Lucy Copson

Africa – it's my home, and offers something unique for everyone; from diverse landscapes and culture, to vibrant cities and unspoilt wilderness.

Specialist countries: Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Seychelles

Lucy is in South Africa and usually available:

SA time: 08:00-16:00 Mon-Fri .
See our office hours and locations.

More about Lucy...

It was in my early childhood that my love for travelling really began. I grew up in Cape Town, with a Dutch father and South African mum who both loved to explore and get away for family holidays.

After school I studied a years diploma in Travel and Tourism, before beginning my varied career in tourism. I worked at Groot Constantia Wine Estate, and then managed some guest houses, before spending time in the US. When I returned in 1997, I started working for a leading groups and incentives tour operator, before moving with my MD who started the first internet-based African travel company in 1999.

In 2005 my husband and I relocated to London with a plan to work and travel through Europe. I joined Expert Africa and it was here that my knowledge for Southern Africa began to grow. It wasn’t long until I was sent to Botswana to explore the Okavango Delta. This lead to numerous trips through northern Botswana visiting camps in Chobe, the Kwando-Linyanti, Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.

I then moved on to research Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, Seychelles and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, North Luangwa, Lower Zambezi National Park, Livingstone and Kafue.

My most recent trip was to Zambia's remote Liuwa Plain National park, and prior to that Botswana's Okavango Delta. Two completely different areas, but both equally as fascinating.

I’ve been privileged throughout my 20-odd years in travel to experience some incredible destinations, but the sunny shores of Cape Town have now enticed me back home, and it’s where I plan to stay. I operate a satellite office for Expert Africa in Kommetjie, and feel I have the best of both worlds - living in Cape Town, and still connected, daily, to the UK.

Talk to Lucy now to arrange a holiday

Lucy's most recent Africa trips

Zambia, Malawi, South Africa

Nov 21 9 nights

My first safari post the pandemic, and it was fantastic! A treat to be back in the bush, and see how genuinely pleased the camps were to host us. Getting through airports was easy - even with Covid protocols in place, and cross-border PCR testing, arranged by the camps, was hassle free. I started my ‘Green Safari’ on Malawi’s Likomo Island, with barefoot luxury at Kaya Mawa - sipping cocktails on the beach, snorkelling with colourful cichlids, and cycling around the island on an e-bike. Then flew to Zambia – a one hour flight, and spent two nights in South Luangwa at Shawa, followed by two nights in Kafue at Ila. Both camps undertake game drives in silent, solar-powered safari vehicles – their commitment to conservation and sustainability. I ended in Livingstone, at Tongabezi, on the banks of the Zambezi River. A beautiful time of year to travel with dramatic cloud build up and a few heavy thunder showers, fresh grass and leaves sprouting, lots of baby animals and magnificent birding.

I visited: Johannesburg, Lilongwe, Likoma Island, South Luangwa National Park, Kafue National Park, Livingstone & Victoria Falls

South Africa

Oct 20 1 nights

After a very busy year in the travel industry - with Covid-19 playing havoc, my husband and I decided to escape to the Cape's winelands. We spent two days exploring Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and had the most relaxing overnight stay at La Petite Ferme - with a fabulous dinner overlooking their vineyard and the Franschhoek valley below. We were thoroughly impressed by the great efforts which La Petite Ferme - and in fact all the wine estates, shops and restaurants, have gone to, to introduce more social distancing and tighter protocols on infection transmission. We have since been back a number of times with our kids, and just love exploring this beautiful part of the world.

I visited: Winelands

Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oct 19 5 nights

I hadn’t seen the Victoria Falls since June 2017 so it was wonderful to be back, and witness them at a completely different time of year – from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean side of the falls. This was my first visit to Zambia’s remote Liuwa Plain National Park – and it was incredible. The landscapes, summer lightning storms, wildebeest migration and calving, and the sheer isolation. It reinforced my love for Zambia, and just how unique and diverse each of their national parks is. Liuwa is well worth the visit - and King Lewanika Lodge is marvellous too.

I visited: Livingstone & Victoria Falls, Liuwa Plain National Park, Victoria Falls

Lucy's previous Africa research

Country	Arrived	Length of stay	Areas visited
Botswana	March 2019	8 nights	Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Moremi Game Reserve
South Africa	December 2018	3 nights	De Hoop Nature Reserve
South Africa	November 2018	0 nights	Cape Town, Winelands, Namaqualand
South Africa	July 2018	8 nights	Tsitsikamma \| Garden Route National Park, Plettenberg Bay \| Garden Route, Wilderness \| Garden Route National Park, Knysna \| Garden Route
South Africa	October 2017	3 nights	Swellendam
South Africa	July 2017	5 nights	Addo Elephant National Park, Shamwari Game Reserve
Zambia	October 2016	7 nights	Lusaka area, South Luangwa National Park, North Luangwa National Park
Botswana	April 2016	8 nights	Okavango Delta Safari Reserves
Botswana	November 2015	7 nights	Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta Safari Reserves
Seychelles	April 2010	6 nights	North Island, Mahe Island, Fregate Island, Denis Island
Seychelles	October 2009	2 nights	Mahe Island, Praslin Island
Botswana, Zambia	May 2008	6 nights	Livingstone & Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Kalahari's Salt Pans
South Africa	December 2007	2 nights	Hermanus
Botswana	October 2007	11 nights	Moremi Game Reserve, Kwando-Linyanti area, Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, North-west Kalahari & Panhandle, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Kalahari's Salt Pans
Zambia	May 2007	14 nights	Lower Zambezi National Park, South Luangwa National Park
Zambia	October 2006	13 nights	Kafue National Park, Lusaka area, South Luangwa National Park
Botswana, Zambia	March 2006	13 nights	Kalahari's Salt Pans, Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Moremi Game Reserve, Kwando-Linyanti area, Chobe National Park, Livingstone & Victoria Falls
Botswana	October 2005	12 nights	Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Kalahari's Salt Pans, Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Kwando-Linyanti area, Moremi Game Reserve
Botswana, Zimbabwe	October 2004	3 nights	Kwando-Linyanti area, Victoria Falls
South Africa	June 2004	5 nights	Hermanus, Plettenberg Bay \| Garden Route, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve