Specialties
Regions: East Africa, Southern Africa, and Egypt.
Travel Types: Luxury Travel, Adventure Travel, Active Travel, Expedition Travel, Family & Multi-Generational Travel, Kilimanjaro Treks, Romance & Honeymoon Travel, Primate Treks, Safaris, Mobile Safaris, Special Celebrations, Conservation Focused Safaris.
Special Interests: Conservation, History & Culture, Food & Wine, Eco-Tourism, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Safari with Kids and Photography.
Destinations Visited
Africa: South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Seychelles, Egypt
Latin America: Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Mexico
Southeast Asia: Vietnam
Additional countries: Japan, China, Australia, Switzerland, Italy, France, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Bosnia, Macedonia, Albania, Greece, England, Netherlands, Canada, Cuba, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and various parts of the US.
Why I’m a Travel Consultant
Before attending university in Switzerland, my travel experiences were largely defined by my bi-cultural upbringing between Tokyo, Japan, and the Bay Area, California.
When I decided to pursue my degree in Europe, I wasn’t sure where my career would lead. I knew I wanted to live a “big life,” where working and traveling overseas would be central to my journey. I envisioned paths in diplomacy or international conflict resolution, but working for a travel company wasn’t even on my radar.
During university, I had the extraordinary opportunity to travel to Botswana to study environmental science and policy. What was meant to be a simple “study” trip transformed my worldview and my sense of purpose. Thus began my love affair with the African continent.
Africa has a way of getting under your skin—it’s intoxicating, liberating, and deeply nourishing for the soul. Today, I have the privilege of arranging journeys for my clients, sharing a glimpse of what I felt as a college student. At best, these trips inspire a greater appreciation for the natural world and a commitment to environmental stewardship. Some clients have even shared how the journeys I planned shifted their professional trajectories, and knowing that fills me with immense joy.
I also have the pleasure of collaborating with some of the most passionate, adventurous, and knowledgeable individuals in Africa. These peers, who are worthy of admiration, continually inspire me to grow and challenge myself. I’m fortunate to work alongside people I deeply respect and who motivate me to be my very best.
Education
- BA and Certificate of Swiss Accreditation in International Communications & Political Science, Franklin University Switzerland
- Interpersonal Dynamics Certificate, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Career History
Driver/Guide – Tau Safaris
Program Director: Africa & Middle East – Mountain Travel Sobek
Assistant General Manager – Aardvark Safaris
Professional Awards & Accomplishments
- Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist 2021-Present
- Travel Age West Rockstar Under 40 finalist 2018
- Luxury Travel Advisor Trendsetter 2017
- Travel Agent Top 25 2013
Where I’ve Lived Abroad
Japan, Switzerland, the African Bush
Most Memorable Travel Experience
I have too many tales to pick just one. I don’t know if this is the most memorable, but I recall the night I fell in love with Africa. It was a warm spring evening when I was driven into the middle of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana – near the end of my first two week safari. In the middle of this massive ancient lake bed, the stars packed the sky from horizon to horizon. With utter silence, lack of light pollution and immense open space around me, I had a chance to lay and reflect on my first roller coaster of an African experience. This was the beginning to my turbulent affair with Africa.
My Most Recent Trip
I had the incredible opportunity to take my family (my wife and three kids) and close family friends (parents and their two kids) to Botswana for their very first visit. Experiencing the wonders of northern Botswana through fresh eyes—especially the joy and amazement of the children—was an absolute highlight. Our two-week adventure felt like a moving celebration, filled with wild moments, endless laughter, and unforgettable wildlife sightings. A particularly special part of the trip was spending a few nights with my friend, Super Sande, who guided me during my first college trip to Botswana back in 2001. Reuniting with him and sharing those precious moments with friends and family made this, arguably, the most memorable Africa trip yet.
Recommended Right Now
I always encourage my clients to book trips with diversity. Diversity in landscape, wildlife, activities etc. For me, I love being on walking safaris – experiencing beautiful open spaces sans engine noise and exhaust fumes. I get accused of being a purist now and again, but I don’t think there is a more beautiful experience than walking in the Africa bush. It may seem silly, but it’s rare to find a place near where I reside where I can choose my own path; determine my course of direction. When on a walking safari, you have the freedom to choose and explore. It nourishes my soul.
Favorite Properties
Singita Pamushana (Malilangwe Reserve, Zimbabwe)
Built onto a hillside overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Malilangwe Dam, Singita Pamushana is the epitome of luxury. Here, it is all about your natural surroundings, with rooms and common spaces all designed to blend into and allow guests to appreciate the reserve’s beautiful landscapes. From rivers to savannas, lakes to woodlands, you’ll encounter an amazing diversity of biomes and, along with it, activities and wildlife. Hop in a jeep for an incredible game drive, participate in a community visit, or check out local rock art. You will be wowed around every corner.
San Camp (Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Botswana)
I visited the lunar landscape of the Makgadikgadi during my first trip to Africa in 2001. This place captivated me in ways no other place has. There’s unique wildlife here on the fringes of the pans (like meerkats, brown hyena, aardvark, aardwolf etc.), but more interestingly, it’s the “nothingness” of the pans themselves that’s called me back time and time again. It’s an inexplicable feeling to see nothing but a salt crust as far as the eye can see. It’s the ear-piercing deafening silence. Sleeping out here, the stars pack the sky from horizon to horizon and you can truly feel the scale of the universe. It’s a magical place and you should definitely consider staying out here over the new-moon during the “dry season.”
There’s small handful of camps in the area, but San Camp remains my favorite. It’s not the most luxurious of the lot, but the best positioned. When you unzip your tent in the morning, you are greeted by the expanses of the salt pans, pied crows and vultures overhead indicating what may have taken place overnight. There are big animals here, too, but what I love the most is how nuanced this place can be. If you have the budget, hire Super Sande to be your guide. He’s guided me many times to include my first trip to Africa and he knows the Makgadikgadi best!
The Silo Hotel (Cape Town, South Africa)
My love for Cape Town runs deep. There’s so many parallels to the city of San Francisco that I call home. A coastal city with immense natural beauty and world-class wine-country nearby, Cape Towns setting, outdoor activities, and gastronomical offering are like none-other.
Although I don’t enjoy opulence or luxury for myself, The Silo is perhaps one of few exceptions. It’s impossible not to be in awe of the architectural marvel, modern art, the design language of Liz Biden, impeccable service and the buzzing location within the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. And who doesn’t love a great rooftop bar with a swimming pool! Views of the harbor and Table Mountain, this is one of my all-time favorite rooftop hang outs!
Any Mobile Camping Experience
I get accused of being a purist now and again, but I really enjoy the simplicity and purity of a mobile camp (they can still be very luxurious with proper beds/linens, showers, toilets etc.). Being on a mobile camp strips away all of the distractions, leaving you to really focus and enjoy the environment that surrounds you. The food is always wholesome and simply delicious – always cooked over a fire or in a steel box oven (think fresh baked breads, cakes etc.). I also love bucket showers where the water smells earthy/smoky. But above all, it’s about being in a remote camp in an animals’ kingdom where you really feel the enormity of the Africa wilderness.
Ol Donyo Lodge (Chyulu Hills, Kenya)
For me, going on safari isn’t always about seeing the highest volume of animals in the shortest span of time. It’s about being in nature, in a beautiful setting, and wildlife is a component of this wilderness experience. Ol Donyo Lodge is situated in the majestic Chyulu Hills in a private 275,000 acre private conservancy. As the only lodge operating in this concession, the sense of space is immense. On a clear day, Kilimanjaro is visible in the backdrop, and if you are lucky, you’ll see some of the last remaining super-tusker elephants visiting the watering hole in front of the lodge. On my last visit, I felt the thundering of hundreds of elands running past our vehicle and viewed multiple super-tuskers from a stone’s throw away in their photographic hide. We hiked, biked and took in the sights on horseback. Although there are better places for higher density wildlife viewing, there’s no better place to enjoy the African wilderness in this impossibly beautiful location.
Explora Torres del Paine (Patagonia, Chile)
As much as I love the vastness of Africa, I’m a mountain guy at heart. I spent a lot of time in the Swiss, French and Italian Alps during my university years and an aspiring alpinist.
Torres del Paine is a geological anomaly and one of the most beautiful alpine regions in the world. It’s no wonder that world-class climbers and novice outdoors people flock to this area. It’s simply awe-inspiring!
Explora Torres del Paine is genuinely one of the coolest places I’ve every stayed! Located lakeside overlooking the Torres del Paine massif, each window frames the picturesque mountains, luring you to go outside and enjoy the outdoors. The environment can be harsh with the notorious whipping winds, but it adds to the sense of the Patagonian wilderness. The location of this lodge gives you quick access to all the areas of interest, the menu of activities is extensive, the food is divine (and so’s the wine), the spa is gorgeous, and best of all, you can take a “polar plunge” off the docks for a quick dip in the glacial water. I love everything about this place and it makes you feel so alive!
Wilderness Little Vumbura (Okavango Delta, Botswana)
The Okavango Delta is a special place. A pristine wilderness area and a permanent wetland, it’s not what everyone envisions Africa to look and feel like. The diversity of habitat here supports massive biodiversity. With the water coming in from the Angolan highlands, this area sparkles as if it’s been untouched by human over time. All of the classic African species exist here, but it’s equally as impressive with the smaller things. The birding in the Delta is incredibly productive and the evenings are magical with bell frogs clicking nearby and serenading you at the dinner table. The safaris here are exciting, and my favorite being the afternoon boat safari. You’ll have an opportunity to speed through the various channels of the delta while taking in the sights. Searching for the malachite kingfisher, my favorite African bird, is one of my favorite things to do in the Delta. At sunset, have yourself a sundowner onboard get out your fishing rod and cast into a lagoon full of hippos, crocs and other wildlife in hopes of catching the coveted tiger fish!
There’s countless places to stay in the Delta, but I love Little Vumbura. A perfect blend of simplistic luxury and located along the Maunachira River, this area has water all year long resulting in the quintessential Delta experience regardless of the time of year. Little Vumbura encapsulates what I love about the Delta the most!
Singita Sabora Tented Camp (Grumeti Reserve, Tanzania)
Singita Sabora is in the private Grumeti Reserve in western Serengeti. Although the great migration passes through here May-June, this area is abundant with resident wildlife all year long. The massive 300,00 acre reserve is dedicated for sole use by Singita, it’s the kind of place you imagine Africa to look like. Wide open savannahs and animals as far as the eye can see, this place is incredibly captivating. Of the several lodges Singita operates in the reserve, I love Sabora’s “build” and location the most. It’s a modern interpretation of a tented camp right in the middle of the savannah. Animals roam through camp and you can sometimes feel the animals running by your tent. It’s invigorating, exciting and beautiful. And in classic Singita fashion, the service, food and wine selection are out of this world!