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Meet The Team

We are well-travelled and extremely knowledgeable
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We are the only exclusive safari company in Europe that is entirely owned and staffed by people who have spent their lives being brought up in Africa and India. We know, watch and understand the seasons – something which cannot be gleaned on a 2-week research trip to a country.

We spend several months each year researching the latest as well as current properties – more than any other safari company. We’ll always give our unbiased, honest opinion on whether we feel these experiences are right for you. We take care to ensure that an attentive guide and local experts are with you every step of the way. We go the extra mile – every time – to make sure that each safari is perfect.

Imagine if somebody asked you to explore England, Europe or America in two weeks. Would that make you an expert? We don’t think so, either. There is another factor, too. Like many other companies, we promote responsible tourism. Unlike many other companies, we take it one step further and greatly contribute to various charities in the countries that we operate. And then one step further still, when we create lovely, exclusive safaris, where one can visit the places we assist. Either way, you can have the most wonderful time on safari, knowing that you are making a difference. Now that makes sense to us!

The joy is that we can offer so many permutations. From luxury safaris, wonderful adventurous family safaris, learning about wildlife with professionals and scientists, to staying in private houses and villas in beautiful, malaria-free regions or on the coast.

Peace of Mind

The Explorations Company (formerly known as African Explorations) has been offering bespoke safaris and holidays to its clients for two and a half decades.

The ethos that we have carefully nurtured over 30 years – of sharing the most charismatic local guides with our clients, choosing characterful small properties in beautiful locations, giving back directly to local community projects and selecting truly unique and personalised experiences – is one that is shared by The Explorations Company. Our experts have unrivalled experience in travelling and working within Africa, experience that grows with every year that passes. You can also rest assured that you’re protected as a consumer, as we are members of ATOL and the Travel Trust Association.


The Explorations Company, where no two journeys have ever been the same

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Nicola Shepherd

Nicola was born in Calcutta, India, where she spent the first part of her life before moving to Kenya and South Africa with her family. She spent much of her time in the bush on safari with her family and her passion is wildlife! She studied nature conservation and completed her diploma in viniculture and viticulture in South Africa and her PPL before moving to Botswana, where she was involved with conservation and assisted in the running of camps in the Okavango Delta for several years.
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Jonathan Drew

Leaving the City, Jonathan spent some time as a dairy farmer in Devon (which he loved, cattle are a great interest) before heading out to Africa when UK farming was in crisis to look at continuing his agricultural career there.
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Catherine Pirie

Catherine (Kate) was born in Zimbabwe, and spent the first part of her life in Mushandike National Park before moving to the outskirts of Hwange National Park . She left Zimbabwe and moved to Botswana, where her parents ran various lodges in the Okavango Delta, and Kate followed suit, managing safari camps for many years.
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Chinmay Vasavada

Chinmay was born and brought up in Ahmedabad, India. He developed a keen interest in travel at an early age as he accompanied his father on archaeological expeditions across Gujarat and Rajasthan. As he grew up, various trips further afield turned his interest into a passion and he decided to pursue a degree in travel and tourism.
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Anthea Graham

Anthea (Aggie) was born in Nakuru, Kenya, and her earliest memory is the sharp sting of red ants on legs and riding on her father’s polo ponies. The family moved to a farm in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa, with rivers to swim in, San paintings on the rocky outcrops above and the occasional snowfall for tobogganing on tin trays!
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Kerry Simms

Kerry joined the Explorations Company in the autumn of 2015 as an Administrator.
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Vikki Bevan

Having worked in the travel industry for less than a decade, Vikki is, by Explorations Company’s standards a comparative newcomer. Having taken time out to start a family, Vikki has over the past few years been developing her travel knowledge and has so far found her heart lies in the enigmatic Far East where ancient traditions and modern life fuse together.
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Mark Beken

Having explored Latin America for more than three decades, Mark has a deep knowledge of and limitless passion for the continent’s wild places and is a staunch defender of its natural resources and indigenous communities.
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Sian Goldring

Sian grew up in Uganda, where she was introduced to safaris at a young age with her parents arranging family safaris and travelling around East Africa at every chance available!
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Would you like to know more?

Our team can help prepare a unique itinerary that best suits your personal interests  – no pressure, just
support and advice. Please complete your information and we will be in touch in no time.

As a guide, the cost of our extraordinary and utterly bespoke journeys tends to start from $1200 per person per day excluding international flights.

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Explore with The Explorations Company

By Marcela Kunova - 20th April 2017

Nicola Shepherd, founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, organises unusual trips for HNW and UHNW clients ranging from birthday parties at an Indian Maharajah's palace to reliving Sir Vivian Fuchs's 1950s expedition to the South Pole. Citywealth caught ...

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Our Guarantees To You

Premium service from one of the world's most knowledgeable travel companies

24/7 contact number

Your holiday is fully protected by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018

Flight-Inclusive Bonding: We are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and hold ATOL Number 7159

Flight-Exclusive bonding: Your holiday is further protected by our membership of ABTOT Membership Number 5197

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