Why We Started Africa at Heart

Africa at Heart Travel and Tours was established in 2009 to share Southern Africa’s wildlife, landscapes, people and cultures through locally planned, tailor-made journeys. We wanted travellers to see both renowned national parks and quieter places overlooked by mass tourism, with guides who know the region first-hand.

That purpose still shapes every safari we build across Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and beyond.

Why did Southern Africa need a different kind of safari company?

For many years, the mass tourism industry directed travellers towards the same handful of well-known parks. Those places deserve their reputation, but the pattern left many unspoilt wildlife areas and communities unseen.

Africa at Heart grew from the belief that a safari can include the celebrated and the less familiar. Our mission is to help travellers explore renowned national parks while also making room for landscapes, cultures and experiences that reveal more of the region.

Why does being a local company matter?

We are based in Southern Africa. The company was not created from a distant template, but from first-hand knowledge of the places in which we live and work.

Local knowledge helps us:

• combine destinations into routes that work on the ground;
• understand how parks, landscapes and activities differ;
• match the pace and accommodation to the traveller;
• include cultural experiences with care and respect; and
• answer practical questions throughout the planning process.

This is why our approach begins with listening. No two travellers experience Africa in exactly the same way, so the itinerary should reflect their interests, time, comfort and travel style.

Who is behind Africa at Heart?

Our founder and head nature guide, Wallace Gwatidzo, was born and raised in a Zimbabwean village. Herding his family’s cattle gave him long hours outdoors and began a curiosity about wildlife, tracks, birds and the movement of the bush.

He went on to study wildlife and tourism at university in Zimbabwe, train as a professional nature guide and work across Southern Africa. More than twenty years of guiding for internationally renowned tour companies gave him deep experience of sharing the region with visitors.

Wallace also spent five years as a logistical planning manager. That less visible side of tourism taught him how to structure convenient itineraries that work day by day, not just look attractive on paper. Read the full account in Meet Wallace: The Story Behind Africa at Heart.

Why should a safari show more than wildlife?

Wildlife is often the reason people first imagine a safari, but Africa is not Africa without its people. We want guests to encounter elusive animals and understand the human life, traditions and communities within the same wider landscape.

That is why village cultural visits are part of our safari thinking. A local host may welcome travellers into a homestead to discuss customs, daily routines, family crafts, farming and local food. These are living communities, and the visit is an opportunity for mutual understanding rather than a staged display.

What does the original mission look like today?

In practice, an Africa at Heart journey may bring together:

• well-known national parks and quieter Southern African landscapes;
• guided game drives and walking safaris;
• river cruises, mokoro journeys and other water-based experiences;
• cultural visits that show how local communities live;
• hotels, private lodges, tented camps or mobile camping; and
• a route designed around the traveller rather than a standard package.

Our signature safari tours show several ways these elements can work together. They include Victoria Falls, Hwange, Chobe, the Okavango Delta and a wide-ranging route through Namibia.

How do we keep the traveller at the centre?

You can begin with one of those tours, combine destinations or start from scratch. Wallace and our office team then plan around your interests, dates, group size, accommodation preferences, transport needs and budget.

The aim has remained the same since 2009: a multifaceted, eye-opening and unforgettable experience shaped with real regional knowledge and genuine care. Learn more about Africa at Heart, or explore how we create a tailor-made Southern Africa safari.