True Wild

 I have dreamt of returning to Africa since my trip to Kenya in 1997. That was such a magical trip that I was sure it couldn’t be topped. I was so wrong! True Wild, aka Quinton & Liz Martins, topped that trip and provided so much more. I knew I would see wildlife on my safari but I never imagined seeing 208 birds species, all of which Dr. Martins knew, lions on the hunt in the dark of night with hungry cubs to feed back at the den, or a leopard stalk a water buck across the grasslands. I watched a warthog with her babies trot underneath my tent platform. We stopped to watch dung beetles, little tiny red velvet mites, elephants and wild dogs cooling themselves in watering holes. These creatures gave us a glimpse into the complicated and fragile ecosystem that is southern Africa. Each magical day was filled with magnificent game viewing, appreciating the big and small creatures that make up these amazing ecosystems, beautiful sunsets, and learning about conservation efforts in South Africa and Botswana. True Wild knows so much about the individual safari camps and selected just the right places for the season we visited. Their attention to detail, passion for the animals and the people, and sincerely caring about my experience made this ‘wild’ trip ‘truly’ perfect. 

Linda Sheppard

 A safari with True Wild and Quinton can be a deep experience of the soul. We love Africa and have made ten photographic safaris to parks in Southern and Eastern Africa. The two that True Wild organized for us in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia have been among the most memorable. The founders of True Wild have the rare ability to share their deep appreciation of the African wilderness through the trips they organize and lead. Quinton has a detailed knowledge of the many regions and camps that you can visit, and an understanding of what you are likely to see in each area as the seasons change. Based on the specific animals we wanted to see, True Wild tailored a trip for us, including the month and locations for our stays. As a wildlife biologist and South African native, Quinton has an unparalleled knowledge of the animals, their habitats and the ecology of the areas. We believe he is one of the world’s experts on big cats, and certainly THE expert on leopard. It’s a treat and an education to observe him reading and interpreting the paw prints in the road to track an animal. We stayed in opulent lodges as well as rustic tent camps on bluffs over-looking rivers or in the savannah. The food was always superb, and the staff beyond wonderful. We had ample opportunities to experience a wide spectrum of wildlife, up-close and personal. And, sleeping in the bush where we can hear the night sounds of wild Africa is captivating — male lions roaring back and forth to claim their territories, whooping spotted hyenas, and elephants trumpeting. If you want an astounding African safari trip of a lifetime, have True Wild create it for you. 

Craig Harrison & Marina Chang

 Quinton Martins is a superb African wildlife expert and safari tour organizer/guide — and a wonderful person to boot. In December 2019 Quinton organized a two-week adventure in southern Africa for a group of about 12 local Sonoma residents, including the two of us. His selected itinerary and choice of safari camps in South Africa and Botswana were excellent. We saw up close and personal a wide range of animals, including the “Big 5” — in a highly diverse range of settings (from riverbank to desert) and in a variety of safari camp types (from luxury to tent). Throughout the trip his knowledge of varied settings and different animals were amazing (it seems that he can recognize and name every different bird in Africa, even from a distance!). Our ability to spend time with a family of habituated meerkats in the center of the Kalahari desert was a unique experience — some of them even sat on Janet’s lap. In addition to the animals and overall safari experience, Quinton arranged for our group to have a couple of distinct and wonderfully unusual visits. For one we spent time with leading cultural anthropologists who are currently investigating a cave site for ancient man outside of Johannesburg — with remains deemed even older than those found by Leaky in east Africa. We spent quality time visiting the “dig” and speaking with the scientists. Later in the trip we visited a locale in Kruger Park where a top ecologist manages a 20-year field trial demonstrating the importance of grasslands to mitigate against the impacts of climate change. Again we had time to speak with this professor as well as visit his field trial area. Janet and I asked Quinton to arrange a further two-week safari experience for us after the rest of the group returned to the US. He used his personal connections to set us up in an area in southern Tanzania that we had never previously visited: the Selous and the Ruaha. His selection of several camps for us here was great, giving us never before experiences with wild dogs in particular. In sum, one cannot do better than to work with Quinton Martins and the entire True Wild team. 

David Morell and Janet Bruno

 Sally and I had a life changing experience in Africa with True Wild, led by Quinton and Liz Martins. It will probably be the only time we will get to go on safari, but the experience was well worth the effort and cost. Quinton’s experience and knowledge of the area made all the difference; every step of the way from navigating airport check-ins, keeping track of all the luggage, and the many ground transportation and camp arrangements flowed smoothly. Each camp was chosen for the unique features it offered, and the total experience, from tracking a pride of lions on the hunt, giraffes, hippos, wildebeest, zebras, rhinos, cheetahs, the dozens of different antelope, elephant and even following a pack of African wild dogs on the lookout for a near-by leopard. Then there were all the strange birds, my favorite being the Red Crested Korhaan. It is also called the “suicide bird” as it has a unique mating ritual in which, after a vocalizing ascending call on the ground, he then flies vertically up in the sky. On reaching a certain height, the korhaan merely folds his wings and plummets back down toward the ground-body seemingly prone as if he had been shot in mid-air. Shortly before hitting the ground, it opens its wings for a safe, elegant landing. Very impressive, as was all the wildlife. 

Mike and Sally Gale

 My Safari with True Wild was much more than a trip. We wandered, we adventured, and we were amazed. I hadn’t considered a safari but knowing Quinton and Liz and other like-minded people (nature nuts) through volunteering at Bouverie Preserve near Glen Ellen, CA., I decided to leap into the unknown. The motivation to go was curiosity, but the gifts received were exploring a totally unknown environment, observing the care shown for nature through the guides/staff at various camps, making new friends through our common bond of stewardship of planet Earth and learning about living in Botswana and South Africa. The vibrant sunsets, the campfires, the laughter, the wild night ride following the lion pack – well, they were just the icing on the cake! 

Bobbie Jenkins, Sonoma CA