About me
A family safari to Zambia in 1991 kick-started my love for the continent and its wildlife – I returned, first for four months in Zimbabwe after my A levels, and every year until I gave up the call of the City and decamped to Zambia to train as a guide. A hidden corner of South Luangwa became my home for two years, where I ran a tiny bushcamp and became involved in various game management projects, as well as introducing my guests to the bush and all the secrets it hides. I have returned nearly every year since. Zambia’s guides are the best of the best, and it’s their infectious enthusiasm that has brought me back year after year.
I returned to the UK to work in the travel industry, which has given me some incredible opportunities – so far I have travelled extensively through Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Malawi and recently returned from a spectacular exploration of Madagascar – a long-held dream of mine.
Favourite places I've been
Lower Zambezi, Zambia – elephating elephants (standing on their hind legs to reach the topmost branches of trees) and tiny lion cubs
Perinet, Madagascar – the haunting call of the indri, Madagascar’s largest lemur, in the early morning is not to be missed
South Luangwa, Zambia – the best guiding I have ever experienced in magical remote surroundings
Sossusvlei, Namibia – the bright orange dunes, just begging to be scrambled up!
Manafiafy Camp, Madagascar – sundowners on the high granite rocks with enormous waves breaking all around us before a night lemur walk
Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana – watching the sun set and the moon rise over the vastness of the pans
Likoma Island, Lake Malawi – superb diving in crystal clear waters
North Luangwa, Zambia – the wildest park I have ever visited, our walk ended up tracking two male lions through the bush – exciting!
Okavango Delta, Botswana – nothing quite like drifting through the delta’s narrow channels in the early morning, the waters so clear you can see straight through to the bottom!
Nyika Plateau, Malawi – An amazing landscape, almost lunar, a little Scottish, but with herds of eland and zebra dotted around!
Travel nuggets
I always carry a travel diary and last thing at night write about everything I’ve seen, done, experienced, tasted, heard during the day, no matter how tired I am. It’s a lovely way of keeping those holiday memories alive.
Make time to sit for an hour or so in the Luwi Bush Camp hippo hide – there are a startling number of hippos in the lagoon, and just before dusk they all start to yawn and occasionally squabble – it’s an amazing sight!
Always learn a few words of the local language, no matter where you are. It takes mere minutes but is a huge compliment.
Hot picks
Manafiafy Beach and Rainforest Lodge, Madagascar – a stunning lodge on the southern tip of Madagascar, with waves crashing onto the beach mere seconds from the rooms. Have a sundowner on the rocks with views to the far mountains before taking a night walk in the forest to find nocturnal lemurs.
Old Mondoro, Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia – this little camp has it all. Set in the most beautiful grove of Winterthorn trees which attract enormous numbers of very relaxed elephant bulls. We spent our afternoons drifting on the Zambezi, close to the elephants as they waded from island to island.
Duba Plains, Okavango Delta, Botswana – famous for the clashes between lions and buffalo, we went out for a morning and watched, on the edge of our seats, as lions slowly surrounded the buffalo – before the tables turned and the buffalo got up and attacked back! There were lions running everywhere!
My blogs
Mesmerising Madagascar
Caracals and camels
What my guests have said
"It was the best trip we have ever taken...and we've travelled quite a bit. Everything exceeded our expectations, from the original planning of the trip right through to the end. We experienced a great level of service from everyone we met. It was a great surprise to us that Anna had mentioned our 30th wedding anniversary to each of the places we stayed at. From Tongabezi Lodge, who provided a welcome bottle of champagne, to each of the lodges that set up a private dinner for us, we were made to feel very special. It was completely unexpected as I think I just mentioned once to Anna that it we were treating ourselves to this trip for our anniversary. She obviously made a note of it! :) Thanks for a fabulous holiday!"
"We found Anna to be very knowledgeable and helpful and she was able to answer all of our questions. We had never travelled to Africa before, so had a few concerns regarding safety/security, which she was to answer because of her own experience in the area."
"Very impressed with Anna who handled our booking - extremely efficient and knowledgeable. This was our first time of booking through your agency and we will use Scott Dunn again in future."
