Nico is a Kenya and South Africa expert at Yellow Zebra. Her passion for the wild has led her to explore vast stretches of our planet, with a particular focus on Southern and Eastern Africa.
About Nico
Hailing from Italy, Nico embodies a passion for the wild that spans continents. With almost a decade of experience as a seasoned travel planner, she has crafted complex and unique tailor-made travel experiences across the world. Specialising in Africa, from her recent solo self-drive adventure in Namibia to unforgettable moments under the African sky, Nico’s journey reflects a lifelong dedication to uncovering the raw beauty of Southern and Eastern Africa, amidst extensive global travel experience.
Nico’s latest escapade was a solo self-drive adventure in Namibia. Roaming through the remote corners of this breathtaking country, she rates the drive along the D707 road, through the Tiras Mountains from Luderitz to the NamibRand Reserve, as a must-do for every adventurous soul.
Nico's most memorable experience
Every safari is unforgettable, but some moments resonate deeply, reminding us of our place in the wild.
One such occasion happened when walking through the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Doing a multi-day walk through the bush, camping under the canopy of stars along the way, between one bush camp and the next, is already a defining experience. But one night, when our group was sitting cosily around the fire after dinner, a loud commotion made us all sit up and we witnessed a lioness dart through camp, between the fire and the bathroom, chased by a group of hyenas. What was a bad hunting session for the lioness, became a life-long memory for us.
Nico's biography
Nico was born in Italy, beneath the Alps. Her upbringing instilled a love for nature’s extremes. Camping, trekking, and mountaineering became second nature, propelling her to explore the world’s wild corners.
Growing up mostly in Italy but having lived in Tunisia, France, Spain, the UK, and Germany meant that by the time Nico had finished her degree in International Relations in Milan she was ready to truly scratch the travel itch and go explore the world. Long travels in Patagonia and Canada truly introduced the vastness of the natural world, but it was during her fist safari in Botswana that she really understood how humbling a truly wild and alive landscape can be.
Living by this point in London for some years and having started working for a boutique tour operator specialising in complex sabbaticals around the world, Nico jumped at the opportunity of African travels and soon she had added Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Uganda to her list of travels. Her journey, including a safari guiding course in Botswana, reflects a lifelong dedication to uncovering the beauty of the natural world.
"Yellow Zebra are genuine specialists; they know the African bush like the back of their hand."
Brian Jackman, safari expert for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast, and the BBC
Top Travel Specialists – Condé Nast Traveller UK – 2025
Europe's Leading Safari Tour Operator' at the World Travel Awards
"The Face to face Zoom meetings we had with our advisor, and his detailed personal knowledge of the both of the areas we were interested in were really helpful. He gave us the pros and cons of both to help us make an informed decision of where we actually wanted to go.
Once we knew which country w..."
Claire Meads
"Wies has made everything come together like we want."
david
"Matt was amazing! He helped us choose the best destination for our honeymoon and was very knowledgeable. He was very prompt and responsive via email and was helpful through every step of the process. Would always recommend yellow zebra! "
Rachel
"James is fantastic. So knowledgeable about Botswana and completely in tune with the type of trip that works for your family. He got it instantly. Couldn't recommend more. "
Emily becher
"I had a great experience booking my trip with Olivia, who was able to tailor my trip to Kenya to meet my budget. She worked very hard to book me into the best lodges at the best prices. Indeed her to adjust the schedule numerous times, and she was great at understanding my specific needs. I highl..."