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Catherine has just relocated back to the UK from living in Maun, Botswana. She has also worked in Zambia and Malawi, and she first traveled to Africa nearly two decades ago.
Growing up, Catherine traveled to many African countries on safari with her family, fuelling a passion for everything Africa. In more recent years she lived in Zambia and, predominantly, Botswana. She also has a guiding qualification, a degree in Wildlife Conservation, and is currently studying a Masters in Sustainability part time!
South Africa, Botswana, Zambia
Catherine has just returned from living in Botswana. As she was based in Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta, the opportunity for a safari was never far away. Her most recent trip in Botswana was when her family went to visit. She took them on safari in Khwai, then traveled to the northwestern part of the Delta to explore the channels by boat and mokoro, as well as spending a night fly camping on a secluded island. The last few days were spent in the CKGR, offering a stark contrast to the Delta! Catherine also recently spent a month in South Africa, on a trip that put over 8,000 km on her car!
One of the most exhilarating experiences was from my time working in South Luangwa, Zambia. The guests I was hosting had just left camp after breakfast, and I sat back on the chairs overlooking the Luangwa river to finish my coffee. The tranquillity of the morning was broken as the impala on the riverbed in front suddenly scattered, followed by a pack of wild dog in close pursuit. It was over as quickly as it had begun, as the dogs made a successful kill, all within close viewing distance. Fortunately, the guides had also seen the wild dog running past as they left camp, so the guests had an amazing sighting too, and we all shared in the excitement when they returned for brunch.
Second to this – less exhilarating, but equally memorable – was from a trip with my family to the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana. Whilst the time was filled with many incredible moments, the most breathtaking was the evening we spent sleeping out on the pans. It was winter, and it gets very cold there. But, as we tucked ourselves into our beds (pre-warmed by hot water bottles), the chill in the air didn’t matter, as our only focus was the most incredible starry night sky. Falling asleep gazing into the depths of the Milky Way, is something I will never forget.
Catherine first travelled to South Africa nearly two decades ago and has been fortunate enough to do many safaris with her family, including trips to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Mauritius, and Mozambique.
When Catherine finished school, she went to volunteer in Namibia for a charity that works to reduce elephant–human conflict in the Damaraland area, followed by a visit to Botswana to stay with family friends that lived in Maun. She returned to the UK to study an originally planned law degree, but as she continued her visits back to Botswana she became convinced that was where she wanted to live and worked to change her plans. Catherine instead completed a degree in Wildlife Conservation and during that time she also studied at the Okavango Guiding School. There she obtained her FGASA Level 1. She undertook her research on human wildlife coexistence separately, on the outskirts of the Okavango Delta.
On completing her degree, Catherine moved to the South Luangwa in Zambia to work for Robin Pope Safaris. She spent two years immersed in bush life, which was the fulfilment of years of dreaming and planning. Over this time, she worked in every RPS camp in the South Luangwa, as well as relief managing in Malawi too! The trips to Botswana involved visiting friends, and the country had already become a home from home. Catherine was subsequently offered a position as Reservations Manager for a safari company there and she made the move to Maun. This location, as the bustling hub of the safari industry, was the perfect place to gain more knowledge and experience. Catherine continued to travel extensively in Botswana, spending weekends in the bush where possible, and taking trips to South Africa too. Catherine has now returned to the UK and, to continue her passion for African travel and safaris, she has joined the Yellow Zebra team.
Brian Jackman, safari expert for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast, and the BBC
8 years in a row, since 2015
UK / International
CA
Australia
