Being in Africa makes me feel more alive – the people, the landscapes, the wildlife: it’s all very real and immediate.
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I first went to Africa in 1987, after reading physics at Queen's College, Oxford. I taught for almost three years in a rural school in Zimbabwe (with VSO), and during this time had the chance to travel extensively. In 1990 I co-authored the Guide to Namibia and Botswana for Bradt Publications: the first English guidebook to these countries. Then shortly after I returned to the UK, to spend the following three years as a business analyst and shipbroker for P&O in London.
Leaving the city, I joined Sunvil Holidays in 1994 to concentrate on what I enjoy most: Africa. The passionate and pioneering company that is Expert Africa grew out of this, and remains a proud member of the Sunvil family of travel companies.
I feel incredibly lucky to be doing what I love, and to have an amazing team of specialists working with me and sharing this passion.
I am committed to responsible travel, and regard extensive travel for the whole Expert Africa team as essential – helping everyone to keep up to date and give the best advice possible.
In 1996 I wrote the Zambia guidebook, for Bradt Travel Guides; then the first guidebook to Zambia and now in its 6th edition. I followed it in '98 with a new Namibia guide and in 2003 with a new book on Botswana; both are now in their 5th editions. My wife Susan and I, have co-authored five new Zanzibar guides, and I recently co-authored a couple of guidebooks to Tanzania. My regular research trips to Africa help to ensure that up-to-date new editions are produced regularly.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and periodically contribute to various papers and magazines, from Wanderlust, BBC Wildlife and Travel Africa to The Independent and The Telegraph.
I have been an expert panel member for two of DFID's business challenge funds in recent years, and a director of AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) for the last five years.
Based with my family near Farnham, in the UK, I return to Africa regularly for research trips.
Chris's most recent Africa trips
Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe
This was a very varied trip, starting with a deep dive into Botswana's Kwando-Linyanti area and part of the Delta. The stand-outs were some extraordinary tracking of predators; outstanding game sightings; really great camps and experiences (and just the odd one that wasn't!). And some concern over the demise, due to natural causes, of old trees in areas that I'd remembered covered in forests. Then a hop brought us to the Kenyan Coast, a first for me in Africa and for something totally different. Amazing variation in a super trip.
Zambia
On my first proper post-Covid trip to Africa, I returned to see two favourite areas in-depth: South Luangwa & Lower Zambezi. Both were in great shape with camps and communities are forging forward after two difficult years of Covid. Guiding was great and wildlife excellent, including many outstanding leopard sightings, my first sighting of wild dogs in Zambia, and of Aardvark ever! Shout out to the fantastic work of Project Luangwa and Conservation South Luangwa! The 'Stove in a box' initiative is inspired. Expert Africa's has long supported this, but I've returned determined to do more!
Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia
April to June is my favourite time in Southern Africa, as the environment is still fresh after the rains and the place is fresh with life but fairly empty of visitors. The first part of this trip, with family and friends, was a private mobile safari plus a few days on one of the lovely ‘Chobe Princess’ boats. What a treat – we had both to ourselves! It’s such a privilege to be able to share a love of Africa with my family and friends. Then came a short foray into an area of Hwange that I’d never visited before, reminding me of what a great park it is.
Chris's previous Africa research
Botswana
Returning to Botswana was fantastic, especially the trip with Susie and my children. I explored its landscapes in depth for this edition, trying to understand the changes, though I was sidetracked by new camps and some phenomenal wildlife sightings.
Tanzania Safari Guide
Tanzania is a vast and diverse country with incredible attractions. In this guide, we’ve offered a comprehensive overview while keeping finer details clear and concise – to make a great resource for planning trips to this remarkable destination.
Northern Tanzania Safari Guide
Northern Tanzania is such an amazing area and these days its busier than ever with new camps and lodges opening. As ever, research of our team and observations from our travellers have helped us to keep on top of the many changes.
Zambia
Our first post-Covid guide saw Susie and I return Zambia, which is close to our both of our hearts. This edition we focused more on the national parks, wildlife and safaris - and we were able to include many more colour pictures in the book.
Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia
It’s nearly 20 years since my wife, Susie, and I wrote that first Zanzibar guide. Now the islands are more commercial and popular, but we’ve tried to ensure that our book also covers the more interesting, individual and offbeat places.
Namibia
Namibia's profile has grown immensely since my first guidebook to it 30 years ago, as have the options for visitors there. So research for this edition was a huge undertaking; I was particularly grateful for help of many of the Expert Africa team.
Botswana
This 5th edition of my Botswana guide came out mid-2018 and, as always, putting it together was a team effort. Researching in 2017, it was great to see how well Botswana is doing, both for its people and its wildlife - a real success in many ways.
Tanzania Safari Guide
As with Northern Tanzania, my wife, Susie, and I input to this guide as well as being responsible for the 'Zanzibar, Pemba & Mafia' guide published at the same time.
Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia
My wife, Susie, and I have written the Zanzibar guide since researching its 6th edition, in 2005. Since then, the island, and the scale of tourism there, has changed immensely – but at its best, it’s still a very magical place.
Northern Tanzania Safari Guide
This Northern Tanzania guide has long been Phillip's book - but my wife, Susie, and I took responsibility for the islands, and helped across the parks, thanks to the experiences of our travellers there, as well as our our own.
Zambia
I backpacked alone to write the first Zambia guidebook in 1996, when Zambia was unknown territory. Now Edition 6 is a team effort: Freddie & Eleanor from the Expert Africa team also headed off to research far-flung parts of Zambia for this edition.
Namibia
I first travelled to Namibia in 1989, pre-Independence. I expected problems but found none. Just a captivating country which was, even then, very easy to travel around. Many editions later, it’s even easier to travel there and just as captivating.
Botswana
Botswana is always an interesting book to research and write as the concessions and areas change relatively slowly, which gives me time to explore some of the areas in depth each time - and that's always a real pleasure.
Northern Tanzania Safari Guide
For this 3rd edition of the Northern Tanzania guide, my wife, Susie, and I took responsibility for the islands and input across the parks, with help researching from Angela & Eleanor in the Expert Africa team, plus many comments from our travellers.
Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia
Zanzibar had changed a lot in the two editions since my wife, Susie, and I took over this guidebook, so it was great to for us to cover the ground again, seeing the changes first-hand, updating our understanding - and finding a few real gems.
Tanzania Safari Guide
My first significant contribution to a guidebook on Tanzania built on a great existing base from Philip Briggs, and the help of research from several of the Expert Africa team, not to mention many of our travellers' comments.
Zambia
The 5th edition was large, around 550 pages, as tourism to Zambia had grown. It's a magical country of owner-run lodges, serious safaris and great walking guides. Expert Africa's Claire, Eleanor & Lucy all helped with research and immense expertise.
Botswana
Researching my Botswana guides has always been an adventure and this 3rd edition was no exception - a great privilege and pleasure to take a 4WD to reach and research some of Botswana's most remote corners.
Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia
Zanzibar's relatively small in size, but there's a lot of places to get around to research a guide like this and the speed of change is high. This guide took months in-country, and longer at home to write - but it's a privilege and worth it.
Zambia
After a big expansion for the 3rd edition, this 4th edition needed more remote travel to offbeat areas, and lot of work re-visiting for updates. As now the norm, it was a team effort, with colleagues working for Expert Africa playing a huge part.
Botswana
The first edition of Botswana was still a very strong guidebook, so updating it for this second edition was a very straightforward task. I consolidated and thoroughly updated it, including the sprinkling of new lodges and developments.
Namibia
With over 500 pages, this comprehensive third edition captured the expanding array of options available in Namibia. These needed more extensive research, but the trips remained captivating as travelling in Namibia has always been a real delight.
Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia
My wife, Susie, and I took over this guidebook which needed researching, re-structuring and re-writing. Hard work, with almost two months on the ground - but it was a privilege to get to know these stunning islands in real depth.
Zambia
For this third edition of Zambia I branched out further, driving around on several extended research trips to reach and map some of Zambia’s wilder areas. The result was a step-change in the book’s size, and the areas covered in detail.
Namibia
After nearly a decade of organising trips to Namibia, this edition incorporated many travellers' experiences as well as research by myself and my Africa team. Fly-in trips to Namibia were gaining popularity and great new conservancies were emerging.
Botswana
My first solo Botswana guide was a labour of love. With unprecedented access, I explored and studied the region’s remotest corners, got the full picture of its private concessions and then committed my understanding into this encyclopaedic guide.
Southern Africa
Totally different in style from my usual guidebooks, this full-colour guide allowed me to recount in depth about adventures across the Kalahari, Namib and Skeleton Coast. Such a privilege to be able to spend this time in Africa and write about it!
Zambia
The ground-breaking first edition successfully raised awareness about Zambia. It also provided the springboard for me to delve deeper and write more comprehensively. As a result, this second edition became a stronger, more authoritative piece of work
Namibia
Namibia inspired and kick-started started my African writings, but it seemed an age before I wrote this first, stand-alone guide. The country had changed hugely, but I made up for lost time: lengthy research produced a really comprehensive book.
Zambia
I backpacked, hitched and bussed around for months in 1995, reseaching this first Zambia guidebook. Help by some amazing pioneers of safari - Norman Carr, Jo & Robin Pope, Grant Cumings and others - it was a privilege as well as an adventure!
Namibia & Botswana
I co-authored my first guidebook to Namibia & Botswana in 1990 and a second edition in '94. Both were basic by today’s standards, with line drawings, sketch maps and few pictures, but as the first full English guide to these countries, they did well!