Memoirs of a Safari Guide through Essays, Stories and Poetry of Africa

Discover Africa through the thoughts, words and photography of professional safari guide, Leigh Kemp. Leigh has guided in Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia for more than 25 years.

A Wilderness Place

A safari in Botswana opens a book on the cycle of seasons, life and death in the wilderness...more

Africa Safari Guide Experiences - Call of the Hunter

Game hunters are an interesting collection of mindsets and ideas, and often a hunting safari to Africa is linked to a photographic safari in...more

Africa Safari Guide Experiences - Chimpanzee Trekking

Chimpanzee tracking in the Mahale Mountains not only requires stamina, but patience and steadfastness, and the ability to move quietly...more

Africa Safari Guide Experiences - Harming by Caring

Gorillas and chimpanzees are susceptible to human diseases, and this is why travellers are urged to maintain a safe distance. For the good o...more

Africa Safari Guide Experiences - Ngorongoro Crater

The wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater is spectacular, with most species of northern Tanzania represented in a small area, making game viewin...more

Africa Safari Guide Experiences - No Safari is Ever Disappointing

Travelling, as in life, asks that we get the best on offer and I have often been asked by guests as to the best place in Africa to go on saf...more

African Safari Guide Experiences - Chimpanzee Contact

One of the best places to experience chimpanzees in east and central Africa are Mahale Mountains National Park on Lake Tanganyika, arguably ...more

Birds of Africa

Birds were one of my first interests as a kid growing up on a farm and I have maintained this interest throughout my life. I have always bee...more

Botswana Experiences - Dust, Light and Shadows

Light, in its various forms, turns a moment from the [ordinary] to the spectacular. Every moment in the wilderness is spectacular. You only ...more

Hours Beyond Midnight

Hours Beyond Midnight. Wake up to the sound of a leopard somewhere in the Kalahari, on your Botswana desert wilderness safari...more

Legend of the Big Five - Clearing Up the Misperceptions

The Big Five. Originally the most difficult, or most dangerous, animals to hunt, are now the gauge of a successful African safari. And the b...more

Living Africa Journal - After the Fire

Dawn breaks in a musty-scented, smoke-smudged awakening, breaking over still smouldering plains blackened in the light. The sun pushes meekl...more

Living Africa Photo Journal - Haunted by Africa

Africa – the name inspires, evoking images of a forgotten part of us / our souls – a part that we yearn to embrace or that we attempt to...more

Safari Guide Experiences - Echoes of Olduvai

It would be so easy to drive past Olduvai Gorge when on route to the Serengeti from Ngorongoro Crater – and many people do. Granted the go...more

Safari Guide Experiences - Human Perspectives on Wilderness

Most people who visit the wilderness do so to restore their souls and to appreciate all it teaches humanity but there are many, and the numb...more

Safari Guide Experiences - Sunsets in Africa

The sunset stop is an integral part of the African safari, a rite of passage for any self-respecting safari-goer, and sunset photography riv...more

Safari Guide Experiences - The New Wilderness Ideals

Competition in economically trying times is tough but adding gimmicks to what should be an experience of soul restoration is pushing the lim...more

Safari Guide Experiences - Wilderness Perspectives – There is Still Place

There are still places in Africa where the values of the earth have remained relatively unchanged by Western ideals, and although some of th...more

Selous Game Reserve - Tanzania Safari Experience

Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve is one of Africa’s greatest wilderness areas, and is today fast gaining a deserved reputation as one of t...more

The Carnivore Restaurant. Best Nairobi Restaurants

The Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi has since stopped serving much of the game meat it was famous for but the experience is no less intimida...more

The Flamebird

Early African explorers wrote of 'lakes of flames' and 'ribbons of fire' after seeing the millions of flamingos lining the shores of the lak...more

The Trickiness of Photographing Insects

Insects are fascinating creatures, with the most diverse range of colours, patterning and behaviour types in the animal kingdom. I have spen...more

Zambia Safari - Activities on the Zambezi

The mighty Zambezi River provides for the most adventurous activities in Africa, with the Lower Zambezi adding Big Game to the adventure...more
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