Carl Preller

Carl’s safari education started at three years old in Kruger, and he’s been working in the safari industry since 2011, so by now the bush feels less like a special occasion and more like part of his wiring. He has a weakness for leopards, a soft spot for Zambia, and can apparently produce the correct collective noun for wildlife on demand. Useful? Surprisingly often. For Carl, a great itinerary hinges on two things: knowing every lodge inside out and genuinely understanding the person taking the seat. Watertight logistics are non-negotiable – much like a good glass of wine with dinner. Beyond the details, he’s uncompromising about ethical travel, believing a safari only truly succeeds when local communities thrive, and wild habitats are protected for the long haul. A die-hard game-drive loyalist, Carl has a vault of wild memories, including the time a wild dog hunt was abruptly hijacked by a surprise leopard right in front of camp. Outside of plotting wilderness escapes, you’ll usually find him burning off energy on the padel court or out on the trail.