Growing up in East Africa, no matter how long I have been away, it has always kindled a warm feeling of home.
In 2001, my family and I moved to Tanzania, which opened another world of bush adventures. I started my career in tourism when I was 19, running an exclusive lodge in the northern Serengeti. I took a sabbatical from that job to pursue my education, and obtained my field and marine guiding qualification in South Africa, after which I returned to Tanzania and joined one of East Africa’s biggest safari operators. At first I managed Oliver’s Camp in Tarangire National Park, then moved to the more remote wilderness areas in southern Tanzania. Here I spent 6 years running Kwihala, in Ruaha National Park. Then I moved into an operations role, overseeing the construction and launch of several new camps in Ruaha and Nyerere national parks, including Jabali Ridge and Roho ya Selous.
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have travelled extensively around Tanzania (usually in quest of some unusual species of bird) exploring lesser-known areas such as the Mahale Mountains, Katavi National Park, Kilwa, Amani forest, Lake Natron, Tanga and the Ruvuma region. And I’ve also spent lots of time in the well-known regions – the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Zanzibar and Mafia island.
I’ve always loved sharing my knowledge with like-minded travellers. I’m fascinated by local culture, languages and cuisine, exploring the wilderness areas, supporting the communities and engaging with the conservation work that goes on in these vulnerable areas. After many years as a camp manager welcoming Expert Africa guests to Tanzania, I am thrilled to be a part of the team that gets them there. I want to continue expanding my knowledge of East Africa and creating incredible experiences for all our wageni (guests or visitors in Swahili).
I live with my safari guide husband in Italy and travel home frequently to Tanzania to see my family and friends.
Tamara's most recent Africa trips
Kenya
A continuation of learning more about Kenya and its incredibly unique natural areas. A huge highlight for me was heading further north to Samburu and Sarara in northern Kenya. These are truly pristine natural areas, blending efforts of community and conservation together. I spent a week on Lewa, which will be the go to for the species we do not hear about, such as the Grevy's Zebra, the stunning Reticulated Giraffe and of course, healthy populations of White and Black Rhinos. After years of visiting Kenya, I finally got to visit Nairobi National Park, which is such a unique example of conservation and urban growth
Kenya
Although I went to school in Kenya and spent time there when I was younger, this was my first trip to Kenya with Expert Africa. I focused on two of the best wildlife areas in the country – the Ol Pejeta Consrvancy in Laikipia, and the Maasai Mara ecosystem. Being such unique conservation models, the Maasai Mara conservancies were particularly interesting for me, as they are leading innovative and promising partnerships between local communities and tourism partners. Another highlight was to spend time with the last two northern white rhinos and learn about the incredible work that has gone into preventing the loss of these amazing animals. Some of my other memorable sightings included black crake chicks and an impressive hunt featuring a juvenile martial eagle on an unfortunate scrub hare. With every safari, there’s always something new and wonderful to see!
Tanzania
This trip was focused on Tarangire National Park. As a personal favourite, this unique ecosystem which forms park of the important Maasai Steppe is often overlooked or missed completely. We explored the wildlife management area Randilen, a vital wilderness buffer zone and enjoyed excellent game viewing in Tarangire. Our highlights were the surprise sundowner and bush breakfasts along the Silale swamp. As someone who adores elephants, we were spoilt with the enormous herds that Tarangire is very well know for.
- I visited
- Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
Tamara's previous Africa research
| Country | Arrived | Length of stay | Areas visited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | June 2023 | 14 nights | Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti Migration Area |
Reviews from Tamara's latest travellers
