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Training Manager
Kirsten is one of our most experienced safari consultants. She is confident and knowledgeable designing trips across the whole of Africa, but her knowledge of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia is especially good.
Born and raised in South Africa, Kirsten is one of our most experienced safari consultants. Her knowledge of ground operations across Southern Africa was the reason we hired her at Yellow Zebra; she has over ten years experience in South Africa alone.
Botswana, Kenya, Seychelles, South Africa, Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Kirsten returns to South Africa every year to see her family; however, her most recent trip had her returning to Kenya, this time as a solo traveler. Here's her guide on what you can expect when traveling by yourself on safari.
Other recent YZ trips have seen her return to South Africa's Kruger and its private reserves, explore Mauritius again, take an extensive trip to Botswana for the second time, and visit Tanzania twice exploring the north, south, and then Zanzibar.
“My most memorable safari was in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique – a remote and truly wild park that very few people ever get to visit. I can never convey the feeling of being the only guests in a park of this size – a park adored by safari enthusiasts! We were out on our afternoon game drive and it started to pour with rain so we found shelter under a large tree and waited for the rain to stop. Once the rain had stopped the sun came out and with it a porcupine and its baby came out from a bush to dry off in the sun. For me safari is all about magical moments like this. Safari is not all about the Big Five!”
Kirsten was born and bred in Durban on South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal coast. After studying Travel and Tourism, Kirsten worked for a ground agent in South Africa, running the main safari accounts. In March 2010 Kirsten moved to the UK with her husband and was snapped up by one of the UK’s leading safari operators. After four years working as their head of Southern African operations, Kirsten joined us at Yellow Zebra.
Kirsten has extensive knowledge of South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, and Mauritius – all are destinations she knows inside out and are the areas she focuses on at Yellow Zebra. Her knowledge of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Seychelles, Kenya, and Tanzania is also extensive, having visited each country whilst working in the industry, and as a child growing up in Southern Africa.
Her experience working on the ground in Africa is invaluable as a sales consultant – very few specialists worldwide have this kind of experience. This in-depth knowledge of some of our main destinations makes her invaluable to Yellow Zebra and separates her from the vast majority of Southern Africa ‘experts’ out there. She is incredibly thorough with a real focus on the detail of her clients' trips. The best safaris are all about the detail…!
“Yellow Zebra planned an amazing safari for my husband and I! Kirsten worked with us to develop an itinerary that had lodges that complemented each other and provided a diverse experience... We definitely wanted to go and Kirsten made that happen. She answered all of our questions and scheduled our Covid tests in our lodges so they were convenient. Our safari far exceeded our expectations!"
"Kirsten listened to what we wanted in the trip and revised the itinerary a few times before confirming the booking to make sure we had the best experience possible. Her planning was thorough and all we had to do was literally show up in South Africa! Everything was arranged for us."
"I have booked holidays through Yellow Zebra every year since 2015 (and already booked for 2020!) travelling to Zambia, and can say that my bookings and requests have all been excellently handled by Kirsten... and the rest of the team who I have spoken to, nothing is too much trouble and I was kept fully informed through the booking process, and follow ups."
Brian Jackman, safari expert for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast, and the BBC
10 years in a row, since 2015
"Matt, my planner contact, has been wonderful: super knowledgeable, efficient, thorough, friendly. I don't travel for some months, but the research and booking processes were excellent. Started with two additional travel companies but narrowed it to Yellow Zebra as the best. "
Jeanne Likins
"Incredible from start to finish. From giving them our budget to coming up with an amazing safari adventure , everything planned from touch down in nairobi to departure day. Leading up to departure they were great at supplying full itinerary, advice on clothing, photography, tips, and sorting out..."
Heidi
"Excellent service from Yellow Zebra. Excellent communication before and after our safari to Walkers Plains camp. Catherine really listened to what we wanted ) being our first safari ) and gave her hands on experience and advice. Could not fault them at all. Excellent holiday and service "
monica elizabeth
"Lauren Noakes gave us exceptional service as she helped us plan our first-ever Safari on short notice. We were given red carpet treatment all along the way and had the time of our lives on our Yellow Zebra Safari. Thank you Lauren! Your knowledge and passion for your work are an asset to those..."
Catherine Trescony
"Yellow Zebra was easy to work with. They listened to my needs and made the best recommendation. Our trip is going to be amazing because of Yellow Zebra. "
Sandy Young
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