Exclusive Journeys into
Africa’s Wild Heart –
Curated Just for You

Through an initial enquiry process I’ll learn more about you. I absolutely love to understand more about who you are, and what it means for you to be taking this journey. My intention is that you will return from your journey completely renewed and feeling full. So, it’s important that I understand what is important to you, what is essential for you to experience while you’re traveling, your absolute “no’s” and any other important bits of info.

I’m guided to an itinerary based on your preferences and information, as well as my own expertise and process. I’ll share ideas with you. Together we’ll discover the perfect mix of experiences, value and luxury within your budget considerations. Every step of your journey is considered from my side. From the moment you start throwing clothes into a suitcase, I visualise the flow of your travel itinerary carefully considering your comfort and ease.

Transfers door-to-door, regional and domestic transfers by helicopter (preferred to light aircraft, but can do either), boat, ferry, car. Degustation dining at the world’s best restaurants, relaxation and healing protocols in the best spas and wellness retreats in the world as well as the finest accommodation at properties that take sustainability and biodiversity seriously. I curate a holistic itinerary based on this foundational premise: Tourism for transformation. Not simply an increase of foot traffic and the ultimate destruction of local biomes.

Your bespoke luxury itinerary is a seamless start to finish experience where everything is taken care of. That includes transfers, experiences and luxury accommodation. It also includes attention to all the finer details like luggage handling, expedited customs and security at airports, priority boarding, premium seating on flights, coordination of flights to ensure minimum airport time, maximum relaxation. All your meals and drinks are included as far as possible.

Once your holiday begins, no further thought is required, and your hosts will know exactly what to offer you based on the magical offering at the location in combination with your preferences and requirements.

Although your holiday commences, and time zones and distance may separate you and your experience from me your journey curator, make no mistake, I am tracking your progress and making necessary changes and adjustments that may be required as “life happens” and things may change.

This is dependent on the itinerary. All details & costings will be provided. I compile a portal of information for every itinerary which means you have electronic access to all confirmations, bookings, reservation details, contact names and numbers, step-by-step day planner, as well as background information about every location, hotel and experience.

African experiences are available at a wide variety of price points, and I recommend that everyone visit Africa no matter what their budget may be. My luxury bespoke travel experiences generally start from USD1000 per person per day. Curated itineraries include accommodation at the very best properties and award-winning hotels including, at a minimum transfers, meals, drinks and experiences with world-class guides.

Africa is a fantastic option for solo travelers. Rwanda has been identified as the safest country in Africa and number 7 in the world for solo travelers. Properties I curate are hand-selected for world-class staff and experiences and solo travelers leave feeling like family. Further good news is that most of the properties I curate have solo traveler waivers in slow and low season and some offer this year-round. Let me know your preferred location and lets see what magic we can create for you.

We start our process with a conversation and me getting to know your preferences and absolute no-nos. With my expertise and your requirements, we find the perfect bespoke experience for you.

Changes are encouraged to suit your needs, desires and requirements perfectly. Also, sometimes Life happens and post facto changes are sometimes essential. Any cost implications to changes will be discussed at the time of making them.

Your passport will need to be valid for at least six months from the date you return home. You’ll also need two blank pages for each of the countries you’ll be visiting. Your visa, vaccination and travel insurance needs will be discussed and attended to as per the requirements of the countries you choose to visit.

As soon as I receive written confirmation about your itinerary, I’ll send out paperwork that may for example include a booking form and deposit invoice. Once I receive the deposit or booking payments and the completed booking form I can confirm all arrangements on the ground.

Yes. I can help with all of your flight needs. Most airlines release their flight schedules 299 days in advance. If your land bookings are made before flights are released, I will contact you as soon as they become available and finalize flights at the earliest possible date.

When you book with The Phoenix Journey, you’re given exclusive access to your own online portal of information including your itinerary and any tickets for international and regional flights and via email. Three weeks prior to your departure, I’ll send you your full travel pack. This will include your day-by-day itinerary, contact list, flight tickets, driving instructions if you’re self-driving, spa menus, travel experiences, destination information, packing lists and travel tips and more.

We recommend you visit your GP or a specialist travel doctor at least two months prior to departure. This will allow time for any necessary vaccinations and medication. Please be aware, if you’re visiting Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda or Ethiopia a yellow fever vaccination is compulsory. Your doctor may also recommend other vaccinations, depending on where you’re traveling (please remember to take your itinerary with you). These are not compulsory, so taking them will be at your discretion.

Africa is not only suitable for kids, but comes highly recommended. I’ve been traveling the African continent my whole life, as a born and bred African native and my formative years in the bush have shaped my deep appreciation of the natural world and my desire to preserve it for future generations. Also, as a mom to two boys, in a world of technology and gaming, it’s always a thrill for me to see my children taken in by the bush. Nature casts her magic spell. Most of the locations and properties curated have unique experiences for children, like junior ranger programs when on safari.

There are experiences in Africa to suit all levels of fitness at every age and stage of life. For example – most people believe that gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is only for the fit, where in fact this is not true. When a medical certificate is presented, guests are allocated a family of gorillas in close proximity to access points and porters can be arranged to assist where people have special mobility requirements.

Yes – the properties I curate can accommodate all special dietary requirements as specificities upfront when booking, including dietary restrictions, food allergies and religious restrictions. I record all of your dietary requirements in your booking form and share this with all properties to ensure you’re well cared for.

Most properties provide Wi-Fi free of charge. Should you be completely remote, there will be access to a satellite phone. I provide this information, as far as possible, when booking and provide a list of contact numbers that you can share with family should they need to contact you. In addition, the Phoenix Journey offers 24/7 support in a WhatsApp group in case of an emergency.

Should there be specific dress code requirements for any luxury rail trips included or other events curated, this will be detailed in your information portal provided, as will all packing guidance relevant to your locations. Rwanda, for example, has recommendations for trekking that are different to a diving and beach holiday to Madagascar. Also worth noting, at the properties included in my itineraries gear rooms and specialty centers largely accommodate all needs for their specific environments.

Many to most of the employees working in Africa rely on tipping as a main source of income. Where specific guidance is provided by individual properties, this is provided in the online information portal “thinkific” provided for each individual booking. General guidance on tipping is also provided there.

Power points vary between countries and regions, so please ensure you check the relevant country information included in the online information portal provided to you. A portable charger can also come in handy for smartphone users, especially when you’re on all-day safaris and taking lots of images and videos.

Again, properties are hand-selected for impeccably maintained environments where mozzies will hardly be noticed. To avoid being bitten by mozzies, always spray with an eco-friendly mozzie repellent before going out especially on ankles, feet, hands and arms. You can avoid insects by traveling in coller dry seasons too. If you’re traveling to a malaria area, it is best to speak to your GP before traveling to obtain any required medication.

Yes, credit cards can be used across most locations curated into these itineraries. Currencies used depend on which countries you’ll be visiting. South Africa and Namibia use the Rand and a few places use euros, but the majority of countries use US dollars. Each individual country has its own currency as well. Having USD is recommended for tipping and any gift purchases, and prevents you having local currency left at the end of a trip that can’t be used elsewhere. Journeys are also curated to ensure that all experiences, meals and drinks are included so that reaching for your wallet is not needed.

While tap water is considered safe in some countries (for example, South Africa and Namibia), bottled or filtered water is recommended and provided.