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
Lyndsey Marris

Lyndsey Marris

Senior Africa Specialist | East Africa

Destination Manager: Zanzibar& Rwanda

I love to seek out wild places, with fantastic wildlife and few other people – and Africa has these in abundance

Lyndsey Marris
Specialist countries
Tanzania, Rwanda, Zanzibar, Kenya

Lyndsey is in the UK and usually available:
UK time: 09:00-17:30 Mon-Fri, and occasional Saturdays.
See our office hours and locations.

More about Lyndsey...
I gained my first taste of Africa during my gap year when I spent three months working in Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa. After discovering the dramatic landscapes, wealth of wildlife and sheer beauty of the country, I quickly became hooked and vowed to explore more of this vibrant continent.

Fuelled by my passion for wildlife, I completed both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Zoology at the University of Sheffield. During this time I continued to travel to Africa, undertaking a six-week biodiversity research project in Tanzania’s Kilombero Valley and later spending five weeks exploring Uganda.

Following my studies I resolved to return to Africa and took up a position with the Kalahari Meerkat Project in South Africa's Northern Cape. After one year working as a research assistant I was given the opportunity to spend a further two years working as the project manager. While living and working in the Kalahari I traveled around much of South Africa, including Cape Town and the Kgalagadi. All said, I spent three years running around after meerkats in the African bush before returning to the UK in 2015.

I joined Expert Africa in 2016 with a focus on East Africa. Since joining the company I have embarked on multiple research trips to Tanzania and have visited almost every property we feature on Zanzibar. In 2017 I was lucky enough to visit to Rwanda, spending two weeks travelling around this small yet staggeringly beautiful country. Some of my most memorable experiences with Expert Africa include trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda; cantering past giraffes in Laikipia, Kenya; witnessing wildebeest charge across the Mara River and sleeping under the sea in an underwater bedroom off the Island of Pemba.
I am currently the destination manager for Tanzania and Rwanda, while I continue to expand my knowledge of Kenya.

Lyndsey's most recent Africa trips


Tanzania

Tanzania

Jul 24 13 nights

I spent a magical two weeks travelling around Tanzania's southern safari areas, Ruaha and Nyerere National Park; these were the first places I visited with Expert Africa many years ago and it was a joy to return and to see that comparatively little had changed. These safari areas are a little more off the beaten track and I love the sense of space and wilderness that they offer, with wonderful wildlife and varied activities. The boating safaris on the Rufiji River felt very serene, while in Ruaha I spent an unforgettable morning at Kichaka walking alongside elephants. I was also lucky enough to spend two days at Usangu Camp in southern Ruaha, searching for sable antelope while seeing first-hand the impact of vital conservation work in this remote wildlife area.

Kenya

Kenya

Apr 23 15 nights

This was my fourth trip to Kenya and it was great to be able to share the experience with my colleague Parita. We initially focussed on the Maasai Mara National Reserve and it was wonderful to see it looking lush and green after the recent rains; animals were looking fat and healthy, and as this was the low season the park was blissfully quiet. A real highlight was going on a balloon safari, silently floating over the Mara while spotting elephants and buffalo on the plains below. From here I went onto Meru National Park which is famed for being the home of Elsa the lioness and the location where the Born Free story took place. Having been inspired by Born Free as a child I had always dreamed of visiting Meru in person, and with its spectacular scenery and plentiful wildlife it did not disappoint.

Kenya

Kenya

Apr 22 15 nights

Following the global pandemic it was amazing to return to East Africa again. I realised just how much I had missed having the ability to travel, and it was also clear how delighted the safari camps were to have guests staying again. For this trip I spent a week on the south Kenyan coast around Diani Beach, followed by time in Amboseli and Laikipia, discovering some offbeat locations and safari lodges. My favourite place on this trip was Segera Safari Lodge, located in its own private conservancy, and supporting a vast number of community and conservation initiatives.

Lyndsey's previous Africa research


Reviews from Lyndsey's latest travellers


LN from Suffolk

Arrived 23 Oct 2024, 8 nights

"My Oct 2024 trip"

"The whole trip was a great success …" Read LN’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Richard from London

Arrived 4 Oct 2024, 16 nights

"My Oct 2024 trip"

"the trip of a lifetime - extremely well organized …" Read Richard’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Dr & Mrs P from York

Arrived 18 Oct 2024, 11 nights

"My Oct 2024 trip"

"we keep coming back because we know that we will always get an excellent holiday …" Read Dr & Mrs P’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

T and P from London

Arrived 27 Oct 2024, 7 nights

"Kenya 2024 "

"Overall experience was perfect - Thank you so much! …" Read T and P’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

Newsletter background

Stay in the know with Expert Africa

Join our newsletter. Get the latest on new camps and lodges, insights from our team, uplifting conservation stories and more...

A few more details and you're subscribed

Thanks!

Almost there! We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Just click on the link and you'll soon be receiving our newsletter in your inbox.

In the meantime, take a look at our previous Bush Telegraph newsletters.
Africa