WILD AGAIN STORIES
Imagine being so close to a wild elephant that you could touch it. Imagine seeing individual water droplets on a lion’s muzzle as she lifts her head from drinking. Imagine witnessing a soft-padded leopard as she secretly slinks to the water’s edge, or the chattering flurry of guinea fowl as they take their morning drink. This is the magic of a hide. Concealed and safe, you sit amongst the wildlife, and are afforded a front row glimpse into their world.
Wild Again guest, Steph, shares as her dream of trekking with gorillas came to life on a memorable trip to Buhoma, Uganda.
A safari holiday is the best family holiday out there! What sets a safari apart from any other family holiday is that for a few hours each day, the whole family is together on a game-viewing vehicle or boat, out in the wilderness. This means no cell service, no screens, no busyness or distractions, no work or school responsibility, just dedicated time together searching for some of earth’s most enigmatic animals. There is such a sense of adventure and spaciousness that is missing in our day-to-day lives. And on a safari, there is something interesting for every generation in the family.
Founder, Private Guide and Safari Planner
Being born the daughter of David Attenborough (it’s true but he’s probably not the one you’re thinking of) I don’t believe I ever really had much choice about what direction my life would take. I grew up in the city of Durban, South Africa but for as long as I can remember nature has called to me. Whenever I could I would escape to the forests around my home barefoot and in search of chameleons and red duiker to befriend.
And so in 2010, after completing my Journalism and Media Studies degree, I followed that calling to the wilds of Southern Africa to become a game ranger. I planned to stay for a year but it turned into ten. During that time, I worked at Phinda Private Game Reserve, Ngala Private Game Reserve and Londolozi Game Reserve, some of South Africa’s most prestigious lodges and immersed myself in the natural world. I learnt to track animals with Zulu and Shangaan trackers and spent as much time as I could on foot approaching animals with my guests. I also put my photojournalism degree to use by becoming a specialist photographic guide. I travelled to Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, India and throughout South America in search of wildlife. My greatest adventure was living in Gabon training local guides for the WWF and Smithsonian Institute, where we spent weeks at a time living like early nomads in the dense and remote coastal forests, fulfilling a life-long dream of tracking and habituating wild gorillas. Seeing how embodied and present animals are inspired me to begin practicing yoga. I am a qualified vinyasa and yin teacher and spent six months training under a Hatha master in Boulder, Colorado. I am also a certified Martha Beck life coach. With this mixture of knowledge, interests and skills, I started Wild Again to help others really experience the wild places I know and love so much. Through my specialised Wellness Safaris that incorporate yoga, meditation, mindfulness and personalised life coaching I continue to grow more conscious safaris that return people to nature and to themselves. As we re-wild ourselves we hear the earth, our common mother, again. It is only then that we can co-create with her healing.
Tell us if you’re keen to plan a safari or join a retreat. We’re ready to create your dream experience.
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