Our guides are highly experienced in all aspects of hospitality, and in the ethics and principles of guiding. Hosting a great safari is not only achieved through knowledge of Africa's fauna and flora, it is a finesse that is crafted by learning under some of the finest trainers on the continent, and working with people from all over the world. Andrew, featured here, trained and instructed with Eco Training in the Makuleke Concession, and is a qualified trails guide (though between you and us, he mainly did the course to be able to be a manly man and pose with his gun).

Africa is not just about the animals - communities are just as important, particularly when it comes to understanding conservation challenges. Our guides have all worked and lived closely with various cultures and tribes around the continent, and speak a few local languages fluently or conversationally. Some destinations are great for community visits, like Malawi, where Alice is featured above, during her work with Central African Wilderness Safaris.

Growing up in the Zambian bush has instilled in Paul and Andrew an understanding of the wilderness. From a young age, they have learnt to recognise its sounds as they explored its boundaries and learned to heed its warnings. Days spent tracking animals with their Nyanja friends, fishing, building huts to spend the night in the bush or to withstand the siege of another brother...such was the norm for the Danckwerts brothers, shown above as they go on a bushwalk with their father at home in remote Zambia.

The three of us have extensive conservation experience, whether in the field, in academia or working behind the scenes - this translates naturally into our guiding ethics. Conservation is a way of life for us, and about loving the wonderful place we call home...we support a few organisations on the ground, too. Alice is featured here alongside the detection dog team of rangers from Lewa, hosting a conservation education safari in Kenya.

Our guides aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, especially when it comes down to anti-poaching. From behind the scenes work with the most incredible anti-poaching organisations to intense fieldwork, we’ve had our fair share of experiences - that we would gladly repeat again and again. The threats posed by poachers, the corruption and politics, the financial insecurities and the temptation are all a big part of a vicious fight to save our wildlife. Featured above is Andrew when he worked as an Honorary Wildlife Police Officer in the Kafue National Park, posing with a very happy team after capturing a notorious elephant poacher, 'Kefas'.

With 15 years of experience in photography, our award-winning photographer guides have developed a deep passion for the art of creation and storytelling. We love nothing more than sharing our tips and methods, teaching you all we know, our styles and philosophies. Alice, a keen storyteller, delivers photographic tuition whilst in the field with her Zambian guide.

The three of us are passionate about being on foot in the bush - the best way to gain an acute understanding of it. Learning to read Nature and its comfort zones, humility, respect and feeling at one with the wild... what's not to love. Our guides have hosted or guided many a walking safari, and with his acute understanding of wildlife and safety, Andrew is keen as ever to lead trails, like above, where he is gently dealing with an overly curious elephant bull whilst leading a walking safari in South Africa.

Our guides are passionate about discovering places less trodden. Well-versed in Africa's famous parks and landmarks, the Odysseia team have travelled far and wide to uncover beauty in the less obvious. Sudan, the DRC, Ethiopia, Malawi.... we love hidden gems. Particularly drawn to off-the-beaten-track conservations stories, Alice is featured hosting a private safari to the beautiful Nyika Plateau in Malawi.

Reading the stories of the bush is an incredible skill. Paul, featured here, is not only a fine storyteller himself but a truly talented interpreter of the tales left in the sand every morning, or on the bark of a tree, for us to decipher. All of our guides thoroughly enjoy making sense of the bush, and we cannot wait to teach you how to read Nature!

From working in some of the most remote camps in Africa to the finest, five-star, establishments on the continent, our guides have a deep appreciation of the safari and lodging industry. Paul and Andrew have worked in some of Africa's most luxurious lodges, as shown above, where Andrew wraps up an incredible safari with wonderful people at the renowned Lion Sands Game Reserve.

We don’t say 'lead' a safari without honest respect for the meaning of the word. Leaving standard industry ego aside, we make use of our sensitivity in our craft, all too rare in modern-day guiding, and place the well-being of our guests and the wildlife of Africa above all else. Paul, featured, was Head Ranger at the prestigious MalaMala Game Reserve, where he spent memorable years of his life.

The saying goes that if you can conduct canoeing safaris, you can conduct any safari. With the threat of hippos, and to a lesser degree crocodiles, canoeing guides need an acute understanding of these fascinating animals' behaviour to ensure a fun safari experience remains safe. With years of experience under his belt, Andrew knows how to explore channels less hippo-dense, as shown above, on the Kafue River, Zambia.

A key part in guiding is the passing on of knowledge. Something that the three of us have been doing for years, in our fields of expertise. From interpreting the bush to explaining photography, to teaching philosophy and coaching young adults, not only do we have experience in sharing our craft, but we love the connections that come out of it. Passionate about people and our philosophy, we can't wait to take you on the journeys of a lifetime! Above, Alice is giving a conservation and photography lecture in London.