Iconic Africa is the brainchild and driving passion of American based Terri Abadi and South African based John Holley. In December of 2014, Terri and John joined forces to turn a traditional travel agency into a world-beating online travel platform that showcases the African destinations which best represent Iconic Africa’s values of opulent luxury, world-beating African hospitality, delectable contemporary cuisine and most importantly an authentic commitment to wilderness conservation.
In 2019 Iconic Africa was voted the World’s Best Custom Luxury Safari Operator 2019 by LUXlife Magazine in their 2019 Travel & Tourism Awards.
World’s best luxury safari operator,
2019, 2020 & 2021.
Best exclusive luxury African safari experience provider,
2022.
Best Luxury Africa Travel Agent – USA,
2023.
Best Global Boutique Safari Business,
2024.
Let us book your Iconic African adventure now!
Terri
Founded by Terri (based in Atlanta, Georgia) in 2013, Iconic Africa is a labour of love designed to entice global travellers to African destinations that have inspired her over a lifetime of travel to this great continent. Terri’s uncontainable enthusiasm for Africa – her wildlife, her people and her wild spaces – borders on obsessive and this passion runs in the veins of the Iconic Africa team.
Terri’s favourite way to spend the summer months is on safari with her husband and four children. She has personally visited every destination that Iconic Africa recommends and used this extensive luxury travel experience to mould Iconic Africa into one of the leading bespoke travel agencies for exclusive, luxury and adventurous African safaris and expeditions.
John
John Holley grew up in Africa. His fervour for conservation and travel was ignited by a childhood spent travelling to the continent’s wilderness hotspots. As a student John spent every minute he could in the wild – travelling and working as a horse safari guide in Kenya. He began his professional career by completing his chartered accountancy for global financial services firm KPMG. Eventually, however, John’s passion for travel and the call of the African wilderness lead him to Londolozi where he worked as a game ranger for two years. It was on one such epic Londolozi safari that John drove Terri and her family and, through their mutual love and knowledge of Africa, they conceptualised Iconic Africa.
Creators of the ultimate African safaris and adventures
Iconic Africa creates exclusive luxury African safari and adventure holidays for couples and families in southern and eastern Africa. Our gorgeous destinations are all handpicked and visited by Terri and John and include: the sophistication of Cape Town, the glorious wine lands of the Franschoek Valley, the tumultuous Atlantic coastal retreat of Hermanus, the most stylish safaris of the Kruger National Park, the emerald mosaic and epic wildlife of the Okavango Delta and Selinda Game Reserve, the adventure and majesty of the Victoria Falls, the last tropical island refuges floating in the cobalt blue of Mozambique and the urban fascination and history of Johannesburg – economic hub of the African continent.
Authentic conservation
A crucial aspect of Iconic Africa’s philosophy is that the destinations we represent must demonstrate a genuine commitment to the conservation of Africa’s last great wilderness areas and the rural people who live around them. Terri and John have both personally been extensively involved in education and poverty alleviation in rural Africa.
Long before Terri involved herself in the luxury travel and safari industry, she owned two successful American fashion companies which she used as leverage to build an export business that shipped innovative children’s products back to South Africa.
John’s vision and fervour for the development of Africa’s people began with the Madlala Cluster Learning Centre in a village bordering the Kruger National Park. John helped to start this rural centre for African learning excellence in a village while working at Londolozi, still growing from strength to strength under the Good Work Foundation.
When you travel with Iconic Africa, you can rest assured that a portion of the money you spend on life-changing African vacation will be put to wilderness conservation and the alleviation of poverty in Africa. Our destinations contribute to the protection of rhino, innovative green energy, valuable ecological research, education, lion conservation and community development.
Iconic Africa is based in South Africa where John’s team will guide you through every wonder that southern and eastern Africa have to offer you. Terri oversees a hub in the United States which will look after any of your queries and preparations pre and post your African-overseas travel. Start your journey to Africa with us now!
Iconic Africa is based in South Africa where John’s team will guide you through every wonder that southern and eastern Africa have to offer you. Terri oversees a hub in the United States which will look after any of your queries and preparations pre and post your African-overseas travel. Start your journey to Africa with us now!
