Lauren Lees | Africa Safari Specialist

Lauren has a wealth of knowledge, having guided across Safari Africa and worked for some top tour operators both in the UK and in sub-Saharan Africa. Her knowledge of Tanzania, Botswana, and Victoria Falls is superb.

A snapshot

Lauren joined the Yellow Zebra team when she decided it was time to return from living in East Africa. Through guiding overland safaris across Africa, Lauren has built up a wealth of knowledge of all the destinations where we design safaris. However, her specialist areas at YZ are Tanzania, Botswana, Victoria Falls, and Cape Town.

Recent travel experience

Lauren’s recent excursions to Africa have included a trip to Tanzania’s western reserves, in which she visited YZ favourites Mahale and Katavi national parks. She also enjoyed a two-week adventure to the northern reaches of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, to experience the newest and most exclusive camps and lodges.

Expert destinations

Tanzania, Botswana, Victoria Falls, Cape Town.

African countries visited

Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

Lauren's biography

Lauren found herself carving a career in a field that she found rather uninspiring. On having a light-bulb moment – ‘There has to be more to life than this!’ – she decided to up sticks and go travelling! The African continent was first, followed by Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the USA – a trip that would take 10 months… apparently.

Having fallen head over heels for Africa, Lauren made it as far as Thailand before cancelling the rest of her ticket and booking a one-way back to South Africa. For the next three-and-a-half years, Lauren worked as a guide for an overland camping safari company, travelling through South Africa all the way up to Uganda and back again. When living out of a dome tent became too much, she returned to South Africa, where she worked in Operations. Lauren returned to the UK to work as an African specialist for a reputable worldwide luxury travel company, but it wasn’t long before Africa came calling again.

Lauren then spent three years living in Tanzania. Here, she worked for leading tour operator Legendary Expeditions, which owns the likes of the sensational Mwiba Lodge. Lauren’s final year on the continent, 2015, saw her living on the beach island paradise Zanzibar, where she assisted in the start-up of a small tour operator and worked as a PADI scuba diving instructor.

Most memorable experience

“There are way too many to choose just one… feeling elephants brush past my dome tent in the middle of the night in Botswana, climbing the rocky outcrops of Spitzkoppe in Namibia, hiking from the Empakaai Crater to Lake Natron in Tanzania, trekking the mountain gorillas in Uganda… oh, and following a pack of wild dog in Ruaha National Park on my most recent trip to Tanzania. This list is endless!!”

Client reviews

"...Our family was truly blown away with Lauren’s suggestions for our overnight accommodations. The staffs, rooms, grounds, meals, and amenities at RiverTrees Country Inn, Plantation Lodge, Lemala Ndutu Camp, and Pongwe Beach Hotel were phenomenal!! Lauren even arranged for a birthday party in the Serengeti!! Our family, ranging from five year olds to an 80 year old, had the trip of a lifetime..."

"Lauren Lees at Yellow Zebra put together our dream safari trip. Lauren advised my wife and I on lodge and camp choices in the various safari locations. Her knowledge of the different game camps was crucial in allowing us to choose where to stay. Her recommendations were all fantastic destinations, with breath-taking wildlife, skilled guides and welcoming staff..."

“I am so grateful for Lauren of YZ, who helped me plan the trip of a lifetime! Everything was as Lauren said it would be and to me… that matters! My heart is still smiling and I want to Thank You Yellow Zebra!”