Jo Hudson
A true cross-country expert, backed by a decade of crafting itineraries and years of working in the field, Jo creates truly personal safaris that put you in the right place at the right time, with real passion in every trip.
Jo’s Recent Travel Experience
Most recently Jo returned to northern Tanzania and fell for the varied landscapes and the truly off-the-beaten-track feel of Wayo Manyara Green Camp. Within 90 minutes of landing in the Serengeti she watched wildebeest cross the Mara River, then capped it with a sunrise hot air balloon over the plains. Pure magic!
Jo’s Most Memorable Experience
“Choosing one is tough, there are so many! But one particular afternoon at Vumbura Plains in the Okavango stays with me. My mum had dreamed of visiting the Delta for 40 years, and we were lucky enough to go during the off-season (which is always worth considering for great rates and fewer visitors). We found a pride of lions sleeping by a lagoon and decided to wait. Other vehicles drifted off, but we were determined to see what would unfold. The light softened, the first lioness lifted her head, and the pride began to fan out toward a herd of lechwe in the water. The sun dropped, the water turned bright orange, and the reflections doubled the colour. Then the rush! For a few breathless minutes, it felt like it was just us and the cats, splashes in the water, Africa holding its breath. All over quickly but we stayed with the lions and watched them moving through the lagoon; insane photos and an unforgettable memory. I will always treasure it, all the more because I shared it with my mum.”
Jo’s Bio
Hailing from East Anglia, Jo was hooked early by her parents’ stories of life in Africa after years in Cape Town. Childhood was spent camping through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya. A BSc in Environmental Science and an MSc in Conservation Science at Imperial College followed, alongside volunteering in Fiji and Madagascar.
Over the next six years Jo worked on conservation projects across Africa. In South Luangwa she researched predator dynamics, slept under canvas with lions padding past, and tracked wild dogs in quiet corners of the park. In Botswana she worked with EcoExist in the Okavango Panhandle, weekdays on fieldwork, weekends drifting the channels, plus time camping on the Makgadikgadi pans, joining the aerial elephant census, and travelling through Chobe, Victoria Falls and Namibia to Cape Town. She then spent four years overseeing projects in Madagascar, a demanding but rewarding chapter in a country of rare wildlife.
After planning her own honeymoon, Jo discovered she loved crafting journeys and moved into luxury safari planning. She returns to Africa often for work and for the sheer joy of it. A champion of responsible travel, she helped create a sustainable tourism policy in her previous role and believes great safaris can help protect wild places.
Now at Yellow Zebra, Jo designs trips that are personal, well paced and conservation minded, from first safaris to complex multi-country adventures.
Expert Destinations
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Botswana
From dusty salt pans to delta floods, Botswana is a celebration of pristine African wilderness.
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Kenya
The original birthplace of safari, where world-class wildlife experiences and beautiful beaches meet.
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Tanzania
A classic safari destination home to big game, epic wildlife events, and iconic national parks.
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South Africa
Big Five safaris, lively cities, and dramatic coastlines. South Africa delivers exciting contrasts and variety.
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Namibia
Towering dunes, rugged coastlines, and breathtaking night skies. Namibia’s scenery is unlike anywhere else in Africa.
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Mauritius
The quintessential Indian Ocean island paradise getaway.
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Seychelles
A picturesque archipelago of white-sand beaches, rare wildlife, and exclusive private islands.
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Zambia
From walking in South Luangwa to Zambezi exploration, Zambia is as authentic as safari gets.
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Zimbabwe
Home to the legendary Victoria Falls and authentic safaris in remote, untouched wildlife reserves.
Jo’s Top Lodges
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Ikuka Safari Camp
From AU$1,176 – AU$1,474 ppIkuka Safari Camp is an upscale yet beautifully understated property in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park, run by safari experts and hands-on owners Mark and Chloe Sheridan Johnson, together with a top-notch team. Ikuka Safari Camp is an upscale yet beautifully…
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Vumbura Plains
From AU$3,244 – AU$5,595 ppIn the far north of Botswana’s vast, wildlife-dense Okavango Delta, Wilderness Vumbura Plains consists of two spacious camps on raised decks within the 60,000-hectare Vumbura Plains Private Wilderness Area. Surrounded by vast floodplains, pristine waterways,…
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Manyara Green Camp
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsLake Manyara is one of the first stops on a classic northern Tanzania circuit, a delightful first taste of the region’s beautiful landscape and home to some interesting and diverse game viewing opportunities. Due to their brilliant green ethos, Wayo Manyara…
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Lewa Wilderness Lodge
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsHome of the Craig family, who established Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Lewa Wilderness Lodge is a comfortable, family-friendly lodge surrounded by lawned gardens and the beautiful scenery of the Eastern Marania Valley. A main draw is the scope of activities for…
