This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Skip to main content

Talk to an expert 1-800-242-2434 Lines open now

User menu
Lucy Copson

Lucy Copson

Senior Africa Specialist

Destination Manager: Seychelles

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

Lucy Copson
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.


Lucy's most recent Africa trips


Zambia

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.

South Africa

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

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.

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

Zambia

Zambia

Contributor 5th edition 2012

Reviews from Lucy's latest travellers


Ms AW from SW London

Arrived 25 Aug 2023, 10 nights

"My Aug 2023 trip"

"I have used Expert Africa for quite a few safari trips and each has been superb. …" Read Ms AW’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

J & K from London

Arrived 26 Jul 2023, 10 nights

"My Jul 2023 trip"

"Our second trip with Expert Africa.. Lucy put together a great itinerary …" Read J & K’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr & Mrs B from Singapore

Arrived 5 Aug 2023, 13 nights

"My Aug 2023 trip to Kafue & Lower Zambezi"

"a great itinerary... we are already looking forward to our next... …" Read Mr & Mrs B’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr and Mrs A from UK

Arrived 22 Jul 2023, 15 nights

"My Jul 2023 trip"

"Lucy put together a fantastic itinerary... The children absolutely loved it all! …" Read Mr and Mrs A’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Inspire me

Need inspiration?

Let our trip chooser narrow down the options for you

Inspire me

Login to Expert Africa

Sign in with password

Sign in with email link


New to Expert Africa? Create an account

Forgotten your details?

It's free & quick to set up

  • Save your wish-list
  • Send us an enquiry
  • Pay online for your trip
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Give us feedback on your trip
  • Full site benefits of the site

Need some help? Talk to our team

Africa