For Luke Holden, seeing Africa through his daughters’ eyes made it all the more magical.
I’m 48, and the first time I ever travelled overseas, I went to Africa. I was 19. It felt like landing on another planet – the landscapes, the animals, the people – and it had a profound effect on me. Ever since I had kids, I’ve known I wanted to take them to Africa one day, to share that sense of wonder. And in September 2024, it finally happened.
My wife Jacqui and I have two daughters – Kate, who was 16 at the time, and Sammy, who was 14. With school holidays, teenage calendars and the general juggle of life, we realised this might be our last chance to take a big overseas trip as a family before they start flying the nest. I wanted it to be meaningful. Not just a holiday, but something that would crack open their view of the world.
I also didn’t want to waste a single day. When I originally travelled through Africa I had time to burn. This time, we had just over two weeks – and I didn’t want to lose hours dealing with logistics or sitting around waiting for transport. I needed expert help, but I was picky.
A client of mine had recently come back from Zambia and couldn’t stop raving about the company they’d used – Encompass Africa. Not only had they loved the trip, but it was the fourth time they’d travelled to Africa with them.
That kind of loyalty speaks volumes.
So I got in touch.
Danica, one of the Co-Founders was our contact at Encompass Africa, and from the first conversation I could tell she got it. She asked smart questions, listened closely, and understood the complexity of travelling as a family. Jacqui was a bit sceptical at first – she didn’t love the idea of sending money to someone we’d never met in person – but after one group phone call with Danica, she turned to me and said,
“Great job. She’s really good.”
What we wanted
Because I’d been to Africa before, I wanted this trip to take us somewhere new. Not just for my own curiosity, but so we could all share firsts together. I didn’t want to be that guy saying, “It was better when I came here 20 years ago.”
With advice from Danica, we chose to visit Botswana, a land of incredible diversity. If you go to the east, you get the landscape of Zimbabwe; if you go to the north, you get the landscape of Zambia; to the west you get Namibia; and to the south you get South Africa. And then of course there’s the Okavango Delta as well. Together we mapped out a route that would give us maximum diversity in a compact itinerary – forests, rivers, desert, and Delta. It was almost like going on a series of mini trips, which were all very different.
Danica recommended that we start in the northeast of the country, and gradually work our way west. She knew exactly the sort of crescendo that this route would create. She also said that if we were starting in the northeast, near the point where Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia all meet up, we’d be crazy not to visit Victoria Falls. And so we added Zimbabwe to our itinerary.
Starting our family safari at the Smoke that Thunders
We also took a helicopter flight over the Falls, which was jaw-dropping, and went zip lining over the Zambezi River. That one was Danica’s suggestion. I’m not a fan of heights, but I knew it would be unforgettable. I was definitely taking one for the team, but the scenery was so spectacular, and it was such a rush – I actually loved it. I told myself I couldn’t ask my daughters to step out of their comfort zones without doing it myself.
Danica knew not only that rhinos are my favourite African animal, but also that there aren’t many in Botswana – and so she arranged a visit to a rhino reserve near the Falls, and it was just unbelievable. We saw a black rhino mum and her son from just a few metres away. I’ll carry that memory forever. I know you can never guarantee sightings in the wild, but this was just magic.
Into the wilds of Botswana
From Vic Falls, we crossed into Botswana and headed to Chobe, staying at Chobe Game Lodge. This ended up being the girls’ favourite stop – the lodge is stunning, the food is top-notch, and the all-female guiding team were just incredible. Even when we had to share a game vehicle (cheaper than private guide and vehicle), the other guests were fun and easygoing.
The wildlife in Chobe is prolific. We saw elephants, lions, hippos, crocs, giraffes, sea eagles… and even a leopard! That was a big moment for me. I’d never seen one, despite years of trying in not only Africa but also Sri Lanka. My daughters knocked off the Big Five in under two days. Took me 30 years!
Sammy is obsessed with elephants, and she was in heaven. At one point we found ourselves surrounded by giraffes, and she said, “This is like Jurassic Park – you know, that scene when Sam Neill sees his first dinosaur?” It really did feel like that.
From horses to the desert moon
Next stop was Maun, where we stayed at Thamo Telele for a night so we could do a horse-riding safari. The idea of riding past zebra and giraffe was too good to pass up. We’re not a horsey family, so we did a couple of trial rides back home before we left. It paid off – the safari was a blast. And we saw oryx, which are stunning and not found in the other places we visited.
Then it was off to the Makgadikgadi Pans and Camp Kalahari – my personal favourite. This place felt like Mars: dry, vast, rugged. The accommodation blended into the environment and offered real solitude – you felt like you were the only people for miles.
This was meerkat country, and seeing these tiny creatures in the wild was a dream come true. One morning, Sammy sat quietly on the ground as a meerkat climbed onto her shoulder to scout for predators. It was incredible. While other teens were water skiing on school holidays, my girls were sending photos of meerkats perched on them in the desert.
We also met members of the San Bush community, went quad biking across the salt flats, and stargazed in one of the world’s best dark sky areas. It’s impossible to describe the scale and silence of that place – and the sheer number of stars.
Delta magic
Our final stop was Okuti, in the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. I’d always wanted to see the Delta – it’s one of those legendary places, like the pyramids or Machu Picchu. Okuti was architecturally stunning and beautifully run. You could sit in the plunge pool while elephants strolled past. The staff welcomed us with song, and their warmth and pride in their culture was just lovely.
One morning Kate said she was too tired for the 5am game drive and wanted to sleep in. I said that was totally fine – we were in a secure, relaxing place. But then she said, “No way. If I stay back, you’ll see the best animals of all time – like tap-dancing hyenas or something – and I’ll never hear the end of it!” So she came. And sure enough, we had one of our best game drives of the trip. Perfect timing.
A trip worth every moment (and dollar)
This wasn’t just a holiday – it was something we’ll talk about for the rest of our lives. The girls absolutely loved it. Sammy said it beat Italy. Kate told me, “Now I get why you brought us here, Dad.”
I was surprised by how relaxed the trip felt, considering how much we packed in. And we felt completely safe the whole time. In fact, I’d say it was probably the safest holiday we’ve ever taken.
That’s all thanks to Danica and Encompass Africa. Their ability to build an itinerary that suited our interests, our energy levels, and our need for variety was outstanding. Danica really listened. She understood that some days the kids needed lions and leopards, and other days they needed pool time and mocktails. That balance made the whole experience better.
I’ve already recommended Encompass Africa to others – and I understand now why that client of mine keeps going back. I’ve been on their website looking at Angola, the Republic of Congo, South Africa and Namibia… because this trip has made one thing very clear: we’re not done with Africa yet.
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