Allison Bothma

If Allison ever writes that textbook on African travel, Chapter 1 already has a title: “It’s All About the Journey. But First, Where Are We Sleeping?” Which tells you quite a lot about her. She loves the dreaming stage, when you’re throwing ideas around and discovering what’s possible, but she’s equally interested in the details that make the whole thing work. What do you want the trip to feel like? What definitely isn’t for you? And, yes, where are you sleeping? Her own African travels have taken her from gorilla trekking in Rwanda, an experience she still calls life-changing, to safaris across Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania. Yet she still gets a kick out of hearing about a guest’s first sighting of a leopard in a tree or an elephant herd with babies. For Allison, familiarity hasn’t dulled the excitement. At home, life involves a pilot husband, twin girls, two small dogs, Pilates, Netball and weekend arts and crafts. And should Taylor Swift ever require a paparazzi-free safari, Allison already has thoughts. She’s also quietly hoping for a safari-inspired album in return.