African Encounter is a small, dedicated team - we like to think of ourselves as the Africian safari experts! We are passionate about Africa and dedicated to making your safari to Africa an experience like no other. We have lived and travelled in Africa for many years and have been planning safari itineraries since 1994. For many years we ran our own safari operation in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe and understand what makes a good safari operator (and what does not!). We have maintained a great many contacts throughout the industry and have associate offices in nearly every country that we send our clients. You are always assured of a local contact and a smiling face when you arrive in Africa, and wherever your itinerary takes you. We will plan your safari itinerary with as much care, thought and attention as if it were our own. That is our pledge to you.
At African Encounter we strongly believe that it is the quality and professionalism of our service that distinguishes us from the competition, and our common passion for Africa that motivates us to want to share our unique experiences with you. We guarantee you'll come to trust and rely on our years of experience and expertise as we work with you to plan one of your special Africa tours.
ABOUT THE OWNERS
The owners of African Encounter are Patrick and Elaine Brakspear. Elaine started as a travel agent in Sydney, Australia in 1994 but was born in Zambia and grew up in Zimbabwe. Patrick was born and raised on a farm in Zimbabwe and until 2004 owned and operated a safari business in Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, taking overseas visitors on canoeing trips down the Zambezi or hosting them at his mobile tented camp. Patrick and Elaine now work together in their travel consultancy business where they are both able to indulge their passion for Africa while utilizing their vast knowledge and experience of Africa to provide advice to the many people looking to travel to Africa each year. Together they provide a complete travel advisory service, taking care of all arrangements and ensuring that every safari booked through them is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Patrick has recently written a travel guide called 101 things to know when you go ON SAFARI IN AFRICA aimed at enhancing the safari experience, full of interesting facts and observations – a genuine travel companion.
Patrick also takes the opportunity to accompany our photographic tours to get his own Africa ‘fix', and to keep in touch with a continent close to his heart. Both Patrick and Elaine travel to Africa regularly to maintain their contacts and relationships with the many people within the safari industry who they have come to know over many years in the business.
You can be sure that when you book your safari through African Encounter you are in good hands.
