About Us

Laura came out from the UK in the late nineties and lived and worked in South Africa and then Botswana for several years before she and Brent set up Travel Wild in 2001, wanting to offer an impartial booking service based on firsthand experiences in Africa.

Laura is passionate about camping in the bush and photographing the amazing landscapes and animals within. Together with her husband Brent and son Matt – they spend as much time as possible on camping expeditions to all the areas. Her favourite areas are Mana Pools, Gonerezhou and Central Kalahari and the Magadikgadi Pans.

Brent started off running safaris for Afro Ventures in the 1980’s – one of the first safari companies offering trips from Johannesburg to Botswana. He settled in Maun in 1999 and worked in Lodge operations, building Lodges for several years – before building his own lodges – Royal Tree Lodge, Maun and now Batonka Guest Lodge and Pioneers in Victoria Falls.

Brent is a passionate ‘birder’ and is an expert on all things that fly!

Brent’s favourite areas are Savuti & Central Kalahari in Botswana and Gonerezhou and the Eastern Highlands in Zimbabwe.

Karen is born and bred Zimbabwean and joined Travel Wild in 2012 when Travel Wild’s base had moved to Victoria Falls. She has worked in the tourism industry all over Zimbabwe – the Eastern Highlands, Great Zimbabwe and knows the country very well. Her other areas of expertise are Zambia and Mozambique.

She and her husband worked in Save Valley Conservancy running lodges there and she is passionate about this area and encouraging the photographic safaris there. This is one of her favourites areas along with Mana Pools and the Eastern Highlands.

Laura and Brent's story

Brent and Laura met in Maun, Botswana in 2000 when they were both working in the tourism industry and quickly realized there was no unbiased booking office for all the tours and activities situated on the ground in Maun Botswana – So in 2001 they bought the license of Travel Wild which was an old communications outpost for guide and hunters with a hissing HF radio and 70-year-old Winifred answering the phones!

Over the next few years, they set up Travel Wild, an impartial booking service for walk-in clients as well as enquiries from all over the world.

Brent, who was then the Operations Director at Desert & Delta Safaris then left to build Motsentsela Tree Lodge (now Royal Tree Lodge) on the outskirts of town and convert an old goat farm into a game sanctuary.

In 2007 their son Matt was born and In 2009, they relocated to the Cape coast, but the organized life of the cape didn’t appeal and they moved back to Victoria Falls in 2012, noticing that Zimbabwe was ripe for a rebirth of tourism.

As their son grew up, Brent regained his love of camping and infused Laura and Matt with his enthusiasm! They now spend most holidays on expeditions to the bush – Kaokaland, Namibia, Gonerezhou, Central Kalahari and our special place Savuti in Chobe National Park.

During these trips, they are constantly visiting and revisiting new and existing lodges on their travels so they can give honest advice and opinion to their clients.
Nearly 20 years later Travel Wild is still going strong and we have many guests return time and again.

Responsible Tourism

We use small operators who put their hearts and souls into what they do. They are committed to protecting the environment on which they depend while providing sustainable employment and help for the communities surrounding them. Tourism in these African countries has helped – and will continue to help – both communities and conservation.

We admire and support the following grassroots community and conservation initiatives. Through your bookings, you will be donating to these causes.

The Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit
The Victoria Falls Anti–Poaching Unit (VFAPU) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of our local wildlife and natural resources. They aim to eradicate poaching in the Victoria Falls region through a programme of EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT and BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

Bhejane Trust
The Bhejane Trust is a Zimbabwe registered non-profit trust, established in 2010 by two Zimbabwean conservationists, Trevor Lane and Stephen Long.  They assist National Parks in many aspects of the management and operations of the Parks estate in northwestern Matabeleland. This includes facilitating anti-poaching and deployments, research work, staff welfare, and a host of other missions, as well as the original Rhino monitoring program. Bhejane Trust relies on donor funding to continue its operations.

Mummy’s Angels Zimbabwe
Mummy’s Angels Zimbabwe is a registered non-profit Trust based in Victoria Falls, created to provide assistance for expectant mothers who have nothing. Sometimes these mothers travel by donkey cart without even shoes or a blanket for their baby and many are teens. Working in collaboration with the doctors, midwife’s and nursing teams at the Victoria Falls  Hospital, Mummy’s Angels Zimbabwe is alerted when there is a mother in need, and the small passionate team who volunteer, swiftly put together a newborn baby hamper containing as many necessities as possible to assist the new mother. They greatly accept second-hand donations of children’s clothing as well as new. Email: mummyangelszimbabwe@gmail.com

Victoria Falls Children’s Trust
Victoria Falls Children’s Trust is dedicated to assisting orphans and vulnerable children in the community of Victoria Falls and surrounding areas. The Trust is a non-profit organization and all trustees volunteer equal amounts of time toward this very worthy cause with our main objective being school fees, followed by child welfare.

If you are keen to more about any of our featured initiatives or wish to donate please contact us.

What Makes Us Different

There are many African Specialists in the market at the moment so we feel we should highlight some good reasons to use us!

Travel Wild Africa has been operating since 2001. In fact, this year is our 20 year anniversary! So we’ve been around awhile and have a solid and financially secure base.

  • We are tried and tested and can provide you with references from our previous clients.
  • We are a small team with a wealth of knowledge and loads of enthusiasm to create unique and interesting safaris using eclectic choices.
  • We believe the best memories are not from the places and lodges you visit but the experiences and people you meet whilst on safari!
  • We personally meet all our clients coming through Victoria Falls and our partners on the ground in other places are well chosen to make sure they do the same for our clients. 
  • We look after you whilst you are in Africa and are contactable 24/7.