Charles Williams and his family have been organizing outstanding safaris in Africa for over 60 years. In 2008 Charles and his daughter Sarah formed Safari Adventures Worldwide, a safari-booking agency specializing in tailor-made safaris to Africa. With over 60 years of experience between them, this duo is uniquely qualified to plan your next African safari.
Charles Williams
Charles was raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and spent his childhood in the nearby wilderness. He attended Capetown University in South Africa and returned to Rhodesia to join the Rhodesian Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management where he served for 13 years as Game Warden in the Gonarezhou National Park, Hwange National Park and Senior Warden at Mana Pools National Park.
He went on to become Managing Director of Ker & Downey, Botswana from 1974 to 1995 and Executive Vice President of Ker & Downey, Tanzania from 1986 to 2015. Charles was the key figure behind the development and expansion of all company programs and operations in Botswana and Tanzania from 1974 to 2015 to create one of the largest and most successful safari operations in Africa. Charles is also a licensed guide in Botswana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe with the highest level of certification.
Charles was a pioneer in promoting the engagement of local village people in the protection of Africa’s wildlife. He strongly believes that their involvement is the bedrock on which conservation should be based and that empowering local communities through education and financial incentives creates true, sustainable conservation.
Charles currently resides in Boulder, Colorado with his wife, Karen, daughter Olivia and his 3 dogs. In his free time Charles enjoys traveling to new places and hiking with his dogs.
Sarah Fernandes
Sarah Fernandes was born and raised in Zimbabwe and lived in Botswana from the age of three. She grew up literally in and around the safari business. She was educated in Scotland and lived in London working in the adventure travel industry with Cazenove and Loyd and the Ultimate Travel Company specializing in tailor-made trips to Africa. That experience was invaluable, but she missed Africa and thus returned in 2003 to manage Campi Ya Kanzi safari camp in the Chyulu Hills of Kenya.
In 2005 Sarah moved to Nanyuki, Kenya, located on the side of Mount Kenya where she and her husband Andrew and daughter Georgiana reside today. In 2008 Sarah and her father Charles formed Safari Adventures Worldwide in order to utilize their extensive knowledge of the safari industry. Sarah frequents camps and lodges throughout East and Southern African on a continual basis to keep abreast of the best available. She deals with safari operators, airlines and hotels throughout Southern and East Africa on a daily basis preparing fully customized itineraries for their clients. Sarah also monitors each safari in the field from beginning to end, to ensure that everything is running as planned.
Karen Williams
Karen was born and raised in California. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Finance, Masters of Science in Business and Masters in Computer Science and has had her CPA (Certified Public Accounting) license since 1985. She has been working in high-level accounting, finance and management for the past 30 years. She has been in and around the safari industry since 1983 when she worked for the parent company of Ker & Downey and other subsidiaries in the safari industry. She has traveled extensively to Southern and East Africa and worked on numerous projects such as improving systems of operation, communications and accounting processes as a consultant for Friedkin Adventure Companies in Botswana and Tanzania.
In 2000 Karen and Charles were married and relocated to Boulder, Colorado where they reside today with their daughter Olivia. Karen’s hobbies include traveling and hiking with her dogs Bella, Bean and Poppy. Karen has been working with Sarah and Charles at Safari Adventures Worldwide to plan fully customized safaris to Africa for the past decade. She is responsible for all accounting, financial and administrative functions of the company.