Far Country Collection provides comprehensive and cost-effective sales and marketing services in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Our intentionally curated client list includes safari lodges, boutique hotels, and specialist DMCs across the African continent, which complement each other without competing with one another. We specialize in family-owned and operated entities that offer highly personalized experiences, and have a strong focus on conservation and philanthropy.
Let Far Country Collection be your one-stop solution to reaching key producers, nurturing important relationships, developing your brand identity, providing sales support, and increasing your overall revenue from the North American market.
Johann Van Zyl
Born and raised in South Africa, Johann’s passion for the African landscape, wildlife, and culture is a natural extension of who he is. Two decades ago, after studying and working as a chemical engineer, he moved to the U.S. to shift his professional focus and entered the travel industry as an African safari specialist. Johann has traveled extensively through more than a dozen African nations, including every major safari destination in Southern and Eastern Africa. From witnessing the Great Migration from a hot air balloon over the Serengeti to summiting Kilimanjaro to trekking with primates to celebrating with sundowners in many stunning settings, Johann has experienced the best of the best Africa has to offer. He believes that every safari location offers something unique and that great guides are the key to unlocking those experiences.
Johann regularly speaks at eco-tourism and travel conventions and was a National Board Member of APTA (the Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa). He has an extensive knowledge of Africa’s tourism products and would love to share this personal knowledge with you.
Brooke Berlin
Brooke earned a Bachelor of Science in Magazine Journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Combined with a minor in Cultural Anthropology and a concentration in Contemporary Art, she dreamed of writing for National Geographic. However, during a semester in Spain she caught the travel bug and when the opportunity to be part of the opening team of W San Diego came her way, Brooke headed west to dive into the world of luxury hospitality. Before moving to Boulder, Colorado to manage a boutique inn, she took six months off to road trip around North America. After a year at the inn, she took a year off to travel around the world, including an extended stay in South Africa. Brooke then worked for a private travel company for 8+ years, and in her role as Vice President of Marketing produced international video and photo shoots, secured invaluable media placements, spearheaded the creation of adventure travel tours, and more. As of mid-2017, she has traveled to 48 countries on 5 continents. Married to a Johann, Brooke now overseas content development for Far Country Collection (writing newsletters, Trip Reports, etc.), while having her own separate representation company that does similar work for additional safari properties and private islands in South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya.