"Africa with André" is a podcast where we "Celebrate Africa - One Story at a Time". With this podcast, I want to break down the misconceptions and misunderstandings that many people have about Africa – and to create a positive image of the continent.
Through interviews with partners and friends in tourism, we will listen to their stories: their experiences, their projects and about how they have made a difference in the lives of others.
I’ve worked in the Africa travel industry for over 25 years, and I’ve had many conversations over the years, both with guests and travel colleagues about spending time in Africa: what they expect it will be like, what they worry about. What their understanding and image of the continent is.
This podcast is not about giving you the normal tips of what to do – I am going to assume that you know that you will see Table Mountain when you’re in Cape Town. Rather, our conversations will highlight some of the goosebump moments you could have, and introduce potential new destinations to you.
I want to help you understand how a holiday in one of Africa’s 54 countries is something to be excited about, like a 5 year old is in the days before Christmas.
And just a quick note at the end: this is a project of love – not a job. I choose friends and partners that have stories which I find interesting and inspiring – and I hope you do too.
Of Elephant Corridors, Empowered Communities and Slow Safari: This is Chem Chem
What happens when luxury safari tourism becomes a tool for conservation and community empowerment?
In this episode, I speak to Fabia Bausch, co-owner of Chem Chem Safaris in northern Tanzania. Together with her partner Nicolas, Fabia helped create one of the most inspiring conservation success stories in East Africa: the restoration of the Kwakuchinja wildlife corridor between Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park.
Declared abandoned in 2009 due to overgrazing, agriculture and increasing human pressure, the corridor is once again being used by wildlife — including elephants returning to Lake Manyara after an absence of almost 40 years.
Fabia explains how conservation only works when local communities benefit directly, and why long-term trust, education and economic empowerment are just as important as protecting wildlife itself.
The Chem Chem Association works with local villages through education, employment and business development programs designed to create long-term opportunities beyond tourism. From conservation education for children to entrepreneurship training in areas like beekeeping, chicken farming and agriculture, the aim is to help communities build sustainable futures while protecting the environment around them.
We also talk about Chem Chem’s invention of the “Slow Safari” — a more personal, flexible and immersive safari experience that encourages guests to reconnect with nature beyond simply ticking animals off a list.
Deutsch: Du kannst diesen Podcast auch auf Deutsch hören: “Africa with André auf Deutsch”
** Please tell your friends about this podcast, and leave me a rating on Spotify or Apple. I would love to hear from you - send me your questions, comments and ideas to podcast@africawithandre.com (mailto:podcast@africawithandre.com) **
Chem Chem Lodge: https://auberge.com/safari/camp/chem-chem-lodge-burunge-lake-manyara/ (https://auberge.com/safari/camp/chem-chem-lodge-burunge-lake-manyara/)
Little Chem Chem and Forest Chem Chem: https://auberge.com/safari/camp/burunge-tarangire/ (https://auberge.com/safari/camp/burunge-tarangire/)
Chem Chem Association: https://www.chemchemassociation.org/ (https://www.chemchemassociation.org/)
Tarangire National Park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarangire_National_Park (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarangire_National_Park)
Lake Manyara National Park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarangire_National_Park (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarangire_National_Park)
Follow me on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africa_with_andre (https://www.instagram.com/africa_with_andre)
Subscribe to Email reminders when episodes go live: www.africawithandre.com (http://www.africawithandre.com)
Sound credits: uppbeat.io/ (https://uppbeat.io/) and https://pixabay.com/ (https://pixabay.com/)
6 May 2026
From “This Tastes Terrible” to World-Class Wine: The Journey of Ntsiki Biyela
I sit down with Ntsiki Biyela, South Africa’s first Black female winemaker. A woman whose journey into wine started in the most unexpected way… by saying “yes” to an opportunity that had the power to change her life, and absolutely hating it after tasting it for the first time.
We talk about what it feels like to enter an industry where you don’t see yourself represented, and the quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) challenges of being both Black and female in a traditionally white, male-dominated wine world. What stands out is Ntsiki’s perspective - grounded, honest, and often filled with humour. Whether it’s people assuming she couldn’t possibly be the winemaker, or customers confidently explaining her own wines to her, she meets it all with a mix of grace and sharp insight.
But this episode isn’t just about breaking barriers - it’s also about redefining wine itself.
Ntsiki shares how she is making wine more relatable, especially for people who didn’t grow up with it. Instead of talking about “truffles” and “plum” she brings it back to something much more human: How does the wine make you feel?
And through her involvement with the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, she’s helping young South Africans find their place in the wine and hospitality industry, and opening doors that once felt closed.
We also talk about her own label, Aslina Wines - named after her grandmother - and the moment when she proudly shared her award-winning wine with her.
Deutsch: Du kannst diesen Podcast auch auf Deutsch hören: “Africa with André auf Deutsch”
** Please tell your friends about this podcast, and leave me a rating on Spotify or Apple. I would love to hear from you - send me your questions, comments and ideas to podcast@africawithandre.com (mailto:podcast@africawithandre.com) **
Aslina Wines: www.aslinawines.com (http://www.aslinawines.com)
Pinotage Youth Development Academy: https://pyda.co.za/ (https://pyda.co.za/)
Follow me on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africa_with_andre (https://www.instagram.com/africa_with_andre)
Subscribe to Email reminders when episodes go live: www.africawithandre.com (http://www.africawithandre.com)
Sound credits: uppbeat.io/ (https://uppbeat.io/) and https://pixabay.com/ (https://pixabay.com/)
1 Apr 2026
Meet an Angel from the Chobe National Park
Broadcasting from the banks of the Chobe River in Botswana, I sit down with Lebo, one of the inspiring “Chobe Angels” at Chobe Game Lodge — home to Africa’s first all-female safari guiding team.
We talk about her journey from a village near Gaborone to guiding in Chobe National Park, the realities of working in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Lebo shares honest stories about:
The pressure guides face when guests expect “all the Big Five by tomorrow morning”, and the serious impact of off-roading and why protecting the ecosystem matters more than getting the perfect photo. She reminisces about guests cheering on a giraffe to outrun a lion, and the difficult but necessary reality of the “cycle of life” in the bush.
This episode explores conservation, empowerment, guest expectations, and why protecting the ecosystem matters more than the perfect photo. It’s a powerful reminder that safari is not just about the animals — it’s about the people who dedicate their lives to protecting them.
Deutsch: Du kannst diesen Podcast auch auf Deutsch hören: “Africa with André auf Deutsch”
** Please tell your friends about this podcast, and leave me a rating on Spotify or Apple. I would love to hear from you - send me your questions, comments and ideas to podcast@africawithandre.com (mailto:podcast@africawithandre.com) **
Chobe Game Lodge: https://www.chobegamelodge.com/about-us/ (https://www.chobegamelodge.com/about-us/)
Follow me on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africa_with_andre (https://www.instagram.com/africa_with_andre)
Subscribe to Email reminders when episodes go live: www.africawithandre.com (http://www.africawithandre.com)
Sound credits: uppbeat.io/ (https://uppbeat.io/) and https://pixabay.com/ (https://pixabay.com/)
Who has been a guest on Africa with André
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Maria Malepa
Tiffany Vos-Thane
Jaco
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
68
Social presence
91
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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Guest appearances
Books guests
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Questions about Africa with André
Who hosts Africa with André?
André host the show. Published by André Thomas.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Africa with André take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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