Mary Grimwood
Mary Grimwood
SENIOR SPECIALIST CONSULTANT
Mary grew up in Surrey with (very!) Scottish ancestry (neé Mackenzie). Having studied modern Languages at university she leapt head first into the travel industry and built up a wealth of experience with visits to around 35 different countries worldwide. Her career has included leading tour groups in Europe, working for a worldwide tour operator and more recently working for and managing an independent travel agency in London.
Mary joined Safari Consultants in 2006 having spent a season working in a bush camp in Kenya’s Masai Mara, where she really cemented her love of Africa. In ‘safari’ Africa, she is now extremely well travelled with multiple visits to Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Madagascar and Rwanda, as well as extensive explorations of Uganda, Malawi and Mozambique. Throughout her extensive travels, she has many favourite spots, such as the Namibia’s Namib Desert and Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, but due to her time living and working there, Kenya and its people hold a very special place in her heart. Mary enjoys dealing with people and really getting to know her clients, a key part of tailoring the perfect holiday.
Mary’s top 3 EXPERIENCES
Chimpanzee trekking in the Mahale Mountains
I fell in love with this amazing and remote part of western Tanzania where the brooding Mahale Mountains, dense with lush vegetation, tower over Lake Tanganyika which is fringed with beautiful beaches. This has to be one of the best places in Africa to trek to see wild chimpanzees as they go about their daily lives. You never know how long you are to trek for – the chimps will dictate that! It may be an easy stroll and you come across them within thirty minutes or you may spend hours hiking up steep, vegetated hillsides made slippery by the humidity. The rewards are more than worth it though as you observe the chimps bounding from tree to tree as they play and fight or watch them on the ground as they look after their families, forage for food and or groom one another. I will always appreciate that the chimps are allowing us to be in their space and know just what a privilege it is.
Self-driving through Skeleton Coast National Park
I have always found beauty in austere landscapes and driving north along the coast through the Skeleton Coast National Park in Namibia was thrilling. Signing in at the park office when you enter the park is the first indication of what an extraordinary area it is – the previous car to enter had passed through some four days earlier and it felt like embarking on a great adventure into an unpopulated wilderness. The coastline is often shrouded in fog, a result of the warm inland air combining with the cold Benguela Current coming up from Antarctica. It is this fog matched with treacherous currents that have led to so many ships sinking and being swept on to the beaches, their rotting hulls giving rise to the name Skeleton Coast. To me, the fog added to the surreal atmosphere and in places, made it a bit more of a challenge to differentiate between the salt roads, the sea and the sky! On the occasions when the sun broke through, the landscape was ever changing – at times, nothing but endless stretches of sand on either side with only glimpses of the ocean in the far distance, at others the dunes seemed to crowd in on us as they pushed towards the wate. Driving though such a desolate landscape, knowing that there was hardly anyone else there, made for a truly immense day.
Photo hide at Mashatu
I am not an expert photographer but like most people I do enjoy looking back at my pictures which serve as a reminder of a particular time and place and can conjure up amazing memories. Even so, there are still times when I get frustrated with the difference between the photo that I think I have taken the one that has appeared on my screen! That changed however when I entered the photographic hide at Mashatu. The metal hide, which is 100% elephant proof, has been sunk into the ground so that the photographers head is at ground level. It offers a completely new perspective and there is a real sense of anticipation as you wait to see what comes by. Elephants are regular visitors, as are giraffes, big cats may come by to drink and it is a wonderful place from which to watch the birdlife. Being so close allows for great photographic opportunities for both expert and enthusiastic amateur photographers and there is really no better experience than getting up close and personal with the wildlife.
Mary’s Favourite Places To Stay
Sarara Camp, Matthews Range
Incredible location tucked away in the Mathews Range mountains, with breathtaking views, varied activities, and a truly impressive level of community engagement
Mwaleshi Camp, North Luangwa
Small, personal, and the epitome of a bush camp situated in the pristine wilderness of the North Luangwa National Park. The perfect destination to explore on foot.
Selinda Explorers, Linyanti
Old school safari ambiance in one of Botswana’s core big game viewing areas offering the chance to get out on vehicles, on foot or , if water levels allow, by canoe.
