Meet Matt Wise

SENIOR AFRICA TRAVEL DESIGNER

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If you're looking for something that will awaken your adventurous spirit, and provide you with one of the most awe-inspiring wildlife experiences on the planet, Gorilla trekking in Uganda is an absolute "must do"!.

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Matt

Most Memorable

For the longest time I’d had Gorilla trekking at the top of my bucket list, so when the opportunity arose to visit Uganda, naturally I became quite excited. My whole trip was unbelievable, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks were amazing places to visit, however, the Gorilla trekking in Bwindi was the highlight of course. It’s not just the Gorillas themselves that made it so memorable, however, the whole experience including the breathtaking scenery of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the sense of adventure required for trekking through dense jungle-like terrain also made it really extraordinary. The time spent with the Gorillas was obviously the most special bit. There is something so magical about gazing into the eyes of a powerful animal that we as humans have so much in common with, watching as they interact with other family members, that is hard to put into words. Simply put; I can’t recommend it highly enough!

My Experience

Having grown up in South Africa, visiting the region’s wild places was a staple of my upbringing. This left a lasting passion for Africa’s wildlife and natural beauty that translated itself into a fulfilling career in travel, arranging safari trips to Africa’s remote and exotic places. I started out as a junior consultant but gradually worked my way up to intermediate and senior levels as my interest and passion for the travel industry grew, and have since worked for some of the world’s top safari operators. Working in travel has allowed me to visit some of the amazing destinations which are now my areas of expertise, including travels to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda Rwanda, as well as extensive travels across my home country, South Africa. Everybody has different aims for their travels and I’m a specialist at carefully curated itineraries in those destinations, as well as others in Africa, according to individual client needs and expectations, and tailoring trips that suit each of them perfectly!

Specialist Destinations and Experiences

One of my favourite destinations in Africa is unquestionably Zambia! My primary love for Zambia is because it’s a bona fide wildlife haven, but what makes Zambia really special is the variety of experiences and it is the least commercial wildlife destination in Africa; many of the camps are still owner-managed and run. It’s also arguably the best place in Africa for walking safaris, particularly in South Luangwa, which is my favourite way to experience the bushveld. However, you are not limited to walking, and vehicle-based game viewing is great too! It’s also worth noting that guiding in Zambia is absolutely brilliant, due to the duration and intensity of the training required to become a guide there. In addition to epic game viewing, the mighty Zambezi River is one of my favourite places in Africa. From gliding on a canoe or boat down its serene waterways and trying to land prized Tigerfish in the Lower Zambezi, to the iconic Victoria Falls, the “Smoke that Thunders”, there is so much to enjoy about Zambia.

My Top Recommendations For…

One of my top recommendations for honeymooners would be to visit Tanzania. When it comes to the iconic “bush and beach” type of getaway that makes for a special honeymoon, Tanzania is hard to beat. There is a certain romance about being in the middle of the wilderness for a honeymoon. Whilst cities and towns can make for an exceptional stay, it’s the peace and tranquillity of Africa’s wild places that can make a honeymoon truly memorable. Being on safari is unbelievable, however, it is a sensory overload that can be overwhelming to the most seasoned of travellers. To combine time spent in the bush with the quintessential honeymoon experience of an idyllic beach destination to relax and unwind is the way to go. When it comes to combining bush & beach, nothing works quite as well as Tanzania. Going from the Serengeti to Zanzibar is both seamless and sensational.

Matt’s Top Experiences

Rwanda

Exploring Murchison National Park

Tanzania

Mixing up a beverage from the bush bar in Chem Chem

England

Scaling Scafell Pike in the Lake District

Tanzania

Ngorongoro Crater in the Highlands with my expert guides

South Africa

Enjoying the view from the Lions Head in Cape Town

Matt’s Articles

True Travel Times

A Force for Good: Seawilding - Matt

October 13, 2022

Kenya & Tanzania

East Africa Safari in Winter

October 29, 2020

Rwanda & Uganda

Rwanda & Uganda for the Responsible Traveller

June 30, 2020

Explore More Posts

Matt’s Favourite Itineraries

Tanzania, Zanzibar

From £7,033 pp

From $8,440 PP

Tanzania & Zanzibar Honeymoon

A secluded and romantic African honeymoon adventure

Kenya

From £12,850 pp

From $15,421 PP

Best of Northern Kenya

Travel off the beaten track with walking safaris

Alli Allan

My True Travel trip to Namibia was incredible! Every element of the trip was handled flawlessly! The itinerary was perfect with new and exciting things to see and do each day! Namibia is such a diverse country and I felt like we really had a full experience over the almost two weeks we were there. Our guide, Franco, was the best guide I’ve ever had anywhere in the world. All of the properties we stayed at were first class with amazing service, fabulous food, and fantastic decor and accommodations! I highly recommend working with True Travel. They leave no stone unturned to ensure a fabulous and seamless experience!

Most Recent Trip

My most recent trip to Africa was to Northern Tanzania in February. I visited the Ngorongoro Crater and both Southern and Northern Serengeti, which was fantastic as I had always wanted to visit the Southern Serengeti during calving season. The combination of Southern and Northern Serengeti at this time of year is wonderful as you get to experience the magnitude of the Great Migration, as well as the exclusivity of the Northern areas of the Serengeti which is a lot quieter during calving season. There is good resident wildlife all over the Serengeti, so you don’t have to be where the Great Migration is to have epic game viewing. The highlight of this trip was undoubtedly the hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti. The experience of going up in a balloon is fantastic in and of itself, however, it becomes truly incredible when you throw in some amazing game viewing from a bird’s eye view!

Destinations Visited

Austria
South Africa
Namibia
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Botswana
Tanzania
Uganda
Rwanda
Netherlands
Scotland
Wales
Portugal
Belize
Mexico
United States
France
Italy