Safari Drive was founded in 1993 by Charles and Meregan Norwood. Charles; a highly experienced expedition leader across vast swathes of Africa and Meregan, a race car driver and born adventurer. In 1993 they both flew to Africa to pick up a Land Rover that belonged to Charles and the birth of Safari Drive soon followed.
Our original concept was the “self-drive safari” - a way to discover Africa for oneself.
The original idea was to relocate the Land Rover back to the UK via the Sahara. Fate intervened and instead they drove South and West through Cameroon, The Central African Republic, The Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya. A return trip followed to Southern African, and having enjoyed discovering these countries so much in their own vehicle, the concept - a self-drive safari - was conceived and Safari Drive was born.
Having decided to set up the ground operations in 1993, Charles and Meregan returned to the UK to market Safari Drive to the public and became the first Tour Operator to offer this type of safari package, and to this day is the only UK Tour Operating company that owns its own fleet of self-drive 4x4 vehicles across Africa.
Other countries soon followed over the years and we can now tailor self-drive journeys across all parts of Africa from Tanzania down to Cape Town.
Since those early days the company has widened its network and we now have seven fully staffed bases dotted across Africa and our HQ in the English countryside, where the passion and ethos continues strongly into the 21st century.
Charles and Meregan are still driving the routes of Africa today.
We recognise that in carrying out our work as tour operators, we have a responsibility to respect other peoples’ communities. We acknowledge that wherever a tour operator does business or sends clients, it has the potential to do both good and harm and we are aware that all too often the harm can outweigh the good.
All tourism potentially has an environmental, social and economic impact on the destination involved. To help us do so, here is a set of guidelines intended to help companies, customers and local suppliers recognise common responsibilities.
Hiring and training talent on location.
From office to destination
Protect flora, fauna & landscapes
Uphold traditions, religions & built heritage
Through noise reduction, waste disposal & minimal congestion
Supporting local charities
& social initiatives
The Mammadu Trust was founded by Agnes Albrecht to care for and support orphans, children and minors who are living in extremely vulnerable conditions. Mammadu is a non-profit organisation for Other Vulnerable Children which was established and registered in Namibia in 2008 with the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services.
When we contacted Agnes Albrecht, founder of Mammadu, we found that the items most in demand for the children were warm clothes and sleeping bags. Many of these children live in tiny sheet-metal constructions, offering them little protection from the freezing temperatures that occur in winter. There is also a great need for underwear and socks, with children sadly very often going without - this was a particular request which we felt could be answered with our help.
Upon arrival in Windhoek you will meet Jens and Anneli Denk of Safari Drive Namibia for your briefing. You can arrange in advance with us to visit Mammadu or else we can take your items to Mammadu for the children on your behalf.
In January 2015 Safari Drive completed a project in conjunction with Waterberry Zambezi Lodge to supply each of the seventy six children at Tukongote Community Pre-School with a school rucksack. The project was a real success with Safari Drive clients all pulling together to make this target a reality.
Safari Drive now continues to support Tukongote Community Projects, founded by Waterberry in 2009, which helps to improve the educational opportunities in nearby villages. They began with one preschool class, and now support over 400 children in 3 preschools and 1 primary school. The core focus is the newly built Tukongote Community Preschool with its 3 colourful classrooms, outside classroom, kitchen and feeding shelter. 75 little ones receive creative, fun and holistic free schooling, in what is probably the brightest school in Zambia.
They employ 25 local teachers and support staff, 14 of whom we are assisting to gain recognised teaching qualifications. Many of the staff live in these villages and you can experience everyday rural Zambian life as well as seeing the Tukongote projects in action if you join a village walk whilst staying at Waterberry. It is a fascinating insight.
