa, and my travels
there are a big bonus too.
Q5: What’s the strangest safari request
you’ve had?
A:
Not strange as such, but an unusual and
enjoyable one was arranging a wedding at Ol Donyo
in Kenya. I’ve also had fun with itineraries that
involve travel by foot, canoe and mokoro (dug-out
canoe) but don’t use a vehicle anywhere.
Q6: What would be your dream itinerary?
A:
It would include Sarara and a mobile with Karisia
in Kenya, then Sand Rivers in the Selous, as well
as walking with the Masai in the Crater highlands
in Tanzania. On to Old Mondoro in Zambia before
heading to Botswana for riding at Macatoo and
incredible wildlife viewing at Little Vumbura,
Kubu Island and San Camp. I’d try and squeeze
in canoeing and walking in Mana Pools before
the beach on Denis Island!
Q7: Where have you travelled
most recently?
A:
Namibia (see report on pages 3-4). A lot has
changed since my last visit 16 years ago and
some magnificent parts of the country have been
opened up to visitors.
Q8: Favourite camp?
A:
That’s really tough, but Greystoke Mahale in the
wilds of western Tanzania; Ant’s Hill, a terrific spot
in South Africa’s Waterberg; and Mandrare River
Camp in remote southern Madagascar.
Q9: Favourite safari activities?
A:
Canoeing, walking and riding, and also just
watching at a waterhole.
Q10: Favourite region?
A:
The Zambezi basin, including much of northern
Botswana and Zimbabwe, and western and
southern Zambia. Magnificent, wild country.
Q11: Best ever sighting?
A:
Wild dog in the Linyanti concession; just us
and the dogs for an hour and a half and no one
else within 20 miles.
Q12: What’s your favourite animal?
A:
Maybe elephant, wild dog or leopard, but
probably wildebeest.
Q13: What’s your sundowner choice?
A:
A nice cold beer, or a Bloody Mary if it’s
a wee bit chilly.
Q14: Most precious piece of safari kit?
A:
My camera, a relatively simple Nikon D90.
We continue our series of interviews with the sales team
with Francis Naumann from the Hampshire office.
Ask the Expert
FRANCIS NAUMANN
