Last year I had a busy and fruitful year, spending time in North America, Europe, India, North Africa, Australia and so on, but easily the most enjoyable trip I took was leading a group of British tourists on an African safari. The reason was simple: this team of worldly, well-travelled Brits were completely blown away by the African bushveld, the wild animals and the sheer adventure of being on the fringes of the modern world. To be able to share my own enthusiasm for wild Africa was a rare privilege indeed and I have no doubt at all that they will all be back soon.
So what is it about the bush that makes it so compelling a place to visit? Well, firstly the obvious: there is nowhere else on Earth where such a variety of animals and birds exist in real wilderness. Anyone who has gone looking for tigers in India’s Ranthambore Park will know precisely what I mean. In Africa you can still find remoteness without having to share it with hordes of shouting, gesticulating fellow travellers.