About us

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  Wouter Vergeer

  NL

  Co-owner | wouter@safaribookings.com |

  Wouter has a history as an internet entrepreneur and is one of the owners of SafariBookings. His first safari, in Tanzania, made him feel like a guest in a world ruled by animals. It was a humbling moment that sparked his passion for Africa. Wouter firmly believes in the SafariBookings project: making it easier for people to find their perfect safari, and linking specialized safari operators with clients all over the world. Wouter’s closest friends describe him as a realistic idealist. He can chat for hours about a fairer world where people and wildlife do more than coexist... they thrive.

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  Jan Beekwilder

  NL

  Co-owner | jan@safaribookings.com |

  Jan is a serial entrepreneur. Since 1992, he has started more than 15 companies in 6 different countries, and initiated over 10 innovative online concepts-- most in partnership with his brother, Jeroen Beekwilder, and business partner, Wouter Vergeer. Jan was CEO, investor, and board member for several of those companies. He has backpacked the world, and made his home in both the US and South America for several years. Jan's favorite continents are Asia and Africa. He has been an avid birder since childhood and enjoys Africa's bird-life just as much as its wildlife.

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  Jeroen Beekwilder

  NL

  Co-owner | jeroen@safaribookings.com |

  Jeroen is one of the owners of SafariBookings. He has a heart for people and a mind for business. His desire to feel connected powers his love of travel. He will always remember his first African safari with his family in Tanzania. The thundering hooves of the wildebeest migration over the endless plains made him feel like Dr Livingstone himself! In years to come Jeroen would like to focus his energy into helping other people. He would simply like to live in a more sustainable world with less focus on consumption and a greater tolerance and respect toward people... and animals.

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  Dennis van Rooij

  NL

  Web developer & team captain | dennis@safaribookings.com |

  Dennis is the captain of the web developer team and a key component of SafariBookings. Dennis loves the vastness of the Serengeti in Tanzania, which embodies his love of clean air and tranquility. In the office he is both loved and hated for playing Christmas music in October! Dennis loves to spend time with his wife and three beautiful daughters. He hopes for a world without borders so that people recognize their common humanity and consider themselves part of the same community.

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  Alan Murphy

  AU

  Director of content | alan@safaribookings.com |

  Alan has lived and breathed travel all his adult life. As a travel writer he wrote many guidebooks for Lonely Planet. Alan is responsible for SafariBookings’ content and honestly thinks he works with the nicest people in the world (or at least in Holland). Alan strongly believes that a key part of travel is giving back – he runs an international NGO called RoundTrip Foundation (www.roundtripfoundation.org.au). He lives in Australia with his wife, Alison, who is his strength and his home.

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  Ariadne van Zandbergen

  ZA

  Wildlife photographer & safari expert | www.africaimagelibrary.com |

  Ariadne is a renowned wildlife and travel photographer who spends about half her time travelling Africa to obtain new imagery for her stock library (www.africaimagelibrary.com). She has visited most of the parks covered on SafariBookings, and many of them on a regular basis. Her work is her hobby but when at home she enjoys outdoor pursuits, including trail running and mountain biking in South Africa where she is based. Ariadne creates and updates the park and country content on SafariBookings.

The 22 panel members wrote a total of 969 expert reviews about the countries and parks covered on this website. Most are reputed guidebook authors and travel writers who work for leading guidebook publishers and/or specialized Africa magazines. All have been professionally involved in the safari industry for years and visited many parks and reserves. That breadth of knowledge is exactly what puts them in the position to write expert reviews.