This is Africa Podcast

From catching snakes to following wounded lions, Ross Johnston has made a career out of running toward the things most people run away from. In this episode of This Is Africa Podcast, Andy sits down with one of Zimbabwe's most fascinating bushmen—a professional hunter, snake expert, and K9 handler who's spent a lifetime working where things can go wrong in a heartbeat.

Ross tells the story of how he left photographic safaris ...

This week, Andy sits down with Zimbabwean professional hunter Tanya Blake, one of the country’s few qualified female PHs, to talk leopard charges, brutal exams, bush pressure, and earning respect in one of Africa’s toughest industries. Tanya shares how she went from a hunting-family upbringing and guiding canoes in Mana Pools to chasing dangerous game through the rocks of West Nick, proving herself in a profession that ...

Andy sits down with Zimbabwean entrepreneur, explorer, and 'African Plant Hunter' Gus Le Breton for a fascinating dive into Africa’s wild plants, ancient knowledge, and untold stories from the bush. Best known for helping launch baobab as the world-famous 'African superfruit,' Gus shares how a lifelong obsession with Africa’s biodiversity took him from a mission hospital in Kenya to solo overland adventures across the S...

This week, Andy sits down with veteran Zimbabwean PH Rob Oostindien for a hard-hitting conversation straight out of the African bush. From late-season crocodile hunts in Mozambique to real-world problem animal control after fatal attacks, Rob shares what life in Africa really looks like.

He traces his journey from a farm upbringing and wartime Rhodesia to earning his PH license the hard way, cutting his teeth in Mateke Hills, and e...

This week on the podcast, Andy sits down with legendary professional hunter Martinus Naude—nearly 81 years old with over 46 years in the bush. From a childhood spent hunting to qualifying as a PH and guiding safaris across Zimbabwe’s wild concessions, Martinus shares a lifetime of hard-earned experience.

They dive into some of his most dangerous encounters, including his very first guided hunt that turned into a wounded...

Andy sits down with Zimbabwean PH and safari operator Mike Payne for a raw, no-nonsense dive into a life forged in the African bush. From a grandfather’s legacy to Mike’s own hard-earned reputation, this episode tracks the bloodline of a true hunter.

They unpack what makes Zimbabwe’s tracking culture some of the purest hunting left on earth, Mike’s passion for buffalo hunting, and his trusted .470 double rif...

In this episode of This is Africa Podcast, Andy is joined by Bill Hober of Swift Bullet Company to relive his very first African safari—hunting buffalo in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley in the mid-1980s with legendary PH Bill Williams.

Bill shares the stories, people, and experiences that made Africa “infectious,&rd...

The one you’ve all been waiting for folks…Andy sits down with true African legend Guy Whittall for a conversation packed with wild stories, hard-earned wisdom, and a lifetime of living on the edge of the bush.

From growing up in one of Africa’s most iconic safari families to running operations in some of the wildest, most untamed places on the continent, Guy shares what it really takes to survive — and thri...

On this episode of This Is Africa, The Podcast, Andy is joined by Bill Hober from Swift Bullet Company and Joseph von Benedikt from the Backcountry Hunting Podcast for a deep dive into the world of premium hunting bullets.

From A-Frames and Sciroccos to the new Zephyr, they unpack what really matters when it comes to bullet performance on game in both Africa and North America. The conversation covers wound channels, bullet testing,...

Step into the wild with us in this thrilling episode of This Is Africa, The Podcast, featuring Gary Duckworth — a legendary professional hunter and safari operator from Zimbabwe. Born into a family where hunting runs deep in the blood, Gary takes us on an unforgettable journey through his early days on the farm, his family’s legacy in the safari industry, and the heart-pounding realities of life in the African bush. Fro...

In this episode of This is Africa Podcast, Andy chats with Brian Fienhold, Chief Operating Officer of the Dallas Safari Club.

They dive into the conservation projects DSC is backing across Africa, the evolution of the organization’s events and conventions, and the long-term vision driving its mission forward.

From protecting wildlife and supporting rural communities to bringing together hunters, conservationists, and outdoor ...

In this episode of This Is Africa, The Podcast host Andy chats with Neil Duckworth, a renowned professional hunter and conservationist from Zimbabwe. Neil, of Mokore Safaris, shares his family's deep-rooted history in the safari industry, starting from his father's pioneering days in the 1970s. They discuss the development and challenges of managing vast hunting concessions in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the intricacies of anti-p...

Welcome to This is Africa, The podcast that delves into the heart of African hunting. In today's episode, we have the honour of hosting Barrie Duckworth, a true legend in Zimbabwe's conservation and hunting industry. Join us as Barrie recounts his incredible life story, from his early days growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe, learning to hunt and track wildlife, to becoming a pioneer in elephant control and professional hunting. Hear ...

This is Africa Podcast IS BACK!!!  Join us for season 2, the podcast that dives deep into the heart of Africa! In this epic 3 hour long conversation, host Andy sits down with Zimbabwe's renowned author and professional hunter, Richard Harland. Discover Richard's thrilling tales from his childhood on a tobacco farm to his legendary hunts across Zimbabwe and beyond. From surviving daring encounters with elephants and buffalo to ...

Join us around the campfire on another episode of This is Africa ON SAFARI Podcast! In this second episode with Safari Pike and Dave Freeburn Safaris, we recount three intense days of safari adventures, including the heart-pounding hunt for an elephant. Hear the meticulous planning, nerve-racking moments, and the unexpected challenges we faced during the hunt. From strategic instructions on shooting positions to the a...

Welcome to another episode of This is Africa ON SAFARI Podcast! Andy joins up with Dave from Dave Freeburn Safaris from the Limpopo Province of South Africa, near the Botswana border. With special guest, Safari Pike, a dynamic 19-year-old hunter from Vermont, who shares her passion for big game hunting, as she prepares for her first elephant hunt. We dive into her journey from hunting white-tailed deer to aiming for the Big Five. D...

Join us on the final chapter of This is Africa ON SAFARI Podcast held around the campfire in Kaburi-Moto, sponsored by Boyd's Hardwood Gunstocks. Host, Andy Buchanan and hunter Dustin Knutson, recount the thrilling ups and downs of their last days of their hunt near Lake Kariba in Northern Zimbabwe. Hear firsthand accounts of their rollercoaster adventures, including the heart-pounding pursuit of a man-eating crocodile, the thrilli...

Welcome back to another episode of This is Africa ON SAFARI! Join us as we sit around a captivating mopane wood fire in the Kaburi-Moto safari area in Northern Zimbabwe under a magnificent starlit sky. Host, Andy Buchanan and PH Daniel van Wyk discuss the exhilarating ups and downs of their recent buffalo hunt with special guest, Dustin Knutson, the owner of Boyd's Hardwood Gunstocks. From the gruelling 7-day pursuit to the tactica...

Welcome to the first episode of This is Africa Podcast, the ON SAFARI Series. Join us around the mopane wood campfire in Northern Zimbabwe as we embark on an exhilarating safari. From Mashuma Camp on the Charara River near Lake Kariba and the Zambezi River, we dive into the fascinating world of buffalo hunting. Our guests include Dustin Knutson, the owner of Boyd's Hardwood Gunstocks, professional hunter Daniel van Wyk, and Chloe P...