To be honest, it was leaving Africa for the UK in 1999, at the age of 19, that was the catalyst for my realization of my total love for Africa. I was SO homesick and told everyone I met how beautiful South Africa is and how much they would love Cape Town, which led to my early return home and path towards Ashanti Backpackers, where I started my tourism career behind the reception desk. Learning all the tips and tricks and then moving to The Backpack where I got to do more bookings for day tours, Baz Bus and further travels until the desk job I found at Siyabona meeting travellers via email and planning their uniquely tailored tours and safaris - I am where I am now through all these amazing encounters and experiences in my industry.
If my journey were a documentary...
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"A Soul Searching Diary of Truth and Discovery" |
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Spirit Animal: A meerkat! Always on the lookout for others.
Safari Style: A Toyota Land Cruiser - open and honest, bringing you to the source directly.
Signature Power: My superpower in safari planning is listening - understanding clients' needs from the start and tailoring their dream adventure in Africa uniquely.
21 years crafting African safari experiences
12 years with African Budget Safaris
Continuous Education: I keep up to date through information channels I am a part of, and attend at least one big trade show per year.
Quite purely and simply to instill my love of Africa in my fellow travellers and show them that this country is more than amazing. It is their appreciation of their experiences at the end of their visit that drives me to keep doing what I love doing every single day.
Countries Mastered: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Egypt.
Signature Parks & Reserves:
Latest Adventure: My recent trip to Kenya in February/March 2025 - experiencing the Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Samburu, and Ol Pejeta.
Fresh Discoveries: The friendly atmosphere of Nairobi City and the wonderful bicycle ride in Lake Naivasha's Hell's Gate.
Next Horizons: Zambia's national parks - South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi, and Zimbabwe's Mana Pools!
Favorite Sundowner: The banks of the Zambezi River while the crew lit a fire to cook dinner.
"Thank you African Budget Safaris and in particular Claire, our travel agent, for another fantastic adventure...Everything ran smoothly and we were free to just enjoy! We highly recommend African Budget Safaris and Claire!" - [Paula C, 26 June 2025]
"All organized through Claire at African Budget Safaris with excellent communication and organizing everything was perfect A+++ Can't wait for the next one will definitely use Claires services again highly recommend :)" - [James & Richelle Petersen, 09 June 2025]
"We couldn’t have asked for a better guide than Claire Monson at African Budget Safaris. From start to finish, Claire’s attention to detail and flawless execution made our trip seamless and truly unforgettable...I wholeheartedly recommend African Budget Safaris, and Claire in particular, to anyone planning a safari. Her expertise and care make all the difference." - [Rob Fox, 25 April 2025]
"Claire at African Budget Safaris was amazing!! We told her all we wanted to see and do, and she tailored our trip to meet all our needs. It was everything we wanted and more!
I really cannot say enough about this trip. It was a trip of a lifetime, and we owe it all to Claire who stayed with us every step of the way via what's app to make sure everything was going smoothly and reminding us of excursions.
Thank you for making our dreams come true." - [Sandi Levin, 12 April 2025]
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