Safari Life with Bobby-Jo

What happens when your two podcast worlds collide in a leopard-print shirt and a Camilla dress? You get this absolute belter of an episode.In this one, I’m back on the Central Coast catching up with Rabbit, my podcast mentor, editor and all-round legend, and giving him a sneak peek at some of the photos from my very first solo exhibition. From the hilarious backstory behind how we met to deep chats about art, animals and the stories behind the shots, this one’s packed.We’ll take you behind the lens on some of the wildest photos in the exhibition, including:A black leopard emerging from the dark like a ghostA giraffe giving birth in real timeMy once-in-a-lifetime bongo sighting (yes, I cried)A tiger charging through water in India’s Ranthambore National ParkAnd the real stories behind each image, from the terrifying to the hilarious📸 Follow along on social media:Instagram: @bobbyjosafarisFacebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris✈️ Explore upcoming safaris at BobbyJoSafaris.com💬 If you love wildlife, photography and a good behind-the-scenes yarn, this one’s for you!🎙️ This is a Podvan Media production.

What’s it like to build a life protecting lions in one of the wildest corners of Africa? It is a journey of courage, heartbreak and hope, and it all started with a bike ride across East Africa.In this episode, I am coming to you from Mama Simba’s house on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, where I sit down with the incredible Dr Ingela Jansson, better known as Mama Simba. Ingela is the founder of KopeLion, a groundbreaking project helping people and lions coexist in this iconic landscape.We dig into Ingela’s remarkable story, from growing up on a Swedish farm to cycling across Africa and landing a job with the legendary Serengeti Lion Project. She shares the pivotal moment that inspired her to create KopeLion, the heartbreaking challenges faced along the way, and the moments of pure joy that keep her going.Plus, we talk about the growing pressures of tourism on fragile ecosystems, the importance of ethical safaris, and how we can all do our bit to protect this magical place.

What’s it like to grow up herding goats in lion country, then return home to protect the very animals your community once hunted?In this episode, I’m coming to you from the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, after wrapping up a ripper of a Serengeti safari with eight brand-new Honey Badgers. But it’s the days I’ve just spent with the KopeLion team that have truly filled my cup.I sit down with Kimani, a proud Maasai man and KopeLion’s Programs Coordinator, who shares what it was like growing up amongst wildlife, herding livestock from the age of five, and having his first lion encounter at just eleven years old. After years spent studying in the US, he’s back home in Ngorongoro, working to build harmony between lions and the communities that live alongside them.From dodging Cape buffalo as a kid to tracking collared lions through thick bush, Kimani’s story is a powerful look at how conservation and culture can walk hand in hand.

In this episode, I’m recording from the Southern Serengeti with one of my dearest mates and long-time safari partner, Firoz from African Mangu Safaris. We’re celebrating a decade of working together, guiding over 25 safaris and building a bond that’s become more like family than friendship.We chat about:• How our very first meeting involved a wild twist (what does SOS mean on safari? 👀)• Starting our own safari companies from scratch• Heart-stopping animal encounters, from baby elephants and charging gorillas to lions in trees• The hilarious chaos of getting stuck in the Ngorongoro Crater at night• The moment we watched a newborn elephant take its very first stepsThis is a heartfelt, hilarious and totally honest chat with a man I trust with my life - and someone you’re likely to meet if you join one of my Tanzanian safaris.

What’s it like to kick off the safari season in the heart of the Serengeti? Absolute magic—with a few unexpected surprises along the way!In this episode, I’m coming to you from my favourite place on Earth, the Southern Serengeti, where I’ve just wrapped up two weeks as photographer-in-residence with Alex Walker’s Serian Camps. From dodging epic thunderstorms to witnessing the wildebeest calving season in full swing, it’s been an unforgettable start to 2025.I’ll take you inside life at the mobile camps, share the wildest animal encounters—including a cheetah hunt captured in real-time—and introduce you to some incredible people I’ve met along the way, like a chocolate sommelier who changed the way I see chocolate forever!Plus, I finally had a face-to-face showdown with my spirit animal—the feisty honey badger.

What happens when a couple of best mates chase wildlife across the globe? Absolute chaos—and the adventure of a lifetime!In this very first episode of Safari Life with Bobby-Jo, I sit down with my longest and dearest friend, Glen, to relive our wildest safari memories. From our first African adventure in 2014—featuring aggressive elephants, an Indiana Jones-style bridge, and a surprise leopard sighting—to our latest icy expedition in Antarctica (where we got stranded at a remote military base!), this episode is packed with adventure, laughter, and a few “what were we thinking?!” moments.We also talk about trekking with gorillas in Uganda, climbing Kilimanjaro, and the one animal encounter that made me completely lose my mind!