​Humorist, Writer, ​Safari Expert, Adventurer, Aviator, Diver

Andrew Cyril Fentiman
​
Experiences

  • Born in Sutton, Surrey, England in 1955, during post-war rationing.
  • Son of Cyril B.H. Fentiman, born 1910; successful entrepreneur and political consultant to President Lyndon B. Johnson (USA), Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home (Great Britain), Chancellor Willy Brandt (West Germany), Prime Minister Sir Ian Douglas-Smith (Rhodesia) and His Holiness Pope Paul VI. Mother: Margery Doreen (Sammé) Fentiman, born 1914. Sister: Carol Anne Fentiman, born 1953.
  • Cousin of master forger Cyril ‘The Magician’ Fentiman, whose near-successful attempt to break the Bank of England with expertly counterfeited Five Pound banknotes is related in the book Fiver! The Counterfeiting Crime of The Century by Hank Whittemore & Mark Yarry (1981).
  • Grew up on Wentworth private estate in S.E. England, near Windsor and Ascot.
  • Attended Bigshotte Rayles private preparatory school from 1962 to 1968.
  • Attended Cranleigh, one of Britain's top private schools, from 1968 to 1973.
  • Hitched-hiked through Europe in 1968 at age 14 with sister Carol (15), visiting 8 countries in 6 weeks.
  • Thrown by horses on more than three occasions.
  • Lived in Australia for a year, taking on a wide variety of different and fascinating jobs; digging roads in Queensland; mining at Mount Isa; as a jackaroo on a sheep station and a cattle-hand on a cattle ranch; a water at Surfer’s Paradise, a shark-spotter on the Gold Coast; a first mate on a shark-fishing boat out of Cairns; a mate on a pearl lugger out of Broome; journeyed with an Aborigine for a week, learning how to live off the land.
  • Attended Edinburgh University in Scotland for 4 years (1974-1978), graduating in Sociology (MA Honors).
  • Survived a car crash on the Grande Corniche in France’s Cote D’Azur, almost identical to that which killed Princess Grace of Monaco.
  • Worked during 1979 as a real estate agent for Mann Countrywide (Europe's largest), becoming one of the company's Top Ten salesmen in just 10 months.
  • Co-founded and operated Sea Sports & Safaris and also Adventure Associates in Kenya, outfitting and guiding safaris throughout East Africa.
  • Survived a shipwreck on the 27-foot catamaran Tafutu Tu in the Indian Ocean, swimming ten miles to shore in shark-infested waters.
  • Encountered the Watta tribe in Kenya's Tana River Delta; they had not had contact with white people for 16 years.
  • Made the first recorded sighting of Wilson's Storm Petrel in Kenya.
  • Befriended George Adamson of Born Free fame, staying at his wild Lion Camp in Kora Reserve.
  • Met record-setting pilot and author Beryl Markham, who wrote West With The Night.
  • Befriended legendary White Hunter and Lothario, Bunny ‘Gipsy’ Allen.
  • Tracked a wounded lion through high grass. Treed by elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo. Charged by silverback gorilla. Charged by hippo, on land and in the water. Stalked by hyena and wild dog. Swam in crocodile-infested rivers and lakes throughout East Africa.
  • Founded Safari Consultants in 1980 in London, England, to custom-plan safaris throughout Africa.
  • Hosted two Saudi sheiks (brothers of the notorious billionaire Khalid Bin Mahfouz) and their retinue on a 3-week Big Game Hunting Safari in Central African Republic.
  • Sold Safari Consultants in 1987 to Bill Adams and moved to the U.S.A.
  • Founded Safari Consultants of London (USA) in 1987 in Metairie, Louisiana.
  • Relocated the company to Bonita Springs in Southwest Florida in 2003.
  • Condominium Board President of La Scala at The Colony luxury tower in Bonita Springs, Florida, from 2005 to 2010.
  • Descended 450 feet into Cayman Trench in a submersible undersea research vessel.
  • Luxury real estate: Certified Fine Homes Realtor in Southwest Florida since 2003.
  • Began blogging, social media and editing for Anthem Vault, Inc. in 2012.
  • Extremely happily married to my lovely wife Jacqueline.......


Currently

  • Certified Fine Homes International Specialist Realtor® at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty inBonita Springs, SW Florida (2003 to Present).
  • Founder, Owner & President at Safari Consultants of London (USA) in Bonita Springs, SW Florida (1979 to Present).
  • Editor and Creative Writer for Anthem Vault, Inc. (2012 to Present).