Inside our itineraries: A safari adventure with Race Across the World’s Mark & Margo

Dreaming about your own animal-spotting escape? Hear what Race Across the World stars Mark and Margo made of their recent trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana.

There are few sights quite as impressive as the wild natural world, and some of the most memorable travel experiences come when you say yes to something totally out of the ordinary. That’s what we love about safaris, and after experiencing one of our Premier Collection tours, so do Race Across the World’s Mark and Margo.

Having lived life in the fast lane earlier this year, travelling from Sicily to northern Mongolia, the pair were keen to embrace a more leisurely pace and joined us on Ultimate Safari – Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe – Premier.

We caught up with them to hear all about what surprised them, their personal highlights, and how escorted touring offered a different experience. Here’s what they had to say.

Was this your first escorted tour? How did it compare to what you were expecting going in?

I’d visited Costa Rica before, and Mark had done a couple of escorted tours, but neither of us had experienced anything this comprehensive or luxurious. We expected a level of support on safari but were pleasantly surprised to find every detail taken care of from the moment we arrived at the airport. Africa was new to me, and there was so much to absorb, so being able to give it our full attention without worrying about anything else was wonderful.

Travelling in a group means sharing the whole experience with strangers, who often become friends by the end. What was that side of it like for you?

We made some firm friends and are already planning a get-together with them later this year. Just like on Race Across the World, doing something unique together brought us close quickly, and we were all aware we were having a trip of a lifetime.

There was plenty of laughter, including the teasing I got for arriving exactly on time and hastily applying my lipstick, while everyone else was 10 minutes early. Mark loved an evening G&T by the fire pit, going over the day’s experiences with our new friends.

You’ve spoken about choosing ease over proving a point after Race Across the World. Did handing the logistics to us actually feel different, or was it harder than expected to switch off?

We happily handed over the planning to Newmarket Holidays and felt the difference immediately, with all our energy available for enjoying the trip.

Most days, we’d go out on a morning game drive, relax back at the lodge and then head out for a night safari or sunset cruise. There was freedom to choose too, so I took a morning off in Victoria Falls while Mark pursued extra adventures.

We could fit so much into a day and still feel relaxed, because all we had to think about was the moment.

What’s the one moment from the trip you didn't see coming, the kind of "leave room for the unexpected" experience you talk about?

Rejoice, our tour manager in Chobe, spotted an opportunity for us to join a village celebration of Botswana’s independence and turned it into something incredibly special.

We would never have found it ourselves, and it took her local knowledge and judgement to make it happen. We were welcomed like honoured guests, with the women dancers repeatedly bringing Mark into the middle.

Seeing him happily joining in was a joy, especially after he’d refused to join my ferry flash mob during Race Across the World.

Race Across the World was all about speed. How did it feel to slow down and have a proper conversation with someone, rather than rushing to the next checkpoint?

It felt lovely to stay in a conversation for as long as we wanted, without part of our attention being on the clock or how we’d get to the next place.

Mark particularly enjoyed lingering over a drink in the evenings, talking through what we’d seen with other members of the group. I had endless questions for our guides, who answered with such knowledge and passion for their animals, parks, and country.

Having an expert there, with time to listen, gave us a much deeper connection to the places we visited.

Was there a point on this trip where you felt genuinely out of your comfort zone, and how did that compare to how you felt on the show?

Being so close to wild animals could certainly have felt outside our comfort zone, because we understood their power and the potential danger, but we had absolute confidence in our experienced guides.

We could appreciate the enormity of the encounter while feeling safe. Unlike on the race, we were well rested after nights in wonderful accommodation, and even on bumpy roads we travelled in comfortable vehicles.

That made such a difference to how we felt approaching each new experience.

You talk about not underestimating what you’re capable of at this stage of life. What's something on this trip that surprised you about yourselves?

We surprised ourselves by how readily we embraced things we might usually hesitate over.

I’m wary of helicopters, but went up over Victoria Falls and had a blast, seeing that incredible landscape from the air, while Mark fulfilled his ambition to go white-water rafting.

The holiday gave us energy, and being so well looked after left us feeling rested and keen to try more. It was a great reminder that being wary of something doesn’t mean you won’t thoroughly enjoy it.

If you’d booked this trip privately rather than through Newmarket Holidays, what do you think you’d have missed or got wrong?

We couldn’t have put together this range of experiences across four different places in 11 days with anything like the same ease.

The roads in Zimbabwe could be challenging, but every transfer was arranged, so that never became our concern. We doubt we’d have discovered the unique lodgings at Sable and Amalinda, and we certainly wouldn’t have found that village celebration ourselves.

The tour managers’ local knowledge made the trip both hassle-free and much richer than we could have managed alone.

Of everything on the itinerary, what would you tell a friend not to skip?

We’d have to say Victoria Falls and the safaris, because nothing prepares you for seeing the Falls or watching these animals in their own environment.

We’d also urge friends to take the river cruises, and for me, the guided rhino encounter in Matobo was unforgettable. The ancient cave paintings offered something completely different, while the lodges were worth enjoying in their own right.

Some of my happiest times were simply sitting in the hide while watching the elephants. It was incredible – the trip was worth it for that experience alone.

What would you say to someone your age who’s still telling themselves, "one day, after retirement"?

Does it really need to wait? It’s easy to keep putting the things you want off until after the next responsibility or milestone.

If you have the means and the opportunity, give yourself the chance to experience them now. You don’t need to work out every detail yourself, and adventure can come with comfort, support, and time to relax.

We’re so glad we’ve actually stood in those places and felt those things, rather than still imagining what they might be like.

What’s the story or wish-list moment from this trip you know you’ll still be telling in 10 years?

For me, it will be the rhino family and the baby elephants rolling in mud, while Mark will remember Victoria Falls, his rafting and those landscapes filled with animals.

We’ll both remember the sundowners, stopping in the middle of the bush while a little bar was set up at the back of the Jeep, then standing together with a G&T, watching the changing colours of the African sunset spread orange and red across the landscape.

After all the excitement of the day, that feeling of calm and peace was perfection. On our last evening, we went up to World’s View in Matobo to watch the sunset and sang together on the drive back to Amalinda, a fitting end to the holiday.

Follow in Mark and Margo’s footsteps with Newmarket Holidays

Is there a safari escape you’ve always dreamt of? Whether you’re an animal enthusiast or simply looking to treat yourself to a different kind of holiday, our safari collection has the perfect itinerary for any occasion.

For more information on the options available or to secure your spot, give one of our friendly holiday planners a call today. You can also browse our full range of award-winning African safaris and wildlife-spotting escapes across Asia, Oceania and the Americas.