On safari, the quality of your guide is arguably the most important factor in how great your experience is. A good guide helps you to read the signs of the wild, which will influence the wildlife you see, your perception of that wildlife, your understanding of animal behaviour, the quality of photo opportunities and more…
This is why we ensure that you are hosted by the best guide throughout your entire trip – not just for the drives and activities – so the fun never stops.
Ethos
At the heart of all we do is our desire to delight our clients through incredible experiences in the natural world. A combined 50 years of pursuing our passion for the wilderness and fulfilling our desire to share the magnificence of nature with our guests has gone into the creation of our trips. We view ourselves as custodians of this incredible world – as such, a key priority of ours is to minimise our impact on the natural world so that it may be enjoyed by our children and beyond. Therefore our trips, venues and activities are designed with sustainability in mind.
We believe that a safari can be transformed into an inspiring lifelong passion and experience. This transformation is achieved through the greater engagement of our guest’s senses and through sharing knowledge and understanding so that guests understand the signs of the wild and don’t just see things, they feel them. From footprints to alarm calls, scents to animal behaviours, these are the intricate details that are often missed but which are also key to the ultimate experience.
Not only do guests benefit from this level of understanding and insight, they also are able to experience the bush from a different perspective: Our trips involve more than just game drives, as we regularly leave the game roads and head out on foot following animal tracks or investigate the flora and fauna up close and out in the open.
Founders
“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”
Here at The Wild Insight Safari Company, we have over 50 years experience of creating magical memories for guests; it’s not our job, it’s our passion. As the founders of the company, we take pride in it being a small, personal affair. We look forward to sharing our enthusiasm and insight with you. Are you ready for your perception of the natural world to be blown wide open?
Graham Cooke
Wild to the core and with unparalleled wilderness credentials, Graham has been involved in the bush from early on in his life, starting his career in Mpumalanga where he has now spent 30 years in the bush. Growing through his time at Londolozi and Djuma to become a highly sought after private and specialist guide – leading photographic, birding and predator safaris. Graham has a deep seated passion for anything wild and natural, being fortunate enough to have hand-reared two leopard cubs in the wild and released them in Zambia. His story was told in the 2012 book My Life with Leopards. Graham spent 12 years learning the complex troop life after being accepted into a troop of baboons. Graham has a huge appreciation for birds and has been involved in rehabilitation and release of birds and running birding trips into the Kruger Park.
Graham thrives on sharing his passion and in-depth knowledge about the bush, reconnecting people with the natural world, giving clients more than just a safari but an informed look into the lives and understanding of the myriad of birds, animals, plants and insects Africa has to offer.
Graham also trains people in the art of bush etiquette and guiding; he also trains anti-poaching units. Over the course of his career, Graham has worked with many African tribes and is accepted by them freely. This is truly a legend of the industry.
Steve Mortimer
One of Graham’s protégé’s, having spent periods living in Kenya and Southern Africa, Steve looked to deepen his passion for the wild and so trained as a guide some 17 years ago (his instructor was none other than Graham!). Since then, Steve has combined a successful career in the City as an accountant and business advisor with running and leading trips across Africa from the roof of Kilimanjaro to the southern African bush.
Steve’s love of Africa comes across strongly, while his enthusiasm and appetite for adventure is infectious to all around. Steve has a sharp eye and often spots cats at long range, although occasionally they do turn out to be tree stumps! Some highlights over the years include having to walk down a dry riverbed frequented by Buffalo in the pitch black after a vehicle breakdown, drowning a Land Cruiser in Moremi, Botswana and surviving an assault from an angry elephant mother after her baby decided she wanted to play!
Steve has a partner and two daughters at home, who both keep him grounded and ensure his groups all head home safely after each trip.
My Life with Leopards
In 1993, game ranger Graham Cooke was given the opportunity to parent two six-week-old leopard cubs. Establishing himself and his charges in a small tented camp in the middle of the South African bush, Graham set about his task of habituating the cubs to the dangers of the wild in preparation for their eventual release.First, Graham had to gain the trust of the young leopards. Boycat, the slightly bigger male cub, proved to be an easy-going character and, after his initial reservations, he soon settled in. Boycat’s sister Poepface, however, was not that easily swayed. Her complex character and strong reservations appeared to persist, despite Graham’s efforts to win her trust.
Eventually, Poepface relented, and so began a love story.
When a year later Graham prepared the cubs for their release in the remote South Luangwa Valley, he knew it was the beginning of the end. Joining the cubs on daily walks to familiarise them with their new home, Graham knew that soon it would be time to let go.
Set in both the Bushveld of South Africa and the wilderness that is Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley, My Life with Leopards is a story about love, loss, danger and heartbreak.
“Set in the spectacular wilderness of the South African Lowveld and later in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley – both vividly portrayed – this is as poignant a tale of unrequited love as you are ever likely to read. And, like the best animal stories, it tugs at the heartstrings without ever descending into anthropomorphism.”
Brian Jackman, BBC Wildlife Magazine
“This compelling story is a “must read” for anyone who loves nature and the challenges of helping two young leopards get back to their wild world. Well written, entertaining and emotional; to be enjoyed.”
Richard Leakey
“No other book I know takes you so deeply into the secret world of the leopard.”