6 minute read
Our Guide, Warren Pearson, on Africa
Pan-African safari guide Warren spoke with us about his experience as a guide across all corners of Africa – and why there’s no bad time to visit!
Tell us a bit about how you became an African tour guide and what you do.
Growing up my grandfather was an avid birder and I used to accompany him to the Kruger National Park whenever he went out on his trips. I have always wanted to be in nature and around animals.
I started off as an onsite safari guide 24 years ago in the western side of Kruger National Park.
I was fortunate to work for a safari company that had lodges it managed all over Africa, so I was lucky enough to be able to request different lodges to work at. This is how I saw and experienced different parts of Africa.
After a while I wanted to do something different and I had some clients who wanted to come back to Africa and asked me to guide them. So I started putting together private safaris, which is what I do now.
Where in Africa do you take safaris?
I’m what you would call a Pan-African guide. I will go anywhere I can convince clients to go – and I’m always looking for new places.
For example, I’ve just come back from Chad. Most people, even South Africans, aren’t sure why Chad would be a good idea. But there is an incredible national park there called Zakouma which has been managed extremely well by a non-government organisation over the last 12 years and is seen as the ‘Golden Child’ of what can happen when conservation and tourism is done well.
Camp Nomad, Zakouma National Park, Chad
Credit: Warren Pearson
How has COVID-19 impacted tourism in Africa and what is the recovery like?
COVID decimated tourism in Africa. Billions of dollars usually brought in by tourism were lost. I think there were about 500,000 jobs in tourism lost just in South Africa alone. There are a lot of small companies that now no longer exist. All of this makes you realise how fickle the industry can be.
BUT there’s a turnaround. 2022 is looking incredibly good and we’ve got international flights coming in every day.
The biggest help has been getting rid of the PCR tests. Having to test every time you come into a country or region means there are too many variables involved in travelling and people are wary of this. Without the PCR tests and waiting sometimes days for results it makes things a lot easier.
What is the most common misconception people have about travelling in Africa?
There are quite a lot of misconceptions! I think the first that comes to mind is that people think that Africa is a country, and that it’s small. But it’s the second largest continent in the world made up of 54 countries. If you take China, India, USA and most of Europe combined, Africa is still bigger.
The other thing is people think Africa is a big dark place full of disease and poverty. But there are so many good things happening in Africa that the world doesn’t get to see in the news. Good news doesn’t sell, so we always only see the negative coming out of Africa and not the MANY positive things.
People often come for the wildlife, but they end up leaving loving the people the most and wanting to get to know them more.
Another thing is that people think it’s always hot, but there are so many climates and conditions across the continent – for example it’s winter here in Cape Town right now, so I am layered up with a scarf as it’s a bit chilly outside.
Is there a low season?
If you look at Africa as a whole, there is no low season. There is no bad time to come.
However, you need to look at specific countries or regions, such as South Africa, our low season is during the winter in Cape Town, but in the rest of the country, the winter is the high season.
What is the best place in Africa to go to that no one knows about and why?
Some of the best places are the best because they are not known. It’s a catch 22 because you want people to see these places but you also don’t want the secret to get out!
I’d probably have to say Zakouma National Park in Chad, as I mentioned earlier. Only a small select group of people have been there. It’s a difficult place to get to – you’re in 45-degree heat with no fans or air-conditioning but it’s incredible because there are layers upon layers of birdlife and mammals and other wildlife. For me it’s one of the best wilderness experiences you’ll have.
Hanging Out, Virunga National Park, DRC
Credit: Warren Pearson
How can travellers ensure they are making ethical choices when travelling in Africa?
Make sure you go with an expert – someone with years of experience and who has lived and travelled in Africa. Usually, word of mouth is a good way of finding a good guide.
It also comes down to common sense – there are lots of conservation charities out there but it comes down to getting in contact with an expert directly and asking them the hard questions.
Things like elephant riding or experiences where one can pet lion cubs, these are not ethical experiences, so don’t go with guides or companies offering these experiences.
Low season is variable across Africa, but what is something really special about travelling in the low season in South Africa, for example?
You can go to places and feel like you have it to yourself, you can also hang with the locals and get to understand how a city actually works. Locals disappear during the peak seasons – they know better - but during the low season you can really get to know them.
In the Western Cape region, the southern right whales arrive in the low season which is really special to see. And in the summer during the low season this is when a lot of the antelope are calving, which is a true privilege to witness for yourself firsthand. The abundance of life with the coming of the rains is truly spectacular.
Warren is an Official Ambassador for Low Season Traveller and is also a keen photographer. You can find a small selection of some of Warren's photo's below.
Thirsty Work, Ruah National Park, Tanzania
Credit: Warren Pearson
Leap of Faith, The Mara River, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Credit: Warren Pearson
Moonscape, Namib ?Naukluft Park, Namibia
Credit: Warren Pearson
