Behind Breathe Africa
At Breathe Africa Travel, we believe safari is about far more than sightings.
It is about connection. Connection to wild places, to people, to conservation, and often, to yourself.
Founded through a deep love for Africa’s wilderness and the people who protect it, Breathe Africa creates meaningful safari experiences across southern and eastern Africa.
Our journeys are carefully designed to slow people down, immerse them in nature, and offer experiences that feel personal, thoughtful, and grounded in authenticity.
We work closely with a trusted network of guides, conservationists, lodges, trackers, and local communities to create journeys that are both exceptional and responsible. Whether it is a first safari or a return to a beloved landscape, we believe every experience should leave a lasting impact.
About us
Why Travel With Us
Trusted conservation and lodge partnerships
16 years of Field experience
Female or male private guides
Deep regional knowledge and on-the-ground experience
Tailored itineraries designed around each guest
Personalised support
Strong focus on ethical and conservation-minded travel
Travel should inspire curiosity, respect, and perspective.
We believe the quiet moments matter just as much as the dramatic ones. The early morning coffee beside a fire. The silence before sunrise. The distant call of hyena at night. Watching elephants move slowly through dust. These are often the moments people carry home with them.
Breathe Africa was created to offer travel that feels immersive rather than rushed. We focus on creating journeys that allow guests to truly experience Africa rather than simply move through it.
Our Philosophy
Conservation is woven into everything we do.
Many of the people behind Breathe Africa have spent years working within the safari and conservation industries across Africa. Through our partnerships and ongoing involvement in conservation initiatives, we aim to support wildlife protection, habitat preservation, education, and ethical tourism practices.
Our work is deeply connected to the landscapes we operate within and to the people who dedicate their lives to protecting them.
Breathe Africa proudly supports conservation awareness initiatives including work connected to rhino protection and wildlife education through campaigns such as Our Horn Is Not Medicine.
Conservation at the Heart
Every itinerary is personally designed.
We do not believe in one-size-fits-all travel. Each journey is tailored around the guest — whether that means photographic safaris, family adventures, conservation-focused travel, luxury escapes, wilderness experiences, or slower, more restorative time in nature.
The Breathe Africa Experience
From the first conversation to the final day of travel, we focus on detail, honesty, communication, and genuine care for the people travelling with us.
Our goal is simple:
To create experiences that feel seamless, meaningful, and unforgettable.
We want people to leave Africa with more than photographs.
We want them to leave with perspective, appreciation, and a deeper understanding of the wild places that still exist here.
At Breathe Africa Travel, we invite people to slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience Africa in a way that feels real. Because sometimes the greatest luxury is simply the opportunity to
Our Vision
breathe.
Breathe Africa was born from years spent immersed in the African wilderness.
After working as a full-time safari guide for nearly a decade, I had the privilege of witnessing some of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters imaginable. But beyond the sightings, it was the people who shaped this journey most deeply. Thousands of guests from around the world arrived carrying stress, exhaustion, grief, burnout, or simply a longing to feel alive again. Time and time again, I watched Africa transform them.
Nature softened people.
The wilderness slowed them down.
Something shifted when they disconnected from noise and reconnected with the natural world.
By the time guests returned home, they seemed lighter, calmer, and more themselves again.
Through those years, I came to understand exactly what travellers truly needed — and where traditional travel experiences often fell short. I quietly used every season in the bush as research, building the foundation for what would eventually become Breathe Africa.
More than a safari company, Breathe Africa was created from the belief that nature is medicine.
The wilderness has always been my sanctuary too.
During my years guiding, I also witnessed the devastating reality of rhino poaching across Southern Africa. Those experiences led to the creation of our conservation initiative, Our Horn is NOT Medicine — an NGO supporting counter-poaching efforts through ranger training, K9 units, aerial surveillance, and community upliftment projects.
One of the most pivotal influences in my life was legendary tracker Richard Khosa, who became both mentor and close friend. Richard deepened my understanding of the natural world and taught me that true tracking is not only about following footprints — it is about learning to observe quietly, trust your instincts, and move through life with discernment and confidence.
OUR STORY
"Nature will guide you, you just have to listen", Richard would say.
When Richard passed away in 2021, I honoured his legacy by establishing a scholarship fund for local students, continuing his belief in creating opportunities for future generations connected to wilderness conservation.
Today, Breathe Africa exists to create deeply personal safari experiences that reconnect people to nature, to themselves, and to what truly matters.
My favourite moments are still the simplest ones — watching the sunrise as the dawn chorus begins, or lying in bed with our son while lions call in the distance and hyenas whoop through the African night. It is something you feel.
I never fell in love with Africa.
I grew up in it.
The wilderness shaped who I became long before I built Breathe Africa.
Meet Lee-Anne
* better known as Annie
Annie combines her background in safari operations and human connection to help create journeys that feel deeply personal and enriching.
Her love for Africa’s wild spaces, conservation, and meaningful guest experiences is central to the heart of Breathe Africa.
The vision behind Breathe Africa is to create travel experiences that leave people feeling restored, inspired, and more connected to the natural world.
Owner and travel planner
Aquaphilic travel junkie
AKA
Meet Scott
Private Guide and travel planner
Scott brings years of field experience, guiding knowledge, and conservation involvement across Africa.
His work within wildlife spaces, conservation training, and safari leadership has shaped the foundation of Breathe Africa’s philosophy - one rooted in respect for wilderness and its people, and lots of fun!
My favourite moments are those spent alone on foot, or taking our son out into the bush to teach him the tracks and signs.
Meet Kristen
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
Kirsten is a Biokineticist based in Johannesburg, but her heart has always belonged to the African bush. From childhood, she was fortunate to escape into its untamed beauty, and to this day, she visits whenever she can.
Kristen’s work is client-oriented, both in her own practice and with Breathe Africa, where she focus’s on every detail to create a confident experience.
Nothing can compare to the quiet magic of the bush—where the night sky stretches above lions calling in the distance.
Music-loving Geology nerd
AKA
Meticulous Health fundi
AKA
Frequently Ask Questions
Breathe Africa Travel is operated by professional safari guides, NGO managers and conservation trainers. We have lived in the Kruger National Park for 15 years and have behind-the-scenes access to current projects.
We personally curate every trip with care and transparency. We have built strong relationships with local operators and our guests over the years.
We are a service-based, custom itinerary planner not a large group tour provider. Every trip is designed from scratch.
Yes, we work with local experts who know the land and have a proven track record of quality and guest satisfaction.
We begin with a discovery call, then move into itinerary building, accommodations selection, and support every step of the way.
We serve solo travellers, honeymooners, families, photographers, and family or friend groups, and anyone seeking a meaningful African safari experience
Schedule a discovery calL ➔
Let Breathe Africa Travel craft your dream safari, where untamed beauty, breathtaking wildlife, and seamless luxury meet. Whether it’s your first safari or your tenth, we ensure a smooth, unforgettable journey filled with wonder and adventure.
Book a call with a safari guide
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