The Africa Adventure CompanyThe Africa Adventure Company

About The Africa Adventure Company

A travel and tour operator company, specializing in African safaris for over 20 years.

The Africa Adventure Company (AAC) is headed up by Mark and Alison Nolting.

Mark has spent over 25 years exploring and researching the African continent and is the author of Africa's Top Wildlife Countries, an excellent guide book in which Mark chronicles every aspect of the safari experience. He is also writes the all-in-one book to take on safari, African Safari Journal, a wildlife guide with illustrations, maps, diary pages, and phrases.

Alison was born and raised in Zimbabwe and spent many years managing safari camps before joining Mark 17 years ago. She thrives in the development of safari programs through sustainable tourism, for our repeat AAC travelers.

Together with their office tribe, they offer the highest level of expertise for arranging low-impact and personalized travel to over 14 countries in Africa. As they look to the future, the Africa Adventure Company will continue to do what it has done best! Focus on small groups and independent travelers, promote camps that are symbiotic with nature and the community, and offer exquisite game viewing with top notch guides. They look forward to the continuing tradition of "safari for a lifetime"!


Staff Profiles


  • Mark Nolting - President
  • Born in Minneapolis, grew up and educated in Florida.

    Author of 2 award-winning books, "Africa's Top Wildlife Countries" and "African Safari Journal." Known in the industry as the "Travel Expert of Africa" Mark founded The Africa Adventure Company in 1986 after spending 2 years traveling through 16 countries, from Cairo to Cape Town, gathering material for his books and establishing contacts with safari companies and tour guides. Though Mark has essentially covered the African continent in his journeys, he continues to travel to Africa yearly to update information and explore new areas. Hard to find information on Africa is always at his fingertips, and he loves to take the time to talk to people about the many adventures that can be found on the continent. Beyond Africa, Mark has traveled to Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Thailand, and Australia.
  • Alison Nolting - Director of Tours and Marketing
  • Alison was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe.

    After running a safari camp for 2 years, Alison moved to the USA when she was 28. She joined the tribe at the Africa Adventure Company in April of 1991. Beyond going on numerous safaris in Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, Alison has been canoeing, houseboating, and camping in Zimbabwe, gorilla and chimp trekking in Uganda and had her honeymoon in the Seychelles. Beyond Africa, Alison has traveled to India, Norway, New Zealand, Swiss Alps, Belize, Bahamas, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Costa Rica, Australia, England, France, and the Azores. Alison also sailed the Atlantic Ocean from Ft. Lauderdale to Southampton.
  • Bill Rivard - Vice President Operations
  • Born in Cumberland, RI.

    Bill joined The Africa Adventure Company in November of 1990. Bill has been on several safaris through Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Seychelles. Other than Africa, Bill has visited Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Slovakia, St. John, St. Thomas, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, and Venezuela.
  • Andre Steynberg - Senior Safari Consultant
  • Born in Harare, Zimbabwe.

    Andre joined the Africa Adventure Company in March, 2004. He holds a Zimbabwe Professional Guides license, one of the most coveted in Africa because of its very high standards, and he is also a Lower Zambezi canoe guide. He professionally guided in Zimbabwe for 10 years and is also a recipient of the prestigious Zimbabwe Guide of The Year. During this time he guided many clients through the wilds of Southern Africa. Andre has also been fortunate to safari in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and gorilla trek in Rwanda, and thoroughly enjoys the vast contrast between the East and Southern Africa safari environments. Beyond Africa, Andre has traveled to Canada, England, Wales, Scotland, France, Holland, Thailand, Australia and the United Kingdom.
  • Kyle Witten - Safari Consultant
  • Born in Marysville, OH Kyle joined AAC in May 2005.

    Kyle's safari destinations include Private Game Reserves in South Africa, Hwange and Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, northern circuit in Tanzania and most recently the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Kyle has also travelled through the Cape Peninsula with time in Cape Town and Knysna and experienced Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe and Zambia. Other countries that Kyle has visited include, England, France, Hungary and Slovakia.
  • Elena Theodosiou - Safari Consultant and Executive Sales Assistant
  • Elena was born in Cyprus.

    Elena moved with her family to South Africa as a toddler and grew up in Johannesburg. She has lived in Florida for 10 years and joined the Africa Adventure Company in February of 2005. Elena's previous travel experience includes living in Turkey and Germany for a year and a half, and she has visited Greece, Cyprus, most of the Greek Islands, Austria, Mauritius, Brazil and Australia. Her most recent travel adventure was back to South Africa, a great stay in Cape Town, safari at Singita, and a visit to Livingstone in Zambia.
  • Lynne Glasgow - Operations and Sales Development
  • Born in Glasgow, Scotland.

    Lynne has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years. Coming originally from Scotland, Lynne took her first safari in 1990 and her love affair with southern Africa began. Having specialized in this region for the past 17 years, Lynne has traveled extensively in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, as well as having the opportunity to travel in East Africa. Apart from Africa, Lynne has also traveled to most European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
  • Louise Steynberg - Operations and Reservations Consultant
  • Born in Harare, Zimbabwe.

    Louise joined the Africa Adventure Company in November 2004. She previously spent two years working in England, a year traveling around Australia, two months traveling in New Zealand, three months traveling through South East Asia and eighteen months living and working in Hong Kong. She has lived in the USA for the last eight years. Louise has also traveled to Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Turkey, India, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Antigua and Canada.
  • Joanna Price - Safari Consultant - Groups Specialist
  • Born in Harare, Zimbabwe.

    Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Joanna joined Africa Adventure Company in March 2005. Prior to moving to Florida in 2001 she and her husband were living in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Previously she spent five years living and working in London traveling at every opportunity. Joanna has also traveled to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Turkey, Greece, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and St. Thomas.
  • Saskia de Gouveia - Safari Consultant
  • Born in Pretoria, South Africa.

    Saskia joined the Africa Adventure Company in April 2006. She previously worked in London for two years and lived in Belgium as a small child. Saskia has also traveled to France, Spain, Holland, Luxembourg, Greece, Portugal, Zanzibar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Amsterdam, Bahamas and Hawaii. She has just recently returned from safari (January 2008), visiting South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
  • Szilvia Hegyi - Operations and Administrative Assistant
  • Szilvia was born and raised in Hungary.

    She joined the Africa Adventure Company in March of 2007. She has visited Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. Beyond Africa she has traveled to Germany, Austria, Romania and Czech Republic. She has lived in the USA for the last five years. In her spare time she is working on her MBA.
  • Milissa Rubino - Executive Sales Assistant
  • Born in Reisterstown, MD.

    Milissa joined the Africa Adventure Company in August of 2004. She has visited South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Kenya. Beyond Africa, Milissa has traveled to Canada and the Bahamas.
  • Kathy Berry - Tours Coordinator
  • Born in Corpus Christi, TX.

    Kathy joined the Africa Adventure team in February 2001. She has visited Egypt, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania. Beyond Africa, Kathy has traveled to Grand Cayman, England, Scotland, Wales, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Bahamas, and Guatemala.
  • Karen Liza - Graphics Coordinator
  • Born in Lima, Peru.

    She has been working at AAC since 2001. Karen previously worked for the Nolting family. Her main focus is on graphics for the safari itineraries, the website, the two guide books and marketing materials. Her future travel wish is to see the gorillas in Rwanda!
  • Janet Coffigny - Operations Coordinator
  • Born in Matanza, Cuba.

    Janet joined the Africa Adventure Company in June, 2006. She previously worked for South African Airways. Have traveled to South Africa, Kenya, France, Spain, Italy, Cuba, Mexico, Hawaii, Bahamas. And several US Virgin Islands (lived in St Criox, visited St Thomas, St John, Virgin Gorda) have traveled throughout the US.
  • Elia Valdovino - Accounting Specialist
  • Born in Mexico City and raised in Kansas City.

    Elia is our newest member to join the AAC family in November 2007. She comes to us from the Cruise line industry with over 15 years of experience. Her travel experience includes places such as the Eastern and Wester Caribbean Islands, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Argentina, Honduras. Italy, Sicily, Spain, Malta, Tunisia as well as many states in the U.S. Elia is looking forward to her safari trip at the end of 2008.
  • Judy Vince - Special Projects Coordinator
  • Born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

    Judy joined the Africa Adventure Company in June 2006. Judy worked in London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland for several years before returning to the U.S. She has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Spain, and the Caribbean.
  • Irene Groden - Accounts Supervisor
  • Born in Buckinghamshire, England.

    Irene has been with The Africa Adventure Company since July of 1997. She has visited South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania. Beyond Africa, Irene has traveled to London, Hong Kong, Mexico, Singapore, France, Germany, Holland, Scotland, Wales, Spain, Cypress, Bahamas, and Bermuda.
  • Tony Gray - Accounts Supervisor
  • Born in Richmond, Virginia.

    Tony joined the Africa Adventure Company in October, 2005. He has yet had the opportunity to visit Africa. However , he anxiously awaits his first safari! Tony's travels have taken him to Mexico, St Thomas, Puerto Rico, and numerous states with in the USA.
  • Sarah Taylor - Special Projects Coordinator
  • Born in Michigan.

    Sarah joined AAC in April 2000 and worked her way up to Senior Safari Consultant. She enjoyed four passionate years before taking some time off to travel. We are delighted to welcome her back in a new capacity assisting with Special Projects. Sarah’s numerous adventures to Africa have taken her to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa and Egypt. She has also traveled the globe including trips through Asia and Europe, circumnavigated South America and sailed around the Caribbean.

About The Company


Mark and Alison, along with their friendly staff (who have all traveled to Africa) will combine their first-hand knowledge of each country with your ideas, to help you plan your wildlife safari down to the very last detail. Unlike other companies whose brochures might highlight only a few standardized tours, the Africa Adventure Company promises to deliver a personalized approach.

"The key," says Mark "is to understand the personal experience each individual wants in Africa, then to match those experiences wanted by the clients with the optimum itinerary. This can be accomplished only if the person advising the client has extensive on-site experience in all the safari countries. Office training cannot substitute for actually having been there."

"We are committed to sustainable tourism and eco conservation. For over 20 years the company has promoted local ground operators and guides, camps and lodges that see the merits of low-impact travel and the survival of habitats. Equally as important are the camps and lodges featured in our programs support local communities, wildlife projects and low utilization of energy resources."

Mark and Alison and their loyal staff strive to "get to know" your guides so once on the ground you are always in excellent hands and you will immediately feel our extended-family attention. These guides know how hard we work to really personalize your safari and the extra mile we have gone to service your travel arrangements. They in turn, offer the very best as they draw you into their natural world in remarkable ways.

Whether you want a group tour or a tailor-made itinerary, the Africa Adventure Company has the expertise to precisely fit your needs. The experience will surely exceed your personal expectations!

View our newsletter, Galloping Gnus.


Acknowledgements


Conde Nast Traveler - Selected as one of their "World's 130 Top Travel Specialists" August 2007 (Also 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003)

Conde Nast Traveler - "10th Annual Hot List - Botswana Vumbura Plains Camp", May 2006

Recommend Travel Magazine - "Family Fun in Africa", March 2006

Conde Nast Traveler - Selected as one of their "World's 125 Top Travel Specialists" August 2005 (Also 2004 and 2003)

Outside - "Best Trips 2005: Fishing and Diving Adventure to South Africa and Mozambique", February 2005

Conde Nast Traveler - "Selected as one of their "World's 125 Top Travel Specialists", August 2004 (and 2003)

Outside - "48 Trips of a Lifetime - South Luangwa Walking Safari", March 2004

Mens Journal - "How to Plan the Perfect Safari", February 2004

National Geographic Adventure - "The 25 Greatest Adventures to Do Now", November 2003

Tanzania Tourist Board - 2003 Award winning tour operator, October 2003 Travel World News

Outside Magazine - Featured vendor in August, 2003 article "Honeymarooning"

National Geographic Travelers - Selected as one of their "Africa Experts"

Outside Magazine - Featured vendor in March, 2003 article "Walking with Bushmen"

LBK Magazine - Featured vendor in 2003 article "African Safari"

Rough Guide to Kenya and other African destinations - Preferred US Operator for Africa

Architectural Digest - preferred vendor in March, 2002 article on Botswana's Jao Camp


Making a Difference


An AAC safari is more than just game viewing! Listed are some of the hand-selected charities that we passionately support. We are especially thrilled to assist students’ education as it is our hope they will continue in the wildlife, conservation or tourism field.

• Nairobi’s Nyumbani Children’s Home shelters, feeds and educates HIV/AIDS orphans and abandoned children. Contact us to set up a tour for you during your time in Nairobi. www.nyumbani.org

• If you are visiting Victoria Falls we highly recommend a tour of the local Catholic Orphanage. We encourage clients touring the facility to bring crayons, paper, and books to distribute to the children.

• Our clients traveling to Tanzania are incredibly generous! Two schools that are visited on safari include Rhotia Primary School near Gibb’s Farm and Teneguru in Arusha. Many times our clients ask to make donations on their return, and AAC will match the amount and arranged for supplies to reach the students.

• Providing an education to a child in Africa is something magical. For years AAC has sponsored three high school students at the Moi High School near the Taita Discovery Center in Tsavo (Kenya). $450.00 per student each year covers the cost of tuition + $100.00 per child to cover the extra costs. Discoverycentre@originsafaris.info

• The IMF has estimated Zimbabwe’s inflation above 150,000% - making day to day living a struggle, let alone paying for twin daughters’ tuition needs. AAC has been blessed with sponsoring twin high school students and meeting their tuition and boarding school needs for 2008. Anyone who has had the Wilderness Safaris road transfer from Kasane to Victoria Falls has probably had the opportunity to meet Mike Gorasi.. AAC has stepped in and assist with the $1,600.00 per child tuition, allowing the girls to continue with their education. If you are interested in donating directly to a family, we would be delighted to match you with a needy participant for schools near Victoria Falls, Hwange or Bulawayo.

• We are major supporters of Wilderness Safaris. Beyond the outstanding safari experience they deliver, we know that for every bed night we book with them a portion of the price goes to the Wilderness Safaris Wildlife Trust. For over 15 years, the Trust has managed a variety of research and education projects in southern Africa – everything from saving endangered wildlife to educating local communities. www.wildernesstrust.com/trust/main.jsp.

• We are also passionate and donate to their Children in the Wilderness program, which allows under-privileged children a chance to participate in conservation. www.childreninthewilderness.com


Supporting Africa


In conserving Africa’s ecosystems we are proud that many eco-tourism projects have helped to protect species through research as well as the reserves and this has often increased the amount of land under conservation protection. The following are a small selectin of projects that we support that are making a difference.

 Global Africa – Africa Wildlife Foundation

www.awf.org/section/safaris/destinations

 Botswana Rhino Reintroduction Project

 Botswana Wild Dog Research Project

 Botswana Lion Monitoring in the Jao Concession

 Kenya – Campi Ya Kanzi www.Masai Trust.org

 Kenya – Lewa Downs trust

 Namibia Torra Conservancy in Damaraland

 Nambia Save the Rhino Trust

 Seychelles North Island - Paradise Rehabilitated

 Zimbabwe Hwange Game Water Supply

Supporting rural villages and communities who live in, or border on, wildlife areas includes them in an important conservation role.

* Zambia: The River Club and Simonga Village.

* Rwanda: The women in Rwanda are getting a helping hand to rebuild their lives, families and communities from Women for Women International. www.womenforwomen.org

* Uganda: The Sanyu Babies Home, based in Kampala, Uganda takes in abandoned and parentless children. www.Sanyubabies.com

* Zimbabwe: The Girl Child Network based in Harare-Chitungwiza has established 300 Girl Clubs across the coutnry boasting a membership of over 20,000 girls between the ages of 5 and 16. http://www.idex.org/country/Zimbabwe

* Global: www.VillageBanking.org is an elegant solution to poverty using small loans to create big changes.

* Kenya: Volunteer work in schools and villages near Tsavo. http://www.originsafaris.org/helping-hands.php

* AIDS IN AFRICA: Sources for statistical data and to learn more on what you can do in the fight against AIDS in Africa visit: www.data.org and www.avert.org