Richard Pace

Founder | Destination Specialist

Southern Sky Adventures is the brainchild of our founder, born-explorer and aptly titled “African Travel Specialist”, Richard Pace. 22 years ago Richard walked away from the corporate world in Atlanta, Georgia and decided to pursue his dream of exploring Africa. It took very little time to realize that the American people were deserving of an introduction to, easily the most diverse, culturally rich and naturally spectacular travel destination in the world. He aspired to making African sunsets and wildlife encounters a reality for the discerning American traveler and after assisting a few friends with their travel plans, Southern Sky Adventures was born. More than two decades later Richard’s enthusiasm for travel, his keen interest in local history and his love of meeting people remains the driving force behind our business and the very cement of our incredible team. With his finger still on the pulse, be assured of a truly once-in-a-lifetime, truly authentic and rich African experience.

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous” – Aristotle

Richard's Favourite Properties

Mata Mata Rest Camp

The stark, beautiful Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park offers three camps, one of which is Mata Mata on the banks of the Auob River. Surrounded by Kalahari dune bushveld, the camp has a reception, shop and fuel facilities. Also at the camp is a hide overlooking a water hole, attracting various animals…

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One Horizon Kenya

An Experience for Responsible Travellers
One Horizon is an international aid agency that hosts travellers to its centres. It conducts tours which range from 1 to 7 days where socially responsible travellers can immerse themselves in ‘giving something back’.

A variety of centres can be visited

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The Marine

Perched on the cliffs, overlooking Hermanus’ Walker Bay, The Marine boasts 40 individually decorated bedrooms and suites. This unforgettable property overlooks South Africa’s most pristine whale sanctuary offering guests the unique opportunity to experience the finest land-based whale watching in the world. From June to November guests are able to…

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Richard's Favourite Destinations

Botswana

Botswana is a land of amazing variety, dramatic landscapes and unforgettable safari destinations. Botswana’s great rivers—the Chobe, the Linyanti and the Kwando—are teeming with herds of elephants and packs of wild dogs known as the “painted wolves” of Africa. Herds of zebra, wildebeest, and other mammals migrate in the Makgadikgadi…

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Kenya

When thoughts turn to safari, they turn immediately to Kenya. Books and movies such as Born Free and Out of Africa have brought this country’s offerings into the homes of many foreigners.

Kenya spans an area about 85 percent the size of France or Texas and lies astride…

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Madagascar

Best known for its wildlife, but a land of extraordinary cultural richness, Madagascar is an island nation roughly the size of Texas or about twice the size of Arizona located in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa opposite Mozambique. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the…

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Malawi

Dubbed ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’ due to the legendary welcome extended to all who visit, Malawi is a small country with a big heart and an even bigger range of incredible tourist activities! Lake Malawi’s vast size, its warm freshwater and its gorgeous surrounding beaches make it a mecca…

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Mozambique

Following decades of isolation, Mozambique has emerged as one of the most popular and enticing tourist destinations in Southern African, known not only for its unique historical and cultural heritage, but also for greeting visitors with its warm, exuberant, open arms. Mozambique’s distinct local style consists of a vibrant blend…

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Namibia

One of Africa’s best kept secrets, particularly for those seeking the wilderness, Namibia is a large, mainly arid Southern African country slightly more than half the size of Alaska bordering the south Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa. Namibia boasts remarkable natural attractions such as the Namib Desert, the…

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Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

This sanctuary in Lake Victoria is home to around 50 orphaned chimps that have been rescued from elsewhere in Uganda and are being rehabilitated as much as possible on this thickly forested island. Day trips to see the residents are superb.

Located 23km southeast of Entebbe in Lake…

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Queen Elizabeth National Park

This fabulous national park is on nearly all itineraries, and while you’ll never be far from other safari groups, you’re guaranteed to see a large range of wildlife, potentially including giraffes, lions, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and elephants. The famous tree-climbing lions in the remote Ishasha sector of the park…

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Kidepo Valley National Park

Offering some of the most stunning scenery of any protected area in Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park is hidden away in a lost valley in the extreme northeast of Uganda. The rolling, short-grass savannah of the 1442-sq-km national park is ringed by mountains and cut by rocky ridges. Kidepo is…

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