A snapshot

Born in South Africa, and having worked within Zambia, Kenya, and Tanzania, Jason has a passion for wildlife, which he loves to pass on to others. Having also worked for a UK-based safari tour operator, he brings his experience of creating special safari memories with him to YZ.

Expert destinations

Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa

Recent travel experience

A family reunion to Zimbabwe, spending 10 nights camping on the Zambezi river.

Most memorable experience

“As we all say, it’s so incredibly difficult to choose just one memorable experience.

Thinking back, being in the bush evokes incredible memories, from the big to the small. Taking time to be present, reading the spoor, working out what’s been happening or just being still and soaking in the sounds of the birds, the smells and the invigorating atmosphere of the bush, has given me so many rich memories that I treasure.

Something that stands out is a final farewell from an elusive camp leopard. We had heard stories and knew of encounters, but this leopard had eluded us for almost 2 years. However, on our last night in camp before leaving, we came around a corner and in our headlights was this amazingly beautiful big adult male leopard. He didn’t scurry off but took his time in front of us, staring intently and slowly walking away, turning back for a last glimpse just before we lost sight of him, as if to say farewell.

Another amazing memory is waking in the middle of the night to hippos munching on grass on one side of our see-through gauze tent, and an elephant and calf feeding off seed pods on the other. Our daughter was thrilled, and the excitement we felt for her to experience this was so special.

Also, while we were sitting around the campfire, we had a wild night of roaring lions surrounding our camp from what seemed all directions, with hyenas getting into the mix with their whoops. It was intense, as we could feel the power of the prides around us. This was my mother’s first experience of camping in the bush, one she will never forget.”

Jason's biography

Jason grew up in Cape Town, where his love of the outdoors, nature, and ocean started. He spent as much time as possible on the coast and enjoyed trips to the Karoo and the old family farm in the Kwazulu-Natal midlands.

A lover of wild camping in the bush with some luxury thrown in for good measure, Jason has lived in and spent time exploring parts of Kenyan, Tanzania, and Zambia. Having completed his FGASA field guiding course in the Sabi Sands, South Africa, he went on to work in the Selous Game Reserve (Nyerere N.P.) and Livingstone, Zambia.

He has also traveled through Kafue National Park, the Mara, Mafia, Tsavo, Amboseli, and he has spent as much time as he could in the Ruaha National Park. Other trips have included Zimbabwe, the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, the Mozambique coast, the Eastern Cape reserves, the Garden Route, and the Waterberg region of South Africa.

Now settled in Yorkshire with his wife and daughter, Jason joins YZ bringing with him experience from working for a UK-based specialist Africa travel tour operator, along with experience in Finance and Hospitality, and a foray into agriculture. He is now back doing what he’s truly passionate about.