Why & Who

WHY & WHO

Match-making your perfect African experience!

An AMS safari is a meaningful journey of unsurpassed discovery, an artfully guided adventure into the Africa of your choice. We take pride in offering unique, meaningful and authentic experiences and seamless travel logistics. This while constantly striving to inspire a deeper sense of awareness and conservation. For Alan, it is principally about elephants, and he is known as one of Africa’s leading specialist elephant guides

Alan & Sarah McSmith are a husband and wife team based in Hoedspruit, South Africa. For over three decades we have committed to a conservation-minded delivery of safari, trails and experiences. To share our love for wild Africa and the inspiring values and sense of purpose that the wilderness experience affords us.

ALAN MCSMITH

After almost three decades as a wildlife & wilderness guide, one thing is certain; ‘wilderness’ is no longer a place but a way of life. And as one of Africa’s remarkable guides, Alan remains as committed to share meaningful, empathetic and impactful encounters as ever.

His natural habitat consists of some of the most iconic wilderness regions in Africa, ranging from the Okavango Delta, Kalahari & Makgadikgadi in Botswana, the Namib Desert & Skeleton Coast in Namibia, the Lower Zambezi & Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, the Kruger lowveld in South Africa, the Luangwa Valley in Zambia and Zakouma NP in Chad. An a lot in between.

He is an established impact and TEDx speaker and has travelled extensively advocating leadership and conservation at numerous European forums.

And then there are elephants. Alan is a passionate elephant conservationist, and is well known for his knowledge of these remarkable animals, constantly striving to raise the bar of awareness

For Alan however, there is nothing quite like a remote African campfire, somewhere at the end of a dirt track. Here, out on foot and under canvas, the story of Africa beats most vibrantly.
It’s within this solitude that ancient whispers can be heard, where the heartbeat of the old continent beats in sync with your own. The sound of a lion roaring at the red dawn; the soft sand and fresh animal tracks underfoot, burning sunsets, wild water, and the freedom of space and the exhilaration of coming home to it.

"I’m not sure where the boundary between my work and personal life lies, or if it even exists at all. My life is a declaration to share both, and to respectfully suggest that the well-being of nature cannot be separated from the well-being of our own".

SARAH McSMITH

Born in rural Swaziland, Sarah’s idyllic first brush with nature was the carefree days of swimming in the Usutu River. Along with liberal doses of barefoot forest wanderings through the hillsides near her home. Rural Africa, and her richly inspiring traditional values, music, dance and vibrant colours, settled in rather well.

With a beginning at Ngala Game Lodge in the Timbavati in 1988, Sarah’s first love was catering and service. Ensuring an impeccable standard with her unique blend of understated yet professional hosting, with a highly personalised & empathetic style, and of course an uncanny eye for detail, she elevated the bar of hospitality service in the SA lodge industry. Sarah has since dedicated her life to this, and the world of safaris and wilderness trails ever since.

Sarah’s natural habitat is at the ‘inspirations drawing board,’ whever thi may be at the time. Always highly adaptable, she is happiest planning client’s experiences, designing homely menus or creating special moments.

For Sarah, the sum of small details is what produces meaningful encounters, and it’s this compassion that Sarah brings to AMS as our operations boss. This from the moment of first contact, to careful listening to the dreams of our clients, to itinerary planning, to special requests or occasions … all this and more, long after the departure home.

Sarah and Alan live on a game reserve close to Hoedspruit in SA, with a precious family base close by

"Although the AMS core lies in the design and delivery of meaningful safari and trail experiences, the reality is that we are in the business of ‘memory-making.’ There is so much Africa has to offer, so many vibrant, exciting and life-changing encounters".

CONTACT US

ENQUIRIES

SARAH MCSMITH
WHATSAPP: 0027 (0) 76 183 2040
EMAIL: info@alanmcsmith.com

SPECIALIST GUIDE

ALAN MCSMITH
WHATSAPP: 0027 (0) 83 472 4783
EMAIL: wild@alanmcsmith.com

HEAD OFFICE

AMS SAFARIS & SERVICES CC
PO Box 1565, Hoedspruit, South Africa
WEB: www.alanmcsmith.com

WHY & WHO​