African Experience
Meet John and James
From the curators of Barclay Stenner Safaris comes a new chapter, ten years in the making.
The Outpost is a celebration of wilderness, wellness, and refined simplicity—an immersive Okavango retreat shaped by a decade
of guiding, storytelling, and creating unforgettable journeys.
A decade after curating unforgettable journeys through Barclay Stenner Safaris, the founders proudly unveil The Outpost—a sanctuary that distills everything they’ve learned about true wilderness hospitality. Set within a pristine Okavango Delta enclave, The Outpost blends barefoot luxury with a deep respect for nature, offering elevated comfort without compromising authenticity. Guests can expect thoughtful design, calm spaces for wellness and reflection, and the warm, personalised hosting that has defined the brand since day one. This is safari reimagined: intimate, soulful, and crafted by people who have spent a decade perfecting the art of meaningful travel.
John Barclay
John Barclay, raised in Botswana from a toddler, heralds from a long line of African pioneers and adventurers; his first safari to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans at the age of five ended up with him digging up Africa Rock Python babies out of the ground with his caretaker for the day, a member of the last of the great Sua/kwe! salt bushman, Cobra. John’s family has guided African safaris for five generations, the first guide in the family being his maternal great great grandfather, Major Richard Granville Nicholson, who escorted Princess Eugenie to see her son’s grave and the site where he was killed in the Zulu war on the 1st June 1879.
John’s passion for the stunning dunes and deltas of the Kalahari Desert, their inhabitants great and small and the Ju/hoasi Bushmen began as a youngster after an exhilarating night spent out in the open with a broken down safari car, a bumbling lion researcher assistant and a pride of 7 lions. On John’s father’s side, the family arrived in South Africa in the 1840s. John’s Dad was the safari equipment tinkerer and his Mum was the story teller and care-giver and would often make nursing miracles bringing all sorts of injured wild animals back to full health. John grew up in the safari industry. John’s uncle; Ralph Bousfield, owner of Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and rated as Africa’s top guide is his mentor. Ralph’s respect for and knowledge of the Bushmen and the Kalahari environment rubbed off on John from very early on in his career and John had the great fortune to spend many exciting safaris learning from Ralph.
After graduating from Rhodes University John flirted with a desk job for 2 years in London but decided to trade his desk in for an exciting career with his uncle Ralph at Uncharted Africa leading the Uncharted Africa Mobile Safaris Expeditions into the most adventerous corners of the incredible country of Botswana including the wonderful Okavango Delta, the stark Makgadikgadi Salt pans and the wide expanses of the Central Kalahari. Under the guidance of Ralph he carved a name for himself as a guide and achieved substantial recognition within the safari industry leading his mobile safari team to win the coveted Good Safari Guide Award – Best Mobile Operator in Africa twice! He was himself featured in Conde Naste Traveller, Elite Taveller and the Robb Report, and was quoted and defined as “a young Robert Redford” by Gala Magazine, June 2012. His favourite thing to do whilst in the bush is to find a hidden spot by a likely waterhole, and wait and observe the interesting behavior of whomever comes down to drink and learn something new.
James Stenner
From a young age, growing up in Northumberland in the North East of England, James dreamt about the ‘Wild Continent’ and always took great interest in African wildlife. Born into a family of English traditions with an adventurous rural upbringing, during his childhood years James was often to be found at sea, racing his family yachts in international competitions.
James has a colourful family history, descending from his Great Great Grandfather ‘Hexham Jack’ a famed bear wrestler and travelling circus legend. James takes his passion of photography from his Grandmother, who was a leading fashion and landscape photographer for Vogue Magazine in post-war Europe. James has always been a nature and wildlife fanatic and prior to arriving in Botswana lead an active and diverse life rising through the creative events industry in the UK and Australia. Due to his upbringing in a large and lively family, it is in his nature to warmly engage with people and make them feel at home straight away.
James was privately educated in England and following graduation from university spent 9 years circumnavigating the Australian continent, fundraising for a national charity in between running a weekly radio show and documenting his adventures for a well know travel website.
Since stepping foot on the African continent, he has embarked on the journey his childhood dreams were made of. James began working in Botswana for Uncharted Africa Safari Co. where he was responsible for running the company’s mobile safaris and expeditions in the Okavango Delta, Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Western Kalahari. During his time there James and his team were awarded with Best Mobile Safari in Africa award in both 2013 and 2014 at the Good Safari Guide Awards. In 2018, following a two year training process with African Guide Academy in the Okavango Delta James became the first ex-pat in twelve years to be qualified as a full professional guide in Botswana.
James has embarked on some adventurous expeditions in Botswana; completing a trans Okavango by boat 450kms through the entire Okavango system, also canoeing the Boteti River and supporting a horse riding expedition through Northern Botswana for 750kms. Further afield James has enjoyed exploring Angola, Namibia, theDRC, Madagascar and Ethiopia. His enthusiasm about people, as much as that of the African wilderness and its inhabitants has earned him the reputation of being one of the best hosts in Botswana today.
Email us for more information
Email: John@outpostbotswana.com
Email: James@outpostbotswana.com
