Our partners

"The legends we work with"

WE WORK WITH A NETWORK OF TRUSTED PARTNERS TO BRING YOU THE MOST UNIQUE SAFARI EXPERIENCES POSSIBLE.

SAFARI FRANK forges endearing long-term relationships with our partners who are comprised of leading operators, guides and consultants. These are often, like us, smaller owner operated boutique suppliers or industry leading individuals in a particular specialist field. This approach ensures that your safari is not only planned based on specialist knowledge, but also executed by renowned ‘legends’ who are based in Africa.

Our Influencer Partners

Gesa Neitzel (writer & brand ambassador)

  • Born and bred in Germany, heart stuck in Africa
  • Qualified safari guide and bestselling travel writer
  • Shares wilderness wanderings on wonderfulwild.com
  • Passion for elephants, leopard tortoises and wildflowers
  • Happiest when playing the guitar around the camp fire

Craig Parry (Photographer)

Global Sony Ambassador Craig Parry is a multi-award-winning nature and landscape photographer of international acclaim. Craig’s work aims to present subjects in their natural environment in a manner which seeks to connect audiences with the environment. Portraying the obvious as abstract, his images are engaging and beautiful at the same time.

Growing up in Byron Bay, Northern NSW, Australia Craig worked hard at mastering his craft before making a life-changing decision and becoming a full-time professional photographer in 2004 – a defining moment in his life.
Craig’s stature as a photographer was indisputably confirmed with his receipt of the award ‘International Landscape Photo of the Year’ (2014) for his image Life & Death, in addition to taking out the award for Outdoor Magazine ‘Underwater Photograph of the Year’ (2014) for his image Fin Swipe. His most recent award- 1st place- The Ghost- Competition: Golden Turtle International Photography Competition- Category: The Under Water World (2017).

His work regularly sees him travelling to all corners of the globe in pursuit of new adventures and unique encounters.

Jason Charles Hill (Photographer)

Jason Charles Hill is an accomplished explorer, creative and photographer based on the East Coast of Australia. With a passion for adventuring wild & off beat destinations, Jason’s Imagery can be characterised by his desire to travel, photograph & be outdoors. His unique perspective & vision have earned him many opportunities to work on countless campaigns internationally through his photography – establishing himself as a global presence & influence.

Emilie Ritevski (Photographer)

Forever wandering with a camera in her hand – Emilie Ristevski is an Australian based creative. Built upon natural light and curiosity, her work gathers beautiful moments together to simply tell stories through the images she curates.

With an innate sense of adventure, Emilie’s collection of work documents her appreciation for the beauty found within this world. Her distinctive style of imagery has led her to work with many clients internationally – traveling and photographing this journey, wherever it may take her.

 

David Stowe (Photographer)

Dave is a full time Accredited Professional Photographer and AIPP Master of Photography. He was Overall Winner of 2015 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.  Other achievements include being awarded the AIPP NSW Nature Photographer of the Year three times in the last 5 years.  With almost 25 years experience, his love and expertise in photography extends from weddings to wildlife, with a passion for the art of image making and teaching.

Ben Southall (Adventurer)

Ben is an Adventurepreneur best known for winning The Best Job in the World to become the Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef in 2009. Ben has kayaked 2000km along the Great Barrier Reef, set world records running up the tallest mountains in Australia and completing the nine Great Walks of New Zealand in nine days. Ben works as a television presenter, cameraman and producer for NatGeo and The Travel Channel filming documentaries around the world. He’s circumnavigated Africa and driven from Singapore to London in his faithful Land Rover, Colonel Mustard, and is the founder of Best Life Adventures – an adventure travel company, which takes adventurous minds to some of the most extreme wilderness areas on the planet.

See safaris with Ben here.

Shari of Sole Yoga Holidays (Yoga Instructor and retreat leader)

“Yoga has brought me so much joy over the years. It is a never-ending journey filled with friendship, travel, excitement and love. There is always something new to learn and I can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes me and who will be coming along for the ride!“

Shari discovered the unlimited and positive effects of a consistent yoga practice over 18 years ago in San Francisco, California. Her journey included numerous disciplines, but it wasn’t until Ashtanga that she found her true yoga passion and was certified in 2010 in Florence, Italy (her other passion!). She now enjoys teaching a vigorous, playful and challenging vinyasa flow class accompanied by an equally dynamic playlist. Shari has been leading yoga retreats and holidays for over 8 years in amazing locations from Greece to Israel to Morocco and all over her adopted and gorgeous country, Italy.

Our Guiding Partners

Okwa Sarefo (Okavango Delta)

Okwa Sarefo is of the Yeyi tribe and is from the remote village/island of Jedibe in the northern Okavango Delta. He grew up living a largely traditional life along with his siblings on their own island in the Delta where he learned how to pole a mokoro, fish and hunt wild animals from a young age. Okwa and one of his siblings eventually left this traditional life and moved to the village of Etsha where they could be schooled, despite their father’s wishes. Shortly after completing school Okwa returned to Jedibe and managed to secure a job as a mokoro poler in the nearby Jao concession, operated by Wilderness Safaris. Having grown up in the Okavango Delta, Okwa pursued a career in tourism not only because he wants to preserve his country’s natural heritage, but also because of his interest in foreign cultures which he loves to learn about from his international guests. This combination of interests eventually saw him work his way up to a guiding position, moving between some of Wilderness Safaris most prestigious camps including Kings Pool, Mombo camp and Little Mombo. Thereafter, Okwa worked for &Beyond as a guide, lodge manager and eventually landed in the operations department. Eventually, he went on to freelance as a guide for various companies throughout Botswana and developed a passion for training future guides for ‘Nature Guide Training Botswana’ but most notably ‘Ecotraining’ – Africa’s pioneer and most established guide training company. It was during Okwa’s time at Ecotraining where he met Frank by way of introduction.

With his many international clients over the years and SAFARI FRANK’s support, Okwa has since managed to create his own safari business – Wild Expedition Safaris, offering high guiding standard mobile safaris but most notably walking safaris in some of the Delta’s most remote wilderness areas. He also offers his services as a private guide on request with now more than 20 years guiding experience, and freelances as a specialist guide exclusively for Great Plains Conservation at the famous Duba Plains Camp.

A true gentlemen, lover of fresh coffee and one of the best walking safari guides in Botswana.

 

Andy Smith (Mana Pools, Zimbabwe)

  • Born & Raised in Zimbabwe
  • Andy left school at 17 years old to pursue a career in the wilds of Africa, He has now been active in the safari industry for 23 years, Obtaining his Zimbabwean professional licence in 2004.
  • Andy leads safaris in multiple parks, wilderness areas and countries.
  • Received the prestigious “Outstanding Professional Guide” Award in Zimbabwe in 2020 for his commitment to the safari industry.
  • Guided a film crew in Chitake Springs, Mana pools, Zimbabwe focusing on the spring and its wildlife for a season – Predators Playground
  • Recently featured in a tv series called Epic Safari Encounters with Kristina Guberman.

Wayne Te Brake (Greater Kruger Park)

  • A proudly South African bush-man.
  • Professional Trails Guide and qualified Conservationist.
  • Happiest when exploring wild open spaces.
  • There’s something going on between him and Elephant Bulls!?
  • Passionate about birding, botanising and tracking.
  • Has chosen a job he loves and will never work a day in his life.

 

Brenden Pienaar (greater kruger park)

  • Fortunate to have been raised in South Africa and Botswana.
  • Qualified Trails Guide and Ecologist (MSc).
  • Values the concept and philosophy of wilderness.
  • Hyper-focus may ensue when unique birds and plants are located.
  • Obsessed with simplistic nature experiences.
  • All about the inter-connectedness of the natural environment.

Stuart Quinn (Northern Tuli, Botswana)

  • Excellent field guide who has a wealth of experience and knowledge.
  • Lived and worked in the Tuli area for over 12 years.
  • Qualified guide since 1992 and has logged over 1500 encounters on foot with the Big 5.
  • One of his greatest enjoyments is imparting his knowledge to others.
  • Finds the smallest insect as fascinating as the largest tree.
  • His passion and his infectious laugh is highly contagious and guests always walk away with a deeper understanding of African wildlife and conservation.

 

Andrew Gilles (Namib Desert, Namibia)

  • Born and bred in South African ‘platteland’ (hinterland).
  • Learned horsemanship in army where he became an instructor.
  • Studied conservation too, knowledge and love for the desert inspiring!
  • Skill as a horseman instils enormous trust in environment where it is needed.
  • ‘Superb host’ and ‘best guide ever ridden with’ words often used by clients.
  • Leads a highly professional team ensuring well being and safety of clients.

 

Alan McSmith (Private Guide)

With over 30 years of professional guiding experience in several African countries, Alan continues to break new ground as a safari & walking guide and tracker. Once a permanent resident of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Alan co-pioneered a series of unsupported, exploratory dugout canoe traverses of the delta, since then covering and has covered over 3000 kms by dugout.

For Alan, the ideal African safari is an exploration of frontiers, of experiential travel, and meaningful encounters with people and big game. And along the way celebrating the wild natures in us all. Alan lives in Hoedspruit, SA, with his wife Sarah and two children, Jake and Meg.

  • Born, bred and brewed South African.
  • Started in the safari industry three decades ago, at age 18.
  • Well known for an understanding with elephants.
  • Passionate about tracking and stalking big game on foot.
  • “Wilderness” is not just a place, it’s a way of life.
  • TEDx speaker and active conservationist.

Want to talk further about your ideal safari?

We’re all ears.