Private safari trips curated around exclusive conservation access, personally organized through long standing relationships with conservation teams and trusted safari  communities

Through Headed to Africa, I curate small, intentional safari–conservation journeys for people seeking a deeper experience of Africa. These trips are shaped by my years on the ground — combining exceptional wildlife encounters with trusted guides and meaningful access to conservation work through organizations I know and have worked alongside.


I collaborate with specialist safari guides to design these journeys and, in some cases, travel with guests to support the experience firsthand.



This approach grew organically through years spent returning to Africa, learning from guides, wildlife teams, researchers, and conservation organizations. Over time, friends and colleagues asked to experience Africa in the same way — privately, thoughtfully, and with real exposure to the work protecting wildlife and landscapes. That became the foundation of Headed to Africa.


Today, I connect with people through conservation events, donor communities, and creative collaborations. When someone feels drawn to experience Africa more deeply, I help open that door — introducing them to trusted organizations, rangers, veterinarians, and places where conservation is actively unfolding.


When travel takes place, established safari specialists manage logistics, while I collaborate with NGO teams to shape conservation-facing experiences. These vary depending on timing and interest and may include time with anti-poaching units, ethical wildlife veterinary work, or community-led conservation initiatives.


This is considered, immersive travel- grounded in real relationships, ethical engagement, and respect for the work that protects Africa’s wildlife.

Safari   &   Conservation

Safari is about presence — being immersed in landscapes that feel ancient, alive, and largely unchanged. It’s time spent observing wildlife as it moves freely through its environment, guided by people who understand the land deeply. At its best, safari creates a sense of connection: to nature, to scale, and to our place within it.


Conservation adds context to that experience. Spending time on the ground with wildlife teams and conservation organizations has made the realities facing Africa’s ecosystems impossible to ignore — and deeply motivating to understand. The more closely people engage with this work, the more meaningful their support becomes. Awareness leads to involvement, and involvement creates impact.


When guests are invited into both sides, the beauty of safari and the reality of conservation, the experience becomes transformative. Connection forms not only with wildlife, but with the people and communities protecting these landscapes. That depth of engagement often extends far beyond the journey itself, shaping long-term commitment and care.

Expertly Guided

How I travel matters. An exceptional safari doesn’t happen by chance — it’s shaped by specialist guides who understand wildlife behavior, local ecology, cultural context, and the realities on the ground. That depth of knowledge allows each day to unfold thoughtfully, safely, and with intention.

Flexibility is essential. I value the freedom to leave camp before sunrise, stay out when the bush is active, and shape each day around genuine curiosity -whether that’s observing animal behavior, photographing wildlife, walking in the bush where permitted, or spending time with community-based conservation projects.



At the same time, I’ve learned that some of the most powerful safari moments can’t be planned. Nature has its own rhythm, and being open to that unpredictability is part of what makes the experience meaningful.

Ethics matter just as much as experience. I only work with specialist guides and operators aligned with legitimate conservation and wildlife-management initiatives. I do not support hunting in any form, and responsible, respectful engagement with wildlife and land is non-negotiable.

About   Lisa Goldsmith

My work  spans over 30 years in film and television as an Assistant Set Decorator and Buyer, alongside a deep and evolving commitment to Africa’s conservation landscape. With roots in London and a career that has taken me from Los Angeles to London, Vancouver, and New York, I developed a visual foundation grounded in storytelling, atmosphere, and detail.


Africa opened an entirely new chapter. Over more than a decade of traveling through its wild landscapes and working alongside conservation teams, my understanding of place, wildlife, and responsibility has fundamentally shifted. Time spent with conservation partners, in the field, and within a wide range of lodges led me to look more closely at how environments are shaped — and what they quietly communicate. How does a lodge reflect its landscape, its wildlife, and the people connected to it? For me, this is where purposeful design and storytelling begin.


In 2020, this experience led to the creation of Headed to Africa — not as a safari company, but as a platform shaped by lived experience, long-standing relationships, and time on the ground. Headed to Africa exists to bring people into more meaningful connection with wildlife, landscapes, and the individuals working to protect them.

Today, my work sits at the intersection of visual storytelling, conservation engagement, and purpose-driven travel. Whether I’m in the field with rangers, collaborating with conservation organizations, or guiding others toward deeper understanding, the approach remains the same: connection inspires care.


Alongside this, my lifelong relationship with design — shaped by decades in film — naturally extends into how I experience Africa’s lodges and wild spaces. This perspective has evolved into Curating Wild Spaces, a styling-led practice within Headed to Africa, focused on refining safari lodge interiors through atmosphere, narrative, and thoughtful detail rather than redesign.

Contact

Lisa@HeadedtoAfrica.com

US 323-420-5390 | UK +44 7477 014320

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