Exclusive Interview With Amy Attenborough ‒ Safari Guide & Wilderness Coach; Owner Of Wild Again
Updated: Mar 8, 2022
Amy Attenborough is a South African safari guide and wilderness coach who has guided thousands of guests worldwide through Africa. These guided experiences intend to connect people with nature and a more natural way of being again. Her company, Wild Again, expands the traditional scope of a safari and facilitates wilderness experiences that heal the human-nature divide and restore wellbeing. In 2020 she lived with her brother in a Big 5 wilderness for 19 nights with no tents, no vehicle, minimal food and no other human contact, walking over 400km to raise funds for wildlife and glean wisdom from nature. Through traditional, photographic, walking, yoga and meditative safaris in wilderness areas, her mission is to restore internal wilderness and re-awaken the inherent belonging we feel in nature.
Amy Attenborough, Safari Guide & Wilderness Coach; Owner Of Wild Again
Who is Amy?
I am a South African born 34-year-old wilderness guide, yoga teacher and life coach. I live on a Big 5 wilderness estate outside a small town called Hoedspruit, on the edge of the Kruger National Park, amongst lions, elephants, hyenas and giraffes. I grew up on the east coast and love scuba diving and am fascinated with sharks, which means I miss the ocean hugely when I’m bush bound. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pets as I travel too much and my lifestyle wouldn’t be fair to them. I’m currently spending my spare time training for the Serengeti Girls Run, a 3 day 63km run through the Serengeti in November this year to raise funds for women’s empowerment programmes in the Grumeti region of Tanzania.
What is it that you do for your clients?
Quite simply, I plan and guide safaris across Africa. My job is to hear who my guests are, discover their interests and expectations and match the perfect wilderness destinations to them. I then travel with them to help interpret the natural world and make sure they’re safe and taken care of. I see the core of what we do as re-connecting people with nature. The results are that guests come away more alive, inspired, at peace and sure of their place in the family of all living things.
This is our ‘Return On Investment’:
R - Restorative: We make sure that the experience is not only restorative for you but also for the land, animals and locals. In the wilderness, you find your best self again and do good as you go.
O - Opportunity: You're given the opportunity to explore and adventure to Africa's most beautiful and remote wildernesses. We do this in an environmentally aware way that invites you to get to know the people, understand the ecosystem, eat local and make sure the money goes to the right organisations who support communities and biodiversity.
I - Impactful: Travel educates and changes us for life. We ensure that you create lasting relationships and connections to a place. We allow you to become custodians for Africa because, really, it is all of ours.
Who should hire/work with you?
Those that are looking to explore Africa in an inspired, safe and connected way and who want to do good through the choices they make on safari. We are all about creating experiences that improve people’s wellbeing and take them deeper into themselves. We go beyond the traditional safari and offer specialized experiences such as yoga and trail running safaris that enhance the transformative nature of travel. Our guests are custodians of Africa who wish to awaken on safari.
What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
We see a shift happening globally where people are waking up to their relationship with nature and seeing how important it is for their health, happiness and sense of connection. Through transformative experiences in nature, we see ourselves as part of this awakening. Our experiences are essential for the healing of the human-nature split.
We see ourselves supporting more women to find their place in this still vastly male-dominated industry. Apart from many other attributes, we believe their sensitivity and intuition are hugely valuable in this field.
We are pioneering space for the more conscious safari and we look forward to seeing more and more guests engaging with nature not as mere observers but rather as participants.
