+44 (0)1625 591 112
About Africa By Lusso

Meet the Africa team

All of our travel advisors have been recruited for their enthusiasm, professionalism and detailed knowledge of the industry. Most have been working in travel for 20 years or more and all regularly return to the destinations and properties within our portfolio, meaning you can be assured of first-hand, in-depth and up-to-date knowledge to pass on to your client.

Senior Travel Advisor Hayley French

Hayley has been in travel for 28 years and has been selling Africa for nearly 20 of those. She has travelled extensively in South Africa and Botswana and has spent time in Zambia, Tanzania and Zanzibar, road testing everything from simple bush camps to luxury lodges and elegant rail journeys.

“I firmly believe everyone should go on safari at least once in their lifetime,” says Hayley. “And once Africa bites, it’s hard to stay away.”

“My best advice is to expect the unexpected. Things don’t always go according to plan – especially in the wilder and more remote corners of the bush – but that’s normally when you end up making the best memories.”

  • Favourite destination?

    Botswana.

  • Favourite park or reserve?

    Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. It’s the oldest reserve in the area and one of the richest in terms of biodiversity, home to all the Big Five, the largest population of red lechwe in Africa, and one of the largest populations of endangered African wild dog.

  • Favourite lodge or hotel?

    For a safari in South Africa I love Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, which shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park. I’d top or tail this with a stay at La Residence in Franschhoek in the stunning Cape Winelands – for the views, for the food, for the wonderful wine.

  • Fondest memory?

    After so many years of trying, seeing African wild dogs while on safari in Botswana in 2017 was a wonderful experience and a big tick on the bucket list. Flying above the waterways of the Okavango Delta by helicopter was also unforgettable, as was travelling from Cape Town to Pretoria with Rovos Rail aboard arguably the most luxurious train in the world.

  • Top tip?

    Pick a private game reserve for your safari rather than a national park and you’ll generally enjoy a far more private and exclusive experience. You’re able to get closer to the wildlife by going off-road on game drives, plus you can go out after dark, when a whole new world of nocturnal creatures can be spotted by torchlight.

Lusso on location