2025: A year in the wild

It’s been another cracker of a year at Africa Born! We love sitting down at the end of the season and looking back on the incredible adventures, superb wildlife encounters and those quiet, magical moments that make Africa truly unforgettable. 

In 2025 we hosted 539 intrepid guests on 113 safaris across 12 countries including Botswana, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. We’ve also welcomed two new members to our Africa Born team: Violet in Operations and Kate, who has joined our South African sales team. 

Monthly highlights

Yet again, our amazing guides took some epic photos this season. It’s always hard to whittle them down to just 12, but here’s a handful that best depict our favourite moments out adventuring in the bush:

January - starting the year in the company of gorillas

Highlight: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda with guide Rob: incredible sightings of these iconic primates and an idyllic stay at Singita Kwitonda: one of our favourites.

Top tip: January is an ideal time to visit the gorillas in Rwanda - the short dry season makes for clearer trails, easier trekking and great gorilla encounters. We always recommend that guests book two treks to ensure they get the most out of their visit - no two days are the same in the mountains and gorillas can be docile or surprisingly energetic. 

February - Sisterhood on safari in Tanzania

Highlight: From chimp encounters to fireside sundowners, I led a fun and inspiring group of friends on a memorable adventure across Tanzania.

Top tip: A private guide adds an extra dimension to your trip. Our depth of expertise, resources and local knowledge means you really get the most out of your time on safari and your travel and logistics are totally seamless.

March - The Africa Born family sets sail

Highlight: The Africa Born family gets together in Watamu for some ocean adventures with the little wildlings. A fun couple of days of kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing the Africa Born dhow, Montagu.

Top tip - March is an awesome time to make the most of Spring Break and to head to the coast with kids. The end of season calm waters are perfect for younger ones to get to grips with snorkelling, kayaking and paddle boarding.

April - Sabi Sands: wild dogs, rhinos and big cats up close

Highlight: South Africa’s Sabi Sands always delivers on wildlife, but guide Lucien had a particularly standout trip with some Africa Born repeat guests this season. They were treated to some insane rhino, big cat and wild dog sightings: Sabi Sands is one of the few places where wild dogs are seen regularly, often hunting in broad daylight.

Top tip: Sabi Sands offers all the advantages of a private reserve, with the added bonus of an unfenced border with spectacular Kruger National Park, meaning wildlife can roam between the two. As always, an Africa Born private guide and team of trackers makes all the difference when spotting some of Africa’s most elusive wildlife, particularly when in a private reserve where we can drive off-road and head deep into the bush.

May: Solitude and storms in the Serengeti 

Highlight: May marked another great trip with return guests, who have now become firm friends. For their third Africa Born safari, Paolo and I headed to the Serengeti for blissful off-season solitude: dramatic skies, empty plains and exceptional wildlife: all to ourselves. 

Top tip: Visiting the Serengeti off-season can be a real winner. The occasional storm makes for incredible photography and - if you’re lucky - you’ll also catch the first days of the migration heading west, without the crowds. 

June - Ethiopia by helicopter 

Highlight: Paolo was only too delighted to take some of our most intrepid repeat guests on a  raw, real and unforgettable heli safari to the edge of the map. Ethiopia’s blend of adventure, culture, vast untamed landscapes and rare wildlife is hard to beat. It’s not every day you see a plant-eating wolf!

‍Top tip: Experiencing Ethiopia from the air is nothing short of spectacular - from above, the landscape unfolds like a living map. Which is why we recommend a heli safari, as it gives the freedom to cover vast distances in minutes and stop wherever guests fancy - volcanic craters, hot springs, remote riverbank fishing spots…

July - Migration madness in the Mara! 

Highlight: A stay in our Mara mobile camp offers the best of both worlds: an exclusive, crowd-free safari but close to the heart of the action. This July, we whisked our families off to the Mara in between safaris and - on arrival - we stumbled upon a gentle crossing happening right before our eyes! 

Top tip: The Mara can be crowded during the migration months, and so we would always recommend our mobile camp alongside a Private Guide. Tucked away in a quieter corner of the reserve, our Private Mobile Camp is perched right on the Sand River and we often have wildlife wandering right through camp. 

August - School’s out, Safari’s on!

Highlight: August school holidays are always a popular month with families, be it returning guests or first timers. And when there’s enthusiastic kids in tow, we’re all about getting out of the car! Walk, bike, ride, dance… there’s so much on offer for those who want to be active on safari! 

Top tip: Start planning early if you want to travel at this time of year: at least 18 months in advance, as it’s a busy time.

September - A Kenyan kite adventure 

Highlight: When the brief was unlimited kitesurfing, no crowds and a wild and untouched Kenyan coastline, it was a no-brainer. Paolo took our guests to the remote Kiwayu Island, north of the Lamu archipelago and based our safari between a liveaboard traditional Kenyan dhow and a secluded private Island camp. Kites pumped, lines checked, the boys were out every day in epic conditions.

Top tip: We tend to recommend booking the dhow alongside private beach bandas, as it gives guests the option to sleep on dry land. The bandas are also a great place to base yourself, store kites and get some sand between your toes. 

October - Castaway to Fanjove Private Island 

Highlight: Exploring Fanjove Private Island, a secluded coral island off Tanzania’s coast - and what a discovery! Paolo stayed in one of the beach villas with turquoise water lapping on our doorstep, watched black tip sharks from the coral cliffs, and ended the day with sundowners and epic views from the top of the 1894 lighthouse.

Top tip: Fanjove’s spa is world-class, and the island’s general vibe of simplicity, space and calm made it really special. This private island perfectly captures the essence of barefoot luxury: a great end to a safari.

aerial beach shot

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November - Our boardroom in the bush

Highlight: Our annual Africa Born AGM is always great fun. This year our sales, operations and marketing team gathered in Tsavo East - wild surroundings, great conversations and heartfelt appreciation for the people who make it all happen. We also stayed in a beautiful private house that we all agreed would be great for groups and families - watch this space…

‍Top tip: Tsavo East is elephant country: home to some of Kenya’s largest and most iconic herds. It’s vast and wild, with a rugged beauty all of its own. A great destination for photographers and those who like to walk the path less trodden.

December - Happy Christmas from the Mara!

Highlight: Both Paolo and I took our families to our Mara mobile camp for a pre-Christmas get-together, before the season kicks off. As always, this beautiful tucked away camp absolutely delivered on the wildlife - lions, ellies, waterbuck and giraffe all passed by our tents. This was the perfect way to thank our families for rolling with the pace of another busy year!

Top tip: We’re all about stripping back the Christmas noise, and our Mara mobile is the ideal setting to unplug from the festive mayhem and enjoy family time immersed in nature, with no distractions, great food and the best company. Fancy it next Christmas?!

It’s been an absolute whirlwind… of the very best kind! Thank you to our ever-intrepid guests, guides and entire Africa Born team for making it such a fun ride. We’ll be back at it in the New Year cooking up some new itineraries, destinations and bucket list experiences. We can’t wait for 2026!