Lucy Copson

Africa – it's my home, and offers something unique for everyone; from diverse landscapes and culture, to vibrant cities and the 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 really 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, Liuwa Plain, Lower Zambezi National Park, Kafue and Livingstone.

My most recent trips have been to Zimbabwe, exploring Hwange National Park, Mana Pools, Matusadona and Matobo National Park. All very different areas, but equally as fascinating.

I’ve been privileged throughout my 20+ years in travel to experience some incredible destinations, but the sunny shores of Cape Town enticed me back home. I operate a satellite office for Expert Africa in the seaside village of 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

Zimbabwe

May 24 8 nights

My June 2024 trip to Zimbabwe was fabulous! Taking in two new areas for me - exploring all the camps we feature in Matusadona National Park and Matobo Hills, and then popping in to see a few camps which I hadn't seen before in Hwange National Park. Some excellent guiding, great game viewing, walking, fishing and more...

I visited: Matobo National Park, Hwange National Park, Matusadona National Park

South Africa

Nov 23 1 nights

One of my favourite property's along the Cape's most beautiful Garden Route... Schoone Oordt Country House, in Swellendam. If I could stay for one week or more, I would! This visit was unfortunately just a short, one night stay, to break the drive from Cape Town to the Eastern Cape (as a section of the N2 freeway was closed due to recent flooding) but Schoone Oordt provided the most comfortable beds and friendly welcome. We will be back!

I visited: Swellendam

Zimbabwe

Jun 23 8 nights

Nine months after my first safari to Mana Pools, I got to return to Zim, to explore the diverse and expansive Hwange National Park. But before the start of my safari, I had a night in Victoria Falls – having come off the very convenient Cape Town / Vic Falls direct flight. For this safari I wanted to explore as many different parts of Hwange as possible – in just 10 short days. I started in the south-eastern corner of the park, then headed to the more central parts, before ending off in the more remote and rugged northern region. There was a lot of driving involved, with some very long and bumpy road transfers between the camps (most guests will fly!) but witnessing the change in landscapes made it all worth it!

I visited: Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park

Lucy's previous Africa research

Country	Arrived	Length of stay	Areas visited
Zimbabwe	September 2022	10 nights	Mana Pools National Park
Zambia, Malawi, South Africa	November 2021	9 nights	Johannesburg, Lilongwe, Likoma Island, South Luangwa National Park, Kafue National Park, Livingstone & Victoria Falls
South Africa	October 2020	1 nights	Winelands
Zambia, Zimbabwe	October 2019	5 nights	Livingstone & Victoria Falls, Liuwa Plain National Park, Victoria Falls
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	7 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	12 nights	Kafue National Park, 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

Contributor 5th edition 2012

As a Zambia specialist, my primary role for the 5th edition guide was to organise the research trip for one of our key contributors. With extensive knowledge of the camps we feature, I also played a significant part in updating several lodges.