“Westerners arriving in Africa for the first time are always struck by its beauty and size – even the sky seems higher. And they often find themselves suddenly cracked open. They lose inhibitions, feel more alive, more themselves, and they begin to understand why, until then, they have only half-lived.
In Africa, the essentials of existence- light, earth, water, food, birth, family, love, sickness, death- are more immediate, more intense. Visitors suddenly realize what life is for.”
– AFRICA: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles by Richard Dowden
Those words echo exactly how I felt upon encountering Africa my first time and every trip I have taken or planned since that fateful first one reinforces my love and passion for this incredibly diverse, and magnificent continent.
My name is Lynn Hogan and I have the privilege of acting as Travel Ambassador for The Malcolm Ainscough Collection here in the United States.
My extended family has called California home for 6 generations and is where I currently reside with my enthusiastic travel partner/ husband, four children (who fly in and out of our nest) two cats, and a recently adopted rescue dog.
Travel soon turned from a passion into a longtime career in the travel industry as an independent consultant. While raising a family here in Lamorinda near San Francisco, I have organized and implemented countless trips around the world with happy clients for the past 26 years.
A good friend of mine, longtime client of TMAC and fellow travel buff ultimately introduced me to Malcolm. The result of that introduction meant that our first trip to Africa, as a privately-guided family Safari, was nothing short of magical. Hands-down it was my favorite trip I had ever taken to date: no mean feat!
Our concluding sundowner stop at Tswalu, watching night descend over the red Kalahari landscape…could it be the last African sunset I would ever see ? I was hooked! Before we had even landed back home, I was already busy planning future safari trips with TMAC for clients and friends. I had finally come to know Africa and that it possessed everything I had always been seeking in a travel destination. I was so intrigued to experience more of this incredible continent that my first trip was just the beginning of a life-changing journey
Since that fateful trip when Malcolm invited me to join the team as an Ambassador (unquestionably a favorite trip memory! ?) I have chosen to specialize in planning private African Safaris exclusively through TMAC which I passionately feel offers the best travel experience through personalized service, professionalism, and value.
With the help of our incredible team, I formulate, plan, and execute multiple private Safaris for groups, couples, families, friends, and referrals far and wide and consider each guest a member of our extended travel family. I have and will continue to travel back to many African destinations as often as I possibly can, researching and visiting different regions to better my own knowledge and expertise to pass on to anyone who has also dreamed of going.
I often assist TMAC clients across the U.S. with Travel Insurance needs and international flight advice. I offer trip planning in conjunction with Safaris for stop-over destinations such as Dubai,en-route to and from Africa, and love to host clients & friends on Safaris with me.
Sunrise Game drives, Gorilla treks, and tented camps with gourmet dining? I understand how to put heart and soul into each trip, and I’ve finally found what I want to do when I grow up!
As a life-long volunteer, I also strongly believe in giving back to our world community, thus am an enthusiastic supporter of Jafuta, the non-profit organization that we assist in Zimbabwe to further the many projects they support.
One thing I most look forward to? Travel… especially back to Africa, and the absolute thrill of experiencing it through our guests’ eyes: That they too have had a life-changing encounter that perhaps they were not expecting. That they too, upon returning from their journey, now realize what life is for.