Renuka’s Guide to Experiencing Africa Beyond the Safari

1.What are the key types of journeys or experiences you currently curate for travellers across Africa?
Africa with Renuka curates personalised journeys that go beyond conventional safaris, including:
● Bush safaris and game drives, guided walking safaris, night drives and boat safaris
● Gorilla, chimpanzee and golden monkey tracking
● Hiking expeditions to Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru
● Scuba diving and snorkelling along the Indian Ocean coast and islands
● Seasonal rafting and catch-and-release fishing
● Hot-air ballooning, helicopter rides and wilderness sleepouts
● Luxury train journeys
● Coffee plantation and vineyard experiences
● Culinary experiences in Morocco and meaningful cultural interactions
Journeys are curated for solo travellers, couples and families, multi-generational families,
honeymooners and small groups of friends.
2.What kinds of experiences do you offer beyond conventional safaris?
Africa offers a diverse range of experiences beyond the traditional game-drive safari. Depending on the
destination and traveller interests, these can include hiking Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru, scuba
diving and snorkelling along the Indian Ocean, culinary experiences in Morocco, and meaningful
interactions with local communities that can sometimes extend to volunteering.
The idea is to experience Africa through its landscapes, people, cultures and activities, rather than view
it only through the lens of wildlife.

3.How do you typically personalise a journey for each traveller? What do you consider when putting
an itinerary together?
I often see two kinds of travellers drawn to Africa: those for whom an African safari has been a long-
cherished, once-in-a-lifetime dream, and those who have already experienced the continent and return
because they have developed a deeper emotional connection with it. I enjoy curating for both.
My starting point is always understanding the traveller. I look at their previous travel experiences, what
they enjoyed or found disappointing, their food preferences, fitness levels, hobbies, accommodation
preferences and what their everyday routine looks like.

I then build the itinerary around these insights, while also considering destination-specific factors such as
topography, weather, altitude and water levels. Preparing travellers for the realities of the wilderness is
equally important, particularly because wildlife sightings and natural conditions cannot be predicted.
I also encourage travellers to make informed decisions rather than rush into a booking. Depending on
the destination, I recommend planning six to 18 months in advance, as many properties have limited
inventory.
When planning a holiday, the first thing you are pledging is your time. My endeavour is to ensure that
travellers get the best possible value from that time and their resources, while still leaving enough room
for the unexpected.
I also deliberately avoid overloading travellers with facts about wildlife before they arrive. I encourage
them to ask their driver-guide questions on the ground and discover those details for themselves. The
element of wonder is something I like to preserve.

4.Are there any particular destinations, properties or experiences that best represent what Africa with Renuka offers?
Destinations: Raw, remote and rare places that offer a sense of calm even when surrounded by the
wildest of environments. Africa has many such places where the nights unfold under deep, star-filled
skies.
Properties: Places that are intuitively built with local materials and by local hands, where hospitality feels spontaneous and genuine rather than scripted.
Experiences: Those that are moving enough to make me pause — whether it is a wildlife encounter, a
landscape, a cultural interaction or simply a quiet moment in the wilderness.