PURE Vacations Podcast: Exploring the Future of Safaris in Africa with Mark Young, Founder of Gobble UK

There’s something deeply thrilling about pressing record and letting conversation wander beyond the carefully mapped agenda. That’s exactly what happens in our latest podcast episode of PURE Vacations Podcast, when we sit down with Mark Young, founder of Gobble UK. His realm is, quite literally, the wild, expansive, wildly inspiring terrain of Africa. Safaris. Wilderness. Culture. Conservation. And travel that matters.

What began as a planned forty-minute conversation effortlessly stretched into more than an hour because Mark’s stories demanded time. From early career turns representing top safari lodges to the nuanced evolution of wildlife tourism, this is one of those episodes where you feel the what, the why, and the how of travel converge in the African bush. Mark brings decades of experience. He’s worked with DMCs, camps, conservation projects, his UK-facing role through Gobble UK gives him a voice of access and expertise.

We talk about what makes a safari genuine rather than gimmicky: not just the Big Five tick-box, but the story behind the lodge, the community it touches, the ecosystem it sustains. Mark sheds light on crafting journeys for the kind of traveller we care about at PURE ONE: curious, thoughtful, prepared for more than just a photo opportunity.

He spoke about destinations that stretch beyond the typical into places where wilderness still roars. Where you feel the earth beneath you, the vast skies above you, and the quiet of nature doing its thing uninterrupted. We’re used to curated travel experiences, but safari travel, the way Mark describes it, is something richer: it asks you to slow, to savour, to respect.

There are moments in the episode that brought me back to being a kid watching documentaries, wide-eyed at lions on the Serengeti, elephants gathering in dusty waterholes. Except now, it’s not passive viewing: it’s then stepping into that world, aware that your presence matters almost as much as what you see. Mark emphasises responsibility. He relates how the best operators engage local communities, support conservation, offer guest experiences that leave something behind rather than just taking away. It aligns perfectly with our PURE ONE ethos: travel that elevates.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes one safari ‘better’ than another, this conversation offers answers. Mark gives perspicacious behind-the-scenes glimpses: how to read a camp’s credentials, how to choose the right time of year, how to manage expectations without sacrificing wonder. And for our small-group, travel-with-heart subscribers, our SOLO, our SAFARIS, this is gold.

You’ll hear about the shift that Africa is undergoing how safari is no longer just the preserve of old-school luxury, but of responsible, experiential journeys designed for meaningful connection. How wildlife travel intersects with climate, with culture, with local livelihoods. How for someone like me, who runs travel brands, writes, lives in Whitstable but dreams of big horizons, the idea of a safari becomes a metaphor. A way of engaging with the planet, not just travelling across it.

We also explore the practical. Mark shares anecdotes about vehicle breakdowns in remote Namibia, about early morning drives as dawn breaks over the savannah, about unparalleled quiet when night flares under African skies. He talks logistics – what a DMC looks for, how representation works in the UK for African product, what operators should be doing right now for the market of tomorrow. Gobble UK’s model of “constant, continuous, consistent” representation for African partners is revealed in his voice.

Listeners can tune in from anywhere, on all major platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music🎧 Main Episode Page

As the podcast series continues to expand, future episodes will explore more of the world, from Europe’s hidden gems to long-haul adventures and sustainable travel insights. Guests will include travel professionals, writers, destination experts, and those whose personal stories inspire others to pack a bag and go.

So, whether you’re a lifelong traveller, a former overseas rep, or someone simply dreaming of your next escape, the PURE Vacations Podcast invites you to tune in, relax, and be transported.