Frantic for Nature

By Marita van Rooyen

Vernon and Esmerelda Swanepoel’s original idea when launching Frantic Naturalist Tours and Safaris was perhaps not to get people frantic about nature, but this is inevitably what they’ve done.

With special interest trips focussed on birding, desert ecology, photography, hiking and astronomy, there’s something for any nature lover of note. “Our mission is to create fascinating nature experiences on every trip we run. Professional trips, focussed on nature, and developed according to what we believe our guests love – that’s us in a nutshell.” Although the main focus here is on guided tours, Frantic Naturalist also offers tailor-made self-drive Namibian tours. Regular tours, which are offered throughout the year, are the Naukluft Hiking Tour and Premier Lodge Safari, with additional options to be added in the near future.

Vernon, who hails from a nature conservation background, says, “We believe nature conservation is important for our industry, that education is important for Namibia, and that we have a responsibility to give back.”

Visit the Frantic Naturalist website www.frantic-naturalist.com