Jo Anderson Safaris: A different kind of service.
- Eclectic, fun and erudite host with extensive practical experience of travel and safaris within Tanzania.
- One-to-one planning of your itinerary.
- Only the best ground outfitters in Tanzania.
- Varied safari experience; small camps and lodges, vehicle and foot based game viewing.
- Unique links to local social, development and environmental projects.
Why Tanzania.
For the wildlife enthusiast, wilderness junkie or getaway guru, Tanzania has everything. Mountains, savannah, coral reefs and forests; secret wildernesses, active volcanoes, vast plains and pristine beaches. Add to these natural jewels top class lodges and camps, a varied cultural mix and the friendly, peaceful approach of Tanzanians and you can understand why discerning people increasingly choose to visit the country.
It is the huge expanses of classic African habitat that make Tanzania a fascinating country to live in and explore. Many parks are by no means deserted of tourists, but there are large tracts of rarely visited wilderness that I like to use for some very special safaris. The variety and quantity of wildlife and scenery in Tanzania is unique in Africa. The political and social stability in Tanzania, the extensive areas protected for wildlife and its relative isolation from the effects of globalisation mean that there are both some spectacular and celebrated wildlife havens and World Heritage Sites such as Serengeti and Kilimanjaro, as well as many less well-known, but equally stunning wild spaces.
I hope that with my assistance, many of you will discover and share the incredible experiences that Tanzania has to offer.
The Privately Guided Experience.
There is a plethora of companies out there offering wildlife safaris, lodge safaris, camping safaris and Kilimanjaro treks. The vast majority operate in the mass travel market. This means that your itinerary is limited to certain kinds of lodges or camps, to specific set schedules and often means travelling in large and mixed groups.
A privately guided safari or climb allows you to set your own arrival and departure dates, to have a significant input into your itinerary and to enjoy a one-to-one hosted holiday when on holiday. It also allows you to develop a unique relationship with your guide, something that is rather unique to a safari holiday.
During a safari, wildlife viewing is undoubtedly the main feature, while a mountain climb has a very specific goal – reaching the summit. However there is so much more to my safaris and climbs than these one-dimensional aspects. For me being on safari or embarking on a climb is about putting yourself in an environment which is alien to that of your home. In such a place you can learn things you would never think about at home, you can see things that will change your view of the world and you can get to know parts of yourself that you never explore in the comfort of your usual surroundings.
This is why a well planned privately guided experience will give you much more than an off-the-shelf itinerary.
Jo Anderson: Consummate host and wildlife specialist.
I have lived and worked in Tanzania since 1995 and hope to stay here for as long as possible. My wife, Kate, and I believe that it is the most fantastic place for our children, Chloe and Solomon, and us to build our lives. It is a privilege to be able to guide people in some of the world's most beautiful and unforgettable landscapes, to see the megafauna of Africa in their natural habitats. I take pride in bringing a broader perspective to guests' visits and ensuring that they do not turn into a list-checking tour or a back-jarring rally form lodge to lodge, park to park. I always enjoy the company of guests who have come to relax in, learn from, experience and absorb the African bush.
While my academic training gives me a deep understanding of the ecology and conservation challenges facing African wildlife, it is my profound contentment at being in a remote bush camp, cold beer in hand, clear starry sky overhead and a crackling fire at my feet that compels me to encourage discerning travellers to visit Africa at least once.
I am equally at home working hand-in-hand with porters cleaning up Mt. Kilimanjaro, walking the Ngorongoro Highlands with Maasai friends or relaxing in one of Tanzania's finest lodges with my guests. By July 2006, I will have lead 50 climbs of Kilimanjaro, 6 climbs of Mount Meru and numerous walking and vehicle based safaris in Tanzania's Northern areas. I have hosted mixed groups, families, film crews and medical seminars from many countries including America, Great Britain, Australia and Germany.
