Julie Edwards – Founder, Safari Consultant, Accredited Guide, Artist, Author and Conservationist
Julie Edwards has spent a lifetime working in and around the African bush, developing a deep, practical understanding of its wildlife, landscapes, and ecosystems.
In the late 1980s, she was one of the original “Rhino Girls”, undertaking a 22,000 kilometre cycle journey from Scotland to Zimbabwe to raise funds and awareness for rhino conservation at a critical time. The expedition, known as Ride for the Rhino, was later documented in Extinction is Forever, capturing both the journey and the environmental realities encountered along the way.
That experience continues to shape Julie’s approach today. Her guiding is grounded not only in technical knowledge, but in a long-standing awareness of how wildlife, land, and people are closely connected, and how easily that balance can be lost.
As a professionally accredited guide, Julie prioritises safety, clarity, and understanding, while offering guests access to some of Africa’s most remarkable environments. Her safaris are designed not simply to observe wildlife, but to engage more deeply with the places and ecosystems in which they exist.
Alongside her work in the field, Julie is also an artist, drawing inspiration directly from the landscapes and wildlife she has spent decades exploring.
Alasdair Munn – Business Partner : Alasdair, a Zimbabwean by birth, living in the UK. committed to ethical business management and sustainability. He and his family have a long association with Julie, extending thirty five years, originally as publishers of the first book entitled, “Extinction Is Forever, The Inspiration Behind The Rhino Girls Story”, By Munn Publishing.
Botswana is an exciting destination, with about 80% of the country is covered by Kalahari Sands. Located in these sands is the Okavango Delta and River systems to the north including Kwando, Linyathi and Chobe River systems. The abundant water offers a haven for both flora and fauna and is renowned for its great beauty and diversity. Botswana has a rich mix of African cultures the largest tribal group being the Botswana forming about 50% of the population. The original inhabitants some 2000 years ago were the San Bushmen. A fascinating Kalahari safari experience with these most ancient of all people is almost a ‘must do’ in your itinerary. Plains of Africa have hand picked the best destination in Botswana to suite a variety of tastes. Take a look at some of them here
Climate
Botswana can be visited at any time of the year – summers are generally hot and winters mild with a few cold spells. Seasons: High July 1 to October 31; Shoulder: March 1 to June 30 & November/December 1 to 31
Places Of Interest To Explore! SAFARI HOTSPOTS!
Chobe National Park – Famous for large herds of elephant along the Chobe river, excellent birding and game viewing. There are a number of lodges in the northern section at Kasane However, service and standards are varied and it tends to be touristy. Traveling into the Savuti region situated in the heart of the park along the Mababe depression is excellent for predators and other game and more of a rugged wilderness experience.
Magadikgadi National Park – 140,000 sq kilometer ancient sea, formed approx. two million years ago is renown for its beauty and incredible vistas. It is a major breeding site for greater and lesser flamingos. The western grasslands are home to huge herds of migrating zebra and wildebeest and lion prides between February and March.
Moremi Game Reserve – Situated on the Eastern edge of the Okavango Delta offers a wide diversity of habitats and species of wild game and has become a popular tourist destination. Best game viewing time is from April to October.
Okavango Delta – a vast 15,000 square kilometer wetland oasis in the heart of the Kalahari sands. A mired of flood plains, lagoons, islands, a tropical paradise with incredible wildlife and bird life viewing. Exclusive camps and lodges in magnificent settings, a must do!
Tsodilo Hills – In the remote northern western part of the Kalahari is a group of four isolated hills. Among these 800 million old hills are more than 4000 rock paintings by the ancestors of the san people and have deep mythological and religious value. Some paintings are older than 2000 years. A unique and fascinating experience to hike up into the hills and exploring the ancient rock art.
WHAT TO DO?
Culture – a wide diversity of tribal peoples with their interesting traditions and ceremonies reflecting their heritage. Special focus on the Kalahari Bushmen.
Game Drives – these are operated in open vehicles, usually at dawn and dusk to seek out the most interesting wildlife. Night drives are also available in private reserves.
Makoro (Dugout canoe) Safaris – glide with your private poler through the delta in a traditional dugout canoe. A mokoro was used by the orginal inhabitants of the Okavango Delta. This is a quiet and slow way of travelling throught the shallow channals of the delta, relax and sit back and absorb the magical variety of birdlife, crystal clear waters and beauty of the lagoons and waterways.
Motor Boat Trips – These are used in the deeper channals that are too deep for mokoro’s giving acess to large laggoons. They are noiser and disturb the wildlife and their wake can be harmful in areas where there are nesting birds e.g. the african skimmers nest on sand bars/banks. Boat trips can be good providing they are run considerately – encourage your guide to go slowly, you will see so much more as a result.
Walking Safaris – there is no better way of getting really close to nature than this. Lead by experienced armed guides/rangers/trackers, walkers are able to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the bush in harmony with their surroundings.
MAMMALS
The Okavango Delta and surrounding reserves of Northern Botswana support one of the last assemblages of large, free ranging mammals. This includes African elephant, wild dog, tsessebe which occur in the greatest numbers than anywhere else in Africa. The reclusive and rare Sitatunga, an adapted swamp antelope, is found no where else south of the Zambezi . Lion, leopard and cheetah occur in good numbers.
The Northern Chobe /Caprivi river system is the only area in Botswana and in fact Southern Africa where one will find the Puku. This is also found with the red lechwe occur in small herds near water. The riverine habitats are good places to find the Chobe bushbuck with its marvelous colour and coat markings. The Chobe River has plenty hippo, crocodile, and the largest herds of elephant found anywhere in Africa. Sable and Roan antelope are a special especially in the woodland areas, or at pans and rivers when they come down to drink.
The Central Kalahari has specials like the desert lion, brown hyena, gembok and kudu are also common.
A wide variety of mammals occur in Botswana.
BIRDING HOTSPOTS
Did you know that Botswana hosts:
- The single largest population (ca 20%) of Wattled Cranes in the world and over 60% of the world’s Slaty Egrets, both birds of global conservation concern?
- Approximately 600 species found in a wide variety of habitats.
Kenya is well known for its authentic safari experiences. A land of diverse splendor and beauty, from the famous Mount Kenya to the Indian ocean, he vast plains that teem with wildlife to the arid lands in the north and Great Rift Valley. There are over 40 indigenous tribal groups, each with their own dialect, many of whom have preserved their traditional cultural heritage. An abundance of wildlife await your discovery the wonders of this outstanding beautiful land.
Climate
Kenya boasts one of the best climates in the world, an ideal venue for an active holiday. The highland temperatures are cool but elsewhere averaging between 25 ?30 degrees during the day. The coast is humid and balmy. Over most of the country there are 2 rainy seasons – the long rains occurring over the months of April and May, and the short rains in November
Places Of Interest To Explore! / SAFARI HOTSPOTS!
- Aberdares National Park – a highland reserve with unique forest elephant, giant forest hog and protecion for the endangered black rhino.Exciting bird species.
- Amboseli National Park – an Tortalis, Eco lodge dwarfed by the majestic Kilimanjaro, close up and personal with Africa’s Pachiderms.
- Meru National Park – Elsa’s Camp, a hidden African jewel made famous in the film ‘Born Free’ by George & Joy Adamson.
- Maasai Mara Game Reserve – National Park is a wildlife experience unsurpassed in the word. The great Migration herds fill the horizons with one-and-a-half million wildebeest, 200 000 zebra, 18 000 eland and 500 000 Thompson’s gazelle. They cross the crocodile infested waters. This is a dramtic life and death stuggle and a unique experience of nature in its bid to survive and move in search of better grazing.
- Laikipiak – an alluring haven on the northern edge of the northern frontier. Time stands still and the haunting beauty of the wilderness spreads out befroe you. Camel treks and walking safaris amoungst the game with the Laikipak Maasai and professional guides.
- Lewa – the northern foothills of Mt. Kenya, is Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Founded by Anna Merz, Lewa has gained a reputation for extending benefits of conservation beyond its borders. Scenically spectacular and densely populated with exciting wildlife. All income generated goes directly towards conservation and community projects.
- Tsavo National Park– the largest protected area inkenyamade famous by Dr Dame Daphne Sheldericks Elephant conservation projects.
WHAT TO DO?
Culture – a wide diversity of tribal peoples with their interesting traditions and ceremonies reflecting their heritage.
Game Drives – these are operated in open vehicles, usually at dawn and dusk to seek out the most interesting wildlife. Night drives are also available in private reserves.
Alasdair is a Zimbabwean living in the U.K. Being away from Africa, has given Alasdair a deep appreciation of what Africa has to offer.
Working in the both the USA and the UK for the last 10 years, Alasdair has been exploring the way we are living digital lives and how digital tools can enhance the way we work, live and play, whilst allowing us to have our feet planted firmly on the ground.
‘As I was born and grew up in Zimbabwe, I also enjoy dissecting the different ways that we, as businesses and people, can seriously approach green initiatives and sustainability. It is understood that the fastest way to change the way we consume is to change the way we produce. The most effective way to change the way we produce is to find viable alternatives that increase efficiencies, reduce costs and enable communities. Technology, fresh thinking and a growing sense of corporate responsibility are helping us do just that.’
‘Working with Julie Edwards has been brilliant. I have had the pleasure of having her guide me through the African bush on numerous occasions. Her knowledge is incredible, from animals and birds, identifying spoor, fauna and flora, to understanding the entire eco-systems. Having trained and worked as a professional guide, Julie is very well placed to put together some of the most incredible, life changing safari itineraries.’
