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Walter smith

Managing Director & Safari Specialist

With more than 35 years of experience in Southern African tourism, Walter Smith brings an exceptional depth of knowledge, experience and passion to every safari journey planned by Think Africa Travel.

Having spent much of his career exploring the wilderness areas of Southern Africa, Walter understands that a great safari is about far more than the lodge you stay in. It is about knowing the landscape, understanding wildlife behaviour, choosing the right guide and camp, and appreciating the subtle differences that make each destination unique.

A Lifetime in African Tourism

Walter’s relationship with Southern Africa’s wilderness began long before Think Africa Travel. Having grown up in South Africa and Namibia, he developed an intimate familiarity with the landscapes, wildlife and cultures of the region.

He joined the Botswana tourism sector in 1990 and has spent more than three decades working across Southern Africa. Over the course of his career, Walter has guided safaris in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, managed safari companies and worked extensively in the international marketing of Southern African tourism.

His experience has taken him far beyond the role of a conventional travel consultant. Walter has spent years on the ground, travelling through the wilderness, observing wildlife, working alongside guides and getting to know the people and places that make Southern Africa such a remarkable destination.

A Deep Understanding of Safari

For Walter, understanding Africa means spending time in Africa.

The best safari experiences are rarely created simply by looking at a map or choosing a lodge from a brochure. They come from understanding how a landscape changes with the seasons, where water is flowing, how wildlife moves through different habitats and which camps offer the experiences that particular travellers are looking for.

That knowledge has been built over decades of travelling through Southern Africa. It is also why Walter continues to spend time visiting camps and safari destinations personally.

His first-hand experiences increasingly form part of the Think Africa Travel blog, where he shares his impressions of the camps he visits, the guides he meets and the wildlife encounters that stay with him.

First-Hand Safari Experiences

Walter's Safari Journal

From Safari Operations to Think Africa Travel

Walter’s extensive operational and leadership experience has given him a unique perspective on Southern African tourism. As Managing Director of Think Africa Travel, Walter combines this industry experience with an extensive network of relationships across Southern Africa. His understanding of the region helps the team look beyond simply booking accommodation and instead create journeys where destinations, camps, activities and logistics work together seamlessly.

What Walter believes makes a great safari

A Safari Is About More Than the Lodge

For Walter, luxury is not simply about beautiful accommodation or exceptional service. It is about the experience as a whole.

It might be the silence of a mokoro moving through an Okavango channel at first light. It might be watching elephants gather at a waterhole, following a leopard through thick woodland, or sitting around a campfire listening to the sounds of the bush after dark.

It is also about the people: the guide who understands the behaviour of a particular pride of lions, the camp team who remembers how you take your coffee, and the local knowledge that transforms a game drive into an understanding of the landscape.

That is the Africa Walter wants travellers to experience.

DESIGN YOUR OWN AFRICAN JOURNEY

Plan your bespoke safari with Think Africa Travel for an experience that is intimate, immersive, and unforgettable.

CONTACT US ON +267 686 1797 OR ENQUIRE BELOW

Speak to one of Walter's Team