STORY
Our
At Explorations, we craft journeys that capture the real spirit of Africa — where adventure feels effortless, and every moment connects you to something meaningful.
For us, a safari is never just an itinerary. It’s a living, breathing experience — shaped by wild places, shared laughter, campfire stories, and the people who travel with us. We believe the greatest safaris are those that make time slow down, where friendships form naturally, and Africa leaves its mark on your soul.
Explorations is owned and operated by Stew and Kirsty Nolan. Together, we bring nearly 50 years of combined experience in the African travel world.
Stew began his journey as a professional safari guide and camp manager, leading expeditions through Southern Africa’s most remote wilderness areas.
Kirsty has spent her career crafting bespoke safaris, connecting the moving parts that make every trip seamless. Our backgrounds are different, but our goal is the same — to create safaris that are authentic, personal, and full of heart.
But what truly defines Explorations isn’t where we go — it’s who we travel with. Over the years, many of our guests have become lifelong friends. We’ve shared milestones, stories, and the quiet kind of laughter that only happens after a long day on the road and a good meal under the stars.
Our journeys are intimate by design. Whether you’re joining a guided self-drive overland adventure or a bespoke fly-in safari, you’ll always travel in small groups, and often times hosted by us personally.
Each safari is handcrafted to feel natural and unhurried — blending the freedom of exploration with the confidence of expert guidance.
Because to us, Africa isn’t just a destination — it’s home. And when you travel with us, we want it to feel like home for you too.
Crafting Safaris That Feel Like Family
Why Travel
WITH US
In a world overflowing with options, safari travel can feel like just another product to choose from. But for us, it’s never been about selling a trip — it’s about sharing something real.
At Explorations, we’ve built our reputation not through scale or slick marketing, but through genuine relationships — with our guests, our guides, our partners, and the wild places we’re privileged to explore. We collaborate with people who share our respect for Africa and our belief that travel should leave the world better than we found it.
We believe that a safari should do more than change how you see Africa — it should change how you feel about travel itself. Every journey is designed with care and intention, balancing adventure with responsibility and comfort with conscience.
When you travel with us, you’ll connect with people who call these wild spaces home, support conservation in meaningful ways, and rediscover the simple joy of being present — whether it’s on a remote track in Botswana or sitting around the fire at an intimate safari camp in Zimbabwe.
Because at its heart, Explorations isn’t just about where you go. It’s about how you travel — and the difference that journey makes.
More reasons to travel with us:
1.
Hosts, not salespeople
We’re your hosts on the road — not a faceless booking engine.
From your first enquiry to the last evening around the campfire, Stew and Kirsty are present, handcrafting each journey and often hosting it themselves.
That human connection means your safari is shaped to who you are: your pace, interests and the little personal touches that turn a holiday into a memory. Travel is more meaningful when it’s guided by people who know the land and care about the people who travel there.
2.
Freedom with Confidence
Drive your own story — with a team that has your back.
If you love the idea of steering a 4x4 into wild places, we give you freedom without leaving you exposed.
Our guided self-drive model - our "Super Charged Road Trips" - lets you call the shots behind the wheel while our lead guides handle route planning, safety, recovery gear and logistics. It’s the sweet spot: independence and the reassurance of expert support.
3.
Luxury by Air
Arrive sooner, linger longer.
For travellers craving refined comfort or short on time, our fly-in Bespoke Safaris are a graceful solution: private air transfers into remote lodges, curated experiences and more time in the wild each day.
Luxury fly-ins are rising in popularity because they maximise wildlife viewing and minimise transit — and we stitch them seamlessly into our self-drive adventures for the perfect finale.
©And Beyond
©Wilderness
4.
Real world Knowledge
We spend months each year in the field — so your trip is always current.
Roads change, camps open and seasons shift — and the difference between a good safari and a really great one is knowing what’s newly possible.
We’re constantly in the field checking routes, visiting camps and refreshing our offerings so your trip runs smoothly and surprises you for the right reasons. The smartest travel choices come from teams who live their product — and that’s how we work.
5.
Travel that gives back
We travel lightly — and with purpose.
Responsible travel isn’t an add-on for us; it’s built into how we operate.
We work with partners who invest in communities and conservation, and we design journeys that aim to benefit the places you visit.
Today’s travellers increasingly choose experiences that restore and protect wild places — and our itineraries reflect that regenerative focus.
©And Beyond
©And Beyond
6.
Slow safaris
We design trips that let you breathe into the place.
Modern safari goers want fewer transfers and deeper stays — more dawns in one place, more quiet moments, more time to notice.
Our luxury fly-in safaris favour lingering in extraordinary locations so you can watch the rhythms of the bush, really see the birds, photograph the light and let the land do the work of changing you. This longer-stay, slow-safari approach is one we like to build your journey on.