Pack your bags (not more than 20 kg, please—and no need for Manolos or Gucci here), hop on a plane for a day, and embark on the trip of a lifetime. Your final destination is Botswana, where the lions roar louder, the safari camps are comfier, and the views are more breathtaking than you can imagine. The ultimate safari experience awaits you alongside Ralph Bousfield, a legendary safari guide whose life and legacy are deeply intertwined with the African continent.
A descendant of a family that settled in Africa in the 17th century, Ralph carries the knowledge and spirit of generations past. His father, Jack Bousfield, was a skilled tracker and hunter known for his bold exploits, including taking down over 50,000 crocodiles in his time. Today, Ralph channels this heritage into a deeply respectful and transformative approach to the land, its people, and its wildlife.
Stylish, rugged, and endlessly fascinating, Ralph is a natural storyteller, with tales as extraordinary as the places he explores. He bears the scars of his adventurous life, including a near-fatal snake attack and a bout of blood poisoning. Having survived nine plane crashes—a tragic history that includes the loss of his father—Ralph continues to fly across the continent in his vintage red bush plane, affectionately named A2 SAN after the San Bushmen. On one arm, he wears talismans and amulets gifted by shamans and tribesmen; on the other, a Rolex—a fitting balance of tradition and modernity that reflects his approach to safaris.
Ralph’s safaris aren’t about rushing across the savannah in a race to tick off the Big Five. Instead, they offer something far deeper: an immersive, holistic experience of Africa’s most pristine landscapes. The Okavango Delta, where Ralph spends much of his time, is one of the oldest and most untouched ecosystems in the world. Seventy percent of its surface is a labyrinth of waterways, swamplands, and shallow pools, fed by seasonal rains and runoff from Angola’s distant highlands. Here, nature thrives in delicate balance, and Ralph guides his guests with unparalleled expertise.
Ralph’s reputation as one of the world’s finest safari guides has made him the private guide of choice for royalty, former U.S. presidents, and Hollywood’s elite. His ability to curate intimate, unforgettable experiences in the African wilderness is unmatched, combining adventure with profound cultural and environmental understanding.

Get in touch to plan a bespoke journey into remote Botswana with Ralph Bousfield, using a Pilatus PC-12 and helicopters to access untouched wilderness. Guiding services for Mr. Bousfield start at €3,600 per day, with pricing based on itinerary details, including aircraft, camps, and trip duration.
david@remoteexperiences.com

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What better to escape the winter, the cold humidity and a hectic life than venturing into the deep Sahara of Morocco? Spend some unforgettable evenings with the Touareg nomads, also known as “les hommes bleus” and be surrounding by nothing else than the endless dunes of this grand desert.

The adventure begins with a flash helicopter flight from Marrakech that will take you in no time into the heart of the Sahara. Les Hommes Blues with their indigo blue head scarfs are waiting for you in a deluxe mobile village. Camels, goats and sheep, and the typical Moroccan nomadic tents, owned by the chief and his family, included. No need to sleep with the camels this time because your accommodation is a beautiful, well-appointed tent with own shower, toilet and comfy bed.
When night falls, guests are invited into an impressive Touareg tent to have an authentic Moroccan dinner. Lots of candle light, lots of charm and ambiance because the Touareg like to end meals with music and dance around the campfire.
Don’t party too hard because the best time in the Sahara is early morning when the sun peeps up behind the sand dunes.
Solitude never felt so good.

HOW TO GO? From approximately 540 euro for 2 persons per night. Including dinner, all drinks and aperitifs, and breakfast. Want the camp completely for yourself ? Two nights in the desert, with helicopter flight from Marrakech and all meals, drinks and entertainment costs around 15,000 EUR. (camp without helicopter starts at 7000 EUR for 2 nights)

WWW.LEREDSAND.COM

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A lot has changed since then. Now there is tourism. Call it good or bad, but it does provide the local community an income and reason why not to poach anymore. While Insiders claim that more money should go back to the locals. Now it mainly disappears into the pockets of the government and big tourism organisations. For the tourist, the infrastructure got much better than it used to be. Nowadays you can stay in very comfortable lodges like the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Perfect to use as a base before or after a hike. Every morning a maximum of 80 people are allowed up the mountain. Groups are divided with no more than 8 people, together with an experienced guide and a handful of porters. We got lucky; our guide was Francois, the most famous of them all. He is a real “ancien”, once worked for Dian Fossey, and quite a character to have as a guide. A hike can vary a lot: sometimes the group is close, others have to hike for hours to see the gorillas. Once found, you can spend exactly one hour observing and watching them. Respecting their territorium and habitat. Our close encounter was a silverback running towards the group and giving Francois a firm push. “No worries!” Said Francois. “I know them and they know me.” Francois made a couple of growling noises, thus communicating with the gorillas. Impressive. Not only Francois being obviously very close to the animals but the whole experience. Because let’s be honest: nothing beats a gorilla trekking and afterwards going back to a comfy lodge where you can toast with a G&T to a memorable and successful day. Cheers to witnessing one of the most extraordinary animals on this planet.

The verdict?

This region is an inspiring piece of Africa. Not too touristy, safe and well organized and one of the only places where you can see these gentle but impressive primates in their natural habitat. A habitat of green, impressive mountains, mostly, of course, hidden in de mist.

How to go?

Traveling to Rwanda is very easy. A lot of carriers fly to Kigali: KLM, Qatar, Brussels Airlines.
Our favourite accommodation was the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. It’s the best Rwanda has to offer. (get it?)
Rates start at 445$/person full board.
A gorilla permit fee to trek for one day with one hour visit will set you back for 500 dollars per visit. When you order a permit after June 2012, you will have to pay 750 dollars.

SABYINYO SILERBACK LODGE RWANDA

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WWW.UNCHARTEDAFRICA.COM
WWW.ANDBEYONDAFRICA.COM
WWW.ZAMBEZIQUEEN.COM

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