Safari Life with Bobby-Jo

For this episode, I’m back in the dust and magic of Tanzania (Kilimanjaro to be exact) and buzzing to be back for the start of safari season!

I’ve just reunited with my absolute badass of a guide, Firoz, along with a group of Honey Badgers who are fresh off the flight from Australia. It’s a butterfly-inducing moment being back in the bush (especially with the short rains finally starting to stir the landscape) and I can’t wait to see what the Serengeti has in store for us.

I’m joined on this adventure by Tim and Mark (two legends I once shared a shipping container with in a frozen Antarctic storm) who’ve brought along Tim’s parents, Max and Valerie. It’s been awesome watching them trade their quiet life in Tasmania for the organised chaos of the Arusha markets and the raw grit of the Ndutu plains.

One afternoon in the scrub (just when we thought we’d seen it all) we were watching two massive elephant bulls having a bit of a scrap - and one of them turned his focus directly on us and started a charge!

I hope you enjoy this episode, and if you do, please leave a review - and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

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I’m sitting down on the edge of the Luangwa River at the iconic Flatdogs Camp, catching up with the absolute legends behind the operation, Jess and Ade. These two are total safari royalty who've spent over three decades dedicated to this wild corner of Zambia. I first met them back in 2017 while working for Conservation South Luangwa, and returning here always feels like coming home.

We’re chatting right from the riverbank (with a massive bull elephant literally wandering into camp mid-conversation) about what it’s really like to transition from being wide-eyed zoology students to running one of the most beloved camps in the valley.

Together, they’ve evolved Flatdogs from a backpacker’s haunt into a world-class safari destination that remains fiercely committed to conservation and the local community.

But life in the bush isn't always sundowners and beers in the pool; Ade shares the heart-stopping story of the night a massive male giraffe decided to charge their vehicle in the dark, and how that terrifying encounter was immediately followed by a sighting so rare it felt like a reward for surviving the night.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

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I’m sitting by the Luangwa River at the Flatdogs Camp for a conversation that has been years in the making. Today, I’m joined by a true MVP of the valley, Rachel McRobb.

Rachel is the CEO and founder of Conservation South Luangwa (CSL), and she’s someone I’ve looked up to for many years. She’s a phenomenal human being who has dedicated the last 25 years to protecting this landscape, and I’m so honoured to finally share her story with you.

We talk about the early days of CSL, when the "budget" was just a few hundred dollars cobbled together by tour operators and the team didn’t even have bicycles, let alone vehicles. Rachel shares the grit required to build an organisation that now employs over 145 staff (99% of whom are indigenous Zambians) and manages a multi-million dollar conservation programme.

One of my favourite parts of this chat is hearing Rachel describe the first time she ever darted an elephant!

It’s a raw, honest look at what it takes to protect wildlife when the stakes are at their highest and there’s no one else to call.

Come join me! 🦁 Instagram | 🐘 Facebook | 🦡 Safari Tours

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.

In this episode, I'm connecting with you from South Luangwa National Park. I'm heading up in a two-seater 1959 Super Cub to see the valley from a completely different perspective.

I sit down with Gareth and Jeremiah from Conservation South Luangwa to talk about the vital role of aerial patrols in protecting this landscape. I haven't seen wild dogs for two years, and spotting a pack with puppies from the air was an incredible highlight.

We also talk about the gritty reality of conservation, from identifying poacher tracks and drying racks to the challenges of navigating a tiny plane while trying to get the perfect shot.

Later, I catch up with Bob Joe to discuss how they're using solar fences and chili bombs to help local communities coexist with the elephants I'm currently trying to keep away from my house-sitting front door!

Come join me! 🦁 Instagram | 🐘 Facebook | 🦡 Safari Tours

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.

In Part 2 of my chat with Dr. Matt Becker from @zcp_zambia, we're looking at the management challenges, political pressures, and funding hurdles that come with leading a team of 100 people across Zambia's national parks.

Matt shares the exclusive details of his five year collaboration with the BBC on a series that tracks the intersecting lives of dogs, lions, hyenas, and leopards. We're also talking about the resilience of individual animals, from the legendary Lady Liuwa to the alpha male Wild Dog 73, and why objective science is the only way to navigate the heated debates surrounding predators.

Please feel free to reach out on the socials:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris
To explore my upcoming safaris: bobbyjosafaris.com

And of course, if you enjoy the episode, I'd really love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!
This is a Podvan Media production.

I'm coming to you from the stunning South Luangwa in Zambia, where I've spent the last two weeks with my good friend, Dr. Matthew Becker. Matt is the Director of the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP), and he's spent the last 17 years dedicated to the conservation of Africa’s most iconic predators.

We're sitting down to talk about the vital work being done across eight Zambian national parks to protect the delicate balance of the ecosystem. You'll hear the raw reality of conservation science, from the way wild dogs use bird-like vocalisations to avoid detection by lions, to the hidden impacts of prey depletion and bushmeat poaching.

We also explore Matt's personal journey, from his childhood in Montana to his early research days in Kentucky and Florida. It's a conversation about the power of mentoring, the importance of giving back to nature, and why we must preserve these wild landscapes for future generations.

Please feel free to reach out on the socials:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris

To explore my upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris

And of course, if you enjoy the episode, I'd really love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.

Well Honey Badgers, I'm connecting with you from my lounge room for a very special start to the year. My nieces Layla, Amirah, and Luna have just finished a day at the zoo, but now they're turning the tables to interview me about my life behind the lens.

You'll hear their unfiltered questions about my favourite safaris, the time I got stranded in South Africa, and the reality of fear in the wild. We're talking about the thrill of photographing wild dogs, my toughest photographic challenges, and that elusive 20-second Bongo encounter in Kenya.

This is a personal conversation about rejecting the standard "Book of Life," finding inspiration in family, and which recent moment meant more to me than any photograph.

Get in touch via social media:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris

And to explore upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris

If you enjoy the episode, I'd love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.

I'm in South Luangwa, Zambia, specifically in Mfuwe. I've joined forces with Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). We're racing against the clock because an elephant calf has been stuck in the mud for hours, and its mother is pacing nearby, agitated and protective.

You'll hear the raw audio from the back of the Land Cruiser as the team executes a high-stakes plan. We have to immobilise the mother to get close enough to the calf. We're talking about a tense darting operation, a mock charge that sent us into reverse, and the physical struggle of trying to pull the calf free!

My stomach was full of butterflies the entire time. It's a privilege to witness the skill of the vets and scouts working to save this life.

This isn't just a story; it's a documentation of the adrenaline, the risks, and the sheer strength of these animals.

If you enjoy the episode, I'd love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

Get in touch via social media:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris

And to explore upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris

This is a Podvan Media production.

We're drifting through the dense channels of the Mabamba Swamp in Uganda. It's the final leg of our journey and the stakes are high. We're searching for one of the most elusive and prehistoric-looking birds on the planet.

We're talking about the Shoebill Stork. You'll hear the raw audio from the boat as we search for one (hoping for a glimpse) only to have the most incredible encounter!

We then head to the Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe for a tearful reunion. My guest Maxine reconnects with Sunny (a chimpanzee she cared for years ago) and shares the touching story of seeing her again as an adult.

Get in touch via social media:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris

And to explore upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris

If you enjoy the episode, I'd love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.

I am back in Uganda, and cannot wait to share this adventure with you. We are starting in Queen Elizabeth National Park and heading straight for the water.

In this episode, I take you aboard the best boat cruise I have ever experienced on the Kazinga Channel. We're talking elephants getting uncomfortably close, a hippo with a rare pigmentation condition, and a mongoose with a very questionable haircut. But the real magic happens when we head to Mgahinga National Park for the ultimate encounter.

Join me, Will, Anita, and Maxine (who conquered the volcano in her 'helicopter chair') as we trek to the Nyakagezi gorilla group. You'll hear the audio from the exact moment the family surprised us, and the heart-stopping second where Rukundo, the silverback, decided to charge past us like a bowling ball. It's chaotic, emotional, and absolutely unforgettable!

Get in touch via social media:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris

And to explore upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris

If you enjoy the episode, I'd love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.