Smithsonian Journeys 2017

As Grant Nel travels the globe, he continuously studies
the Earth’s most diverse and awe-inspiring wildlife. He
received his ranger training at the world-renowned
MalaMala Game Reserve and has worked in the African
wild for more than two decades. Grant has lived a
few hundred meters from the confluence of the Chobe
and Zambezi Rivers, making Victoria Falls and Chobe
National Park virtually his back yard. A highly respected
conservationist, he is a former CEO of the acclaimed
Selinda Reserve, sits on the boards of two local environmental
organizations, and holds a postgraduate honors
degree in zoology. Grant will serve as expert on Africa’s
Grand Safari by Private Plane, Tanzania’s Great Migration,
Around the World by Private Jet 2018, plus a departure of
African Safari and Tanzania Safari.
Q. Give us your thoughts about
being a Smithsonian Journeys Expert
for so many of our African safaris.
A. A wise man once said, “If you only
ever have the opportunity to travel to
another continent twice in your lifetime,
make sure it is Africa both times.” Africa
has been the ancestral home to my family
since 1688, so the pulse of the continent
really courses through me, but there is
something about this land that resonates
deeply in every person who is lucky enough to step upon
its shores. Perhaps it is because all of our DNA codes were
shaped in Africa. Despite my academic background, my
real qualification is a childhood and 27 professional years
spent surrounded by African wilderness and its plethora
of amazing creatures and plants. My own curiosity for all
things natural is fueled by the inquisitive minds of others
and sharing my passion with them. I am drawn to wild
places all over the planet, from camping with grizzlies in
Montana to scuba diving with turtles on the Great Barrier
Reef. Whilst in Africa it will be a pleasure to offer insights
as we view magnificent Victoria Falls; are enthralled by
the grace and beauty of the big cats; laugh at the clownlike
antics of baby elephants; and are astounded by the
“If you only ever have
the opportunity to
travel to another
continent twice in
your lifetime, make
sure it is Africa
both times.”
sheer number of animals moving across the Serengeti
plains. Plus, I enjoy sharing indelible memories with
like-minded travelers as they become lifelong friends.
Q. In addition to the sense of wonder inherent in any
safari, what kinds of insights do you hope to convey to
our Smithsonian travelers?
A. “Sense” is an appropriate word, because the first
message I try to convey at our welcome dinners is for
everyone to open up their senses. Urban life tends to
dull our ability to be truly observant, and Africa is so
full of color, smells, tastes, sounds, and textures that to
fully appreciate all it offers one needs to take note of all
the messages our senses detect. Another insight I try to
convey is the importance of biodiversity
to our planet and our own species,
something that is very close to the
Smithsonian ethos. Suffice it to say that
the wild places of the world are shrinking
and the threat to global biodiversity,
particularly in the tropics, is frightening.
There is a gradual realization that Man
needs to act now to preserve biodiversity
and we cannot let up on our efforts.
Q. How do you infuse your tours with
your expertise?
A. I am not a natural lecturer, at least not in the traditional
sense, so I endeavor to deliver my presentations
in a way that stimulates questions. If I do it right, these
questions endure from the beginning of the tour to the
very end. This has served me well because every opportunity
to sit down with travelers, at a meal, on a coach, on a
flight, I find myself engaged in discussions that have been
stimulated by the lectures. They are therefore as contextual
to the program as possible so that a thread of curiosity
persists all the way through the tour. My presentations
also try to arm our travelers with the tools to help them be
more observant: from understanding some of the nuances
of elephant communication to why coral reef waters are so
crystal clear.
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