Meet Alana Hayden

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alana Hayden a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alana, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I have been creating safaris to Africa for 50 years – generally a bucket list or a destination people dream of.
By having travelers come back happy, saying it was a trip of a lifetime really brought up my personal worth.
Being older now i thought what have i done in my life – i have touched families and created experiences that will last not only a lifetime but will be passed down generations and generations. I also am hearing from grown children who traveled with Born Free now taking their children. What could be more rewarding and know you made a difference.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

This was recently sent to me by a travel agent who used our services.

I am writing to highly recommend Born Free Safaris as an exceptional safari planner. With a long-standing presence in the industry, Alana Hayden, the owner, is the founder of the Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA). A

They went above and beyond for my client with mobility issues. She could not bend her elbow and carry her luggage, so she could not participate in a group tour. My client needed extra assistance during travel, and Born Free organized a one-month private guided tour for her. She had the trip of a lifetime.

Some of Yvonne’s experience.
“I felt so welcomed”
“I felt like I received extra special treatment at every lodge” “Everyone was so nice”
“I got to experience the whole region, everything was so well organized“
“The locations were great”
“It was all planned in such a way that made me feel safe traveling solo”

With a rich history rooted in conservation, Born Free Safaris began with a mission to support the Elsa Wild Animal Appeal, founded by the legendary Joy Adamson. Their first safaris were to raise money for conservation. Joy herself endorsed their efforts and granted the privilege usine the name for the company. Now with over 50 years of experience, Born Free Safaris tailors their recommendations to match the client’s comfort levels, priorities, and budget. Their deep knowledge of Africa and commitment to excellence make Born Free Safaris a remarkable and transformative safari experience. Whether seeking high-end luxury or great value, their extensive network and industry influence enable them to offer the best options available.

Born Free Safaris stands out for its unparalleled service, flexibility, extensive Africa knowledge, and the best pricing in the industry. They maintain strong relationships with top-tier properties across Africa, ensuring that they can cater to a variety of preferences and budgets. Their connections span across Africa. They collaborate closely with popular camps including Lewa, Lemala, Elewana, Asilia, &Beyond, Governors Camp, Karen Blixen Camp, Ilkeliani , Tanganyika Lodge, and Giraffe Manor. In Zambia and Botswana, they partner with African Bush Camps and Desert & Delta Safaris, among others.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Be honest with your journey planner.
Be honest about your comfort level, your priorities and most of all your budget.
Go with someone who will spend the time and LISTEN to you TALK to you – not just an order taker. Someone who will tell you what you might not know.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Always looking for new bright people who want to get involved in the adventure market.
Feel free to call me

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Alana Hayden

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