Lise Kargaard’s love affair with Africa started as a two-week holiday. Almost 30 years – and hundreds of itineraries – later, she’s still here! Originally from Denmark, Lise landed her first job in the travel industry by pure chance: a Danish tour company needed a consultant who spoke Danish, and she was the only applicant who did. She never looked back, and today she’s one of the most respected Africa travel experts.
We sat down with Lise for our Insider’s Africa series to get her unfiltered take on the moments, the magic, and the details that make an African safari unforgettable.
Q. The place that surprised you most that you didn’t expect to love, but you do?
A. I wouldn’t say that I am hard to please, but I do like a little luxury in my life, like running water and a flushing toilet, so I was a bit nervous to head out on my first ever mobile camping trip with Golden Africa Safaris. I had visions of standing under an empty bucket with soap suds in my eyes or trying to sleep on a lumpy camping mattress. Was I surprised? Golden Africa was a properly luxury operation with massive tents, plush beds fit for a princess and even flush toilets in the room. Dinner was silver service and some of the best food I have eaten – I have no idea how the chef managed to produce food like that in the middle of the bush. And best of all, a herd of buffalo stomped past my tent, so close I could see their nose hairs! Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to get the best experiences.
Q. If you could only take one trip this year, where and why?
A. Namibia! I haven’t been for a number of years now and it is time to relook at the lodges I have already visited and see some of the new places that have popped up since I was last there. I absolutely love Namibia with its wide-open spaces, amazing scenery, interesting architecture and great game viewing.
Q. The one experience you’d recommend to every first-time-to-Africa traveller?
A. The Eat like a Local tour in Cape Town. What a fun way to experience the Mother City, meet some interesting Capetonians, taste fantastic food and learn all about the local customs. I have done the tour twice now and each time I learn something new about the city I love.
Q. Your latest find?
A. I was invited to stay at the newly opened Sabi Sabi Sandringham — a hunting reserve turned conservation triumph, and proof of what patience and vision can achieve in the bush. It’s a fantastic, rehabilitated space that reflects Sabi Sabi’s deep commitment to conservation at every turn. Beyond the land itself, it was the people who left the impression. The staff and rangers are “really top” — the sort of expertise that turns a good safari into an unforgettable one.
I stayed in one of the beautiful Shisaka suites which has a signature rooftop sala, perfect for a ‘sofa safari’ or stargazing.
Q. You love a “sofa safari” – busy waterhole, cold drink, no game drive required. Best one you’ve found?
A. As much as I like to bounce around on a game drive vehicle getting close to the animals, there is nothing nicer than spending an afternoon relaxing on my private deck with a plunge pool, G&T in hand, waiting to see what comes past the room. My most memorable experience was at Desert and Delta’s Savute Camp, where a leopard killed an impala right in front of my room and I was the only person there to witness it. But it isn’t really about seeing predators. It is about the beauty of nature, the sound of the birds chirping and then… the sudden crunching of the brush and everything stops as you wait to see what is going to walk past.
Other great ‘sofa safari’ lodges are Jamala Madikwe, Tawana and Mala Mala Main Camp.
Q. Most underrated Cape Town experience right now?
A. The Cocktail & Speakeasy tour with Natural Wanders. Can there be a better way to experience a taste of Cape Town’s nightlife than a 2 hour curated dip into some of the most unusual and fun upmarket drinking holes, hosted by Matt Sterne, the best storyteller in Cape Town? You will learn things about Cape Town that even Capetonians don’t know, have a couple of great cocktails and answer a couple of quiz questions along the way. Plus, the tour starts at 5.30, so you can still go out for dinner afterwards and be in bed at a reasonable hour!
Q. You’re Southern Destinations’ charity champion – many guests like to visit places where they can give something back. Where would you send them?
A. Without a doubt, Imvelo Safaris in Zimbabwe. Mark “Butch” Butcher, in conjunction with the local communities, has created something incredibly special. The community owns one of the lodges outright, and the rhinos, reintroduced to Hwange, produce income for the nearby villages. This has allowed for a new state-of-the-art clinic, boreholes, vegetable gardens, a market for guests to visit, assistance at the local school as well as work for local villagers in the hospitality industry. The pride the community have in their facilities is immeasurable. Not to be forgotten though is the guest experience, which is fantastic. These are 4-star experiential properties. Here, you spend time off the vehicle and really immerse yourself in the many activities on offer.
Q. Scooters on Sea Point Promenade vs. Cape Town Sidecar at sunset. Make the case for each.
A. I love the Sea Point Promenade, especially on a Saturday morning when it is full of Cape Town locals getting their blood flowing, before they head to the local cafés and bakeries for breakfast. You can scooter, bike, run or walk as you take in the gorgeous views, the sunshine and the great people-watching. But nothing more fun than going on the Cape Sidecars, a chauffeured vintage motorbike with a sidecar! A trip on the sidecars along the dramatic Atlantic coast from Hout Bay to the City as the sun sets, with a stop for champagne, is the perfect end to any day.
Plan Your Own Africa Story with Lise
From luxury mobile safaris and unforgettable meals in the bush to hidden Cape Town experiences and adventures across the continent, Lise’s recommendations come from almost 30 years of living, travelling and working in Africa. If you’re ready to step outside your comfort zone and start planning your own Africa adventure, you can email Lise directly here.
Together, our consultants bring more than 100 years of experience in African travel, sharing their deep knowledge of the continent, first-hand experience, ideas and inspiration to create 5-star safari experiences that keep our clients coming back.
Email info@southerndestinations.com, and we’ll put you in touch directly.
