Back in the mid-1990s, global travel was a completely different ballgame to what it is today. Without internet, social media, and instant emails, people planned their international trips the ‘old-fashioned’ way! Would-be tourists would pour over their weekly newspapers or special travel magazines to pick their journeys months in advance. Mature travelers always booked through trusted agents back home, collecting their printed airplane by calling the airlines directly to have them sent through the post. Young 20-somethings on a budget showed up in African hot spots like Cape Town or Victoria Falls with backpacks and Lonely Planet guidebooks. For most, African safaris were the ultimate world-adventure, and few people really knew what to expect.
It was in this era that Jenman Safaris started operating our first tours across Southern Africa. With a passion for exploring new destinations, Garth Jenman was a one-man-show with one vehicle and an ambitious spirit! He started running tours from Harare to Mana Pools, and soon ventured to Victoria Falls, opening an operations office, and slowly adding more vehicles to the fleet. Guests started the tours with a leaflet offering a brief description of the itinerary with black and white photos – and few expectations. Lifelong memories were made, and the word spread – Jenman Safaris soon established itself as a trusted brand in the African tourism industry.
Fast-forward 30 years and the landscape of travel has changed immensely. The floods of documentaries and online stories and photos, along with updated flight processes has created a sense of ease and knowledge about most aspects of safari travel. People know what to expect, and they know what they want – the destinations, the beauty, the cultures, the wildlife, the creature-comforts, and still, the same sense of adventure – all offered by a company with expertise who treats each guest with care and individuality. And as our clients’ needs change, we change along with them.
Our greatest asset – our team
Everyone in our team, from our General Manager, Johann Barnard (who joined us in 2014) to our guides and drivers on the road, contribute equally to make our tours continually successful. Over the years, we always operated as a small family business, and continue to do so. Our office staff and the staff on the ground – most of whom have been with us since prior to 2020 – have shown commitment to Jenman Safaris and to our guests. Our safaris operate in multiple countries and because we use our own guides and vehicles, we stand apart from other operators. All these factors come together to make sure that we never lose that personal touch across everything that we do – and this has led to the great reputation that Jenman has built. It is a source of ongoing pride that we continue to build exceptional tour products, and we look forward to providing many more wonderful adventures for our guests in years to come.
