Safaris with Frank Steenhuisen

"See Africa through my eyes"

frank safarifrank steenhuisen private guide our team

Simply put, I am obsessed with being on safari – it’s gone beyond passionate!

I don’t think it’s possible for me to grow tired of sharing Africa’s wild places with my guests. Whether it’s the thrill of tracking lions on foot, sitting around a campfire in the middle of nowhere, diving through thickets to view an elusive bird or helping you improve your photography – being on safari is my happy place and I promise to make it yours too.

I hold safari guiding qualifications in both South Africa & Botswana and I’ve specialised into photographic, birding and walking safaris – I’ve been fortunate enough to take my guests to some of the finest safari destinations across Africa on privately guided safaris. These destinations have included South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park, Botswana’s Okavango Delta & surrounds, Zambia’s Liuwa Plains – South Luangwa – Luambe & Lower Zambezi National Parks and Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou & Mana Pools National Parks.

Start Planning!

Originally born in Pretoria, I spent the first half of my childhood in South Africa. At the age of 5, my family acquired a holiday home situated in the open wildlife system of the Greater Kruger National Park. The frequent visits to our home in the bush ignited my passion and curiosity for all things wild and natural. I spent as much time as possible on the tracker seat, behind the wheel of our game viewer looking for leopards and flicking through reference books learning as much as I could about Africa’s fascinating wildness.

Today I’m incredibly grateful for my African upbringing, which has provided me with 20+ years of safari experience in Big 5 terrain. This experience is the backbone on which we built the SAFARI FRANK business and has enabled me to share my safari addiction through first hand experience with my guests on privately guided safaris. The last years has seen me travelling Africa, identifying new incredible destinations, hosting private safaris and embarking on photographic assignments – spanning across 9 different African countries.

When I’m not on safari helping you to get the most out of your camera and the situation, I’m taking photos myself. I’m a true addict to wildlife photography no matter where I am. While on safari I also spend many evenings under clear African night skies with my guests to teach them the techniques of night-time photography. Whether you are just starting out and wanting to get the most out of your camera or you are a seasoned professional – I can help you get the shot you’re after. Let’s tailor make your safari to the best locations to help get you the perfect wildlife-shots!

Suggested Safaris

botswana okavango delta gunn's camp11

Okavango Delta Mobile & Walking Safari

Mobile tented Safari | 8 nights

4 nights Moremi Game Reserve + 4 nights walking safari in Private Concession


On request 2024 & 2025 | Get in touch!

From USD$ 6,620 pp (based on 4 travellers)


 

botswana okavango delta shinde camp luxury 18

The Best of Botswana

Mobile & Lodge Safari | 6 nights

3 nights walking safari in private concession + 3 nights Shinde Camp


20 May 2024 – 26 May 2024 | FULLY BOOKED

From USD$8,990 pp | Private


 

Moments from my Safaris

Why a Private Safari with Frank

Safari Planning

Frank will personally plan your safari alongside you, addressing your expectations and interests whilst offering expert level insights into the options, thanks to his African heritage and nature guiding experience. It’s absolutely essential that you are at the right place at the right time (also for the correct amount of time!). And that each new destination seamlessly complements the previous, stimulating your senses and broadening the experience as a whole. Your itinerary is planned by a safari guide.

Stress Free Logistics

You’re travelling with the same person who designed the itinerary and planned the logistics, all that’s left for you; is to enjoy the carefree experience. From the moment you arrive there’s no need to even consider your flight numbers, the time that the transfer driver will meet you or any other daily logistics throughout the safari. In fact, it’s quite common for Frank’s guests to lose track of the date and time all together! Isn’t this the essence of how your holidays should be? Inevitably things don’t always go as planned in Africa and if something unexpected does come up, who better to have standing beside you than your very own travel agent!

Facilitating an Experience

The entire process is an experience, from the moment you send the first email, the anticipation leading up to the safari, then each and every moment, destination and section throughout the safari – eventually leading up to your last leg back home. In seeing the experience through from start to finish a private guide ensures an authentic and holistic safari experience, while guests are in a unique position to understand the intricacies of the natural world, taking in nature with complete peace of mind.

Working with Local Guides

Where ever possible Frank hand picks and works alongside the best local guides (often good friends of his) to enhance your experience even further. Him having met these guides previously and built up a relationship, ensures a seamless transition between camps where your individual interests and expectations are easily communicated and facilitated without having to explain yourselves. You essentially get the best of both worlds – one being a local guides who know the immediate area, it’s wildlife and it’s intricacies intimately – and the other being Frank who covers a much broader knowledge between difference areas, species and landscapes throughout Africa allowing him to connect the dots and facilitate your entire multi-destination safari experience. Also, Frank having specialized into birding, walking safaris and photographic safaris ensures your special interests are covered.

Photographic tutoring and opportunities

If you just purchased a new camera and want to learn how to get the most out of it, or you are a hobbyist looking to get some great wildlife shots with a few tips & tricks, or you are a serios professional who needs no-nonsense access to the best opportunities – Frank welcomes photographers of all levels! If photographic opportunities are of particular importance to you, then rest assured that your trip was planned and is being facilitated by a wildlife photographer with your photographic interests in mind. Of critical importance’s is Frank’s ability to predict animal behaviour and movements allowing him to direct the local guides for perfect vehicle positioning before the action unfolds.

elephants frank steenhuisen private guide zimbabwe gonarezhou

Where to go on Safari with Frank

All of Africa that’s suitable for safaris has been unlocked. Gorilla trekking in Uganda, following water loving lions in the Okavango, looking for chameleons in Namibia – wherever you want to travel or experience, it’s possible!

With that being said, Frank’s favourite countries for safaris are Botswana and Zambia. He has identified key regions in these two countries to be his all-time favourite for immersive safari experiences & loves sharing these with his guests. The most incredible experiences revolve around three major river systems: The Okavango, Zambezi & Luangwa rivers. It is here where he has identified superb lodges and local guides with whom he partners to ensure unforgettable & exclusive experiences in incredibly productive wilderness areas for his guests.

One of the other biggest benefits of traveling with a private guide is exploring exciting destinations where you might otherwise feel uncomfortable, such as the Congo, Chad, Central African republic and so on.

Below is a list of sample safaris created to give you an idea of what’s possible with Frank.

botswana nxai pan national park zebra migration frank photographic safaris

A word from Frank

I design the safaris that I host myself with the intention of  showcasing the Africa that I love. Each tour is an experience that exposes you to incredible wildlife, authentic accommodation and informative interpretations of the natural world. There is a deeper connection to the wilderness and nature that can be felt in Africa’s wild places – allow me to help you reconnect.

Take your safari to the next level

Join Frank on a private safari!