Southern and Eastern African Safari Specialist

Safari Splendors

As a travel professional, having the opportunity to explore the world is a privilege and blessing. Those of us in the industry greatly appreciate how travel experiences can shape our perspectives and enhance our lives as well as our clients’. Every destination I have visited has been special in its own way, although none has imprinted upon my soul the way Africa has.

My first experience in Africa with Ntaba African Safaris stunned me with its awe-inspiring wildlife and nature. Never before had I been able to disconnect from the world’s chaos and truly live in the raw and gripping present. Senses heightened, mind and heart open, Africa forced me to live in the moment, and my life hasn’t been the same since.

Upon returning I immediately booked my next group trip to Africa and began telling all of my clients about this exceptionally magical land. The National Parks are adrenaline packed with copious herds of animals, the Rivers and Waterways are vital ecosystems supporting a wide variety of wildlife, the Private Game Reserves provide up close and personal viewing - often of the Big Five, the Wildlife Sanctuaries offer exceptional interactions with animals. Then there's the vast variety of African cultures, history, music, art, cuisine and wine to appreciate and enjoy.

While I have booked other tour operators in the past, I learned firsthand that Ntaba African Safaris provides a deeper connection for travelers. The relationships this family-owned business has fostered over their 20 years in service makes all the difference. When my clients travel with Ntaba, they don’t just go to Africa, they are taken there as part of a family, which changes the entire dynamic and profoundly enhances their overall experience.

The days leading up to my second group trip in Africa had me wondering if I’d be able to capture that same magic. Little did I know how my world was about to shift in ways I could barely dare to dream of. Robin Mountain, Ntaba’s CEO & Owner, served as our destination guide in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Imagine having Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, with you in the jeep on every game drive. That’s the equivalent of what going on safari with Robin is like.

It was astounding how much we learned, from the culture of the people to the history of the land, every tree, every bird, every scent, every sound, had a story, had a purpose, had a way of touching our hearts. Each day was filled with wonder, laughter, tears, intense appreciation of nature and fulfilling connection with one another. When it couldn’t possibly have gotten any better, somehow it did.

The stars were aligned, and the signs kept appearing. From the solar eclipse to the blood moon, a client’s observation of Robin’s and my shared passion for Africa, a vision, a dream, an unexpected bond. Robin and his wife Stella had been looking for the right person to represent them in America. What they found was Ezulwini, a “gift from the heavens” in Zulu, and so I was honored with this esteemed African name, although for short they call me Izzi.

Beyond the priceless memories and photographs, travel to Africa leaves everyone exclaiming the same thing, “That was completely life-changing!” It truly is. Africa will breathe new life into you. It will take you back, thrust you forward, and ground you to the wild and wonderful present. If you let it, Africa will become part of your soul.

My time in Africa has given me the opportunity to connect with something greater than myself, a land rooted in the very beginning of time, a place that lets my heart sing and my spirit roar. I will forever be grateful for what Ntaba has given me, a place in their family, a new land to call home.

Together, we will share the extraordinary with others, so they too can find Heaven in Africa.