Where it all began
We came home with a few decent photographs.
We had a longer zoom lens that brought us closer to the animals,
but the camera struggled with autofocus,
and the fastest moments slipped away.
We studied, practiced, and searched for our own style.
And then we went back.
In Namibia, we spotted a leopard hidden in tall grass.
I took the shot, only to discover at home that the focus was on the grass, not on him.
That photograph could have been perfect.
A lion looked us straight in the eyes for just a few seconds.
We failed to capture his gaze.
And we encountered a pangolin.
Probably the only one we will ever see in our lives.
Without the knowledge to create a photograph worthy of the moment.
Every journey left something unfinished.
And every time we returned home,
we already knew we would leave again.
It was August 2019.
Our first safari, in the Kruger National Park.
In just one week, we had seen all of the Big Five.
And on the very first day, we spent an hour alone with a cheetah.
Just us, the jeep, and him.
After the safari, we went to Mauritius.
The ocean, the beaches, the relaxation.
After two days, we were already bored.
The adrenaline of the bush is something else.
You can’t replace it.
One of our very first encounters.
Without experience, without technique.
We are Chanty and Marco
We live in Lugano.
We work regular jobs during the day.
And over time, every journey became something more.
Little by little, we grew closer to nature.
At the beginning, we made a lot of mistakes.
But we already had the eye and the passion.
A low perspective.
Endless patience.
Total respect for the animals and for the bush.
South Africa became a constant in our lives.
Then came Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe.
Different places, but always with the same intention.
Every encounter changes something.
And forces you to slow down.
Then it became Salves Travel.
At some point, the people around us started asking questions.
How do you organize a safari?
Where do you really go?
How do you experience it the right way?
We started by bringing friends along with us.
Over time, we also experienced traveling with larger groups.
We understood one thing.
Africa is best experienced in small groups.
With the right amount of time.
Without rushing.
That is where Salves Travel was born.
We are part of every moment.
We experience it together.