Our Safari Guides
Howard Saunders
Howard Saunders is part of a legendary African company known as The Original Ker & Downey Safaris (Kenya).
After being raised in Australia where many of my early days in the bush filled me with a passion for the outdoor life, I moved to Kenya to fulfil these desires. For over 10 years I have relished my life as a Professional Safari Guide, which has taught me so much more than I could ever have imagined I could learn.
Since my first safari outing in the 1980's I have been entranced with the acquisition of knowledge about the African environment, and the biodiversity of the wildlife to be found here. I began my safari career taking adventure-loving groups around Kenya, Northern Tanzania, and to the Great Apes of Uganda and Rwanda. I have travelled extensively throughout the African continent gaining a sound knowledge of the many wildlife areas, cultures and exciting locations to be found. These travels have left me with many tales of safari legend.
A firm believer that to conserve the wildlife you must first know something of it, I helped set up an Outdoor Education Program for African children of various ages, exposing them to not only the animals but to the particular environment each species lived in. My work with children, and interest in their learning has given me a special appeal to families on safaris. Utilising specialised knowledge gained from my close association with a US funded wildlife research unit operating in Kenya's Masai Mara, I have conducted safari 'field trips' for undergraduate student groups from American universities as part of their zoology degree curriculum. And in October 2005 I married Stephanie Dloniak, herself a PhD researcher from the USA.
I began with Ker & Downey Safaris (Kenya) in the late 1990's and have never looked back. I endeavour to let the thrill and privilege of becoming a partner in Africa's most prestigious Safari Operation show through every day I'm out in the field. Each and every safari there is an opportunity, even for me to find and experience something new. Its not hard if you look long enough.
Recognising my knowledge and leadership abilities, the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA) asked me to join their Board of Directors several years ago. I assist with the setting and marking of examination papers as part of the on-going program of establishing qualification gradings for safari guides in Kenya. More recently I have also worked as a director of Campfire Conservation Ltd, a conservation management company working to ensure the healthy future of the wildlife and communities of Kenya, especially in the well-known Masai Mara National Reserve.
Susie McGregor
In 1976 Susie, her husband Graham and 2 sons left Australian to live in Iran for 3 years. Susie was already a very keen gardener and their new home in the foothills of the Alborz Mountains above sprawling Tehran had a small garden with a traditonal Persian design. It had a high wall with running water shaded by tall Chenar trees it was a haven from the outside world. A month later they visited Isfahan and saw the true wonder of Islamic architecture.
Susie's fascination with Islamic Art and Architecture has continued over the years and when she first visited Morocco she realised how far reaching Persian design had travelled due mainly to the spread of Islam.
From the deserts of Arabia, through the middle East to India, across the top of Africa to Morocco. Susie has escorted tours as far a field as India, Argentina, Peru & Chile and has experienced the Palaces, Forts & Gardens of India first hand and hosted two of our Moroccan Landscapes journeys.
Ralph Bousfield
Ralph comes from a long line of African pioneers and adventurers. His family have guided safaris for four generations, the first guide being his maternal 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. Ralph's father, Jack, grew up hunting crocodiles in Tanganyika with his father and was one of the first Great White Hunters to turn his back on hunting become a conservationist. Ralph spent the first 20 years of his life exploring Botswana with his father - the Makgadikgadi, the Delta, the Central and Western Kalahari. He then studied Nature Conservation and did his thesis on the Wattled Crane as an Indicator Species of Wetland Destruction. He furthered his studies at the International Crane Institute in Wisconsin under the famous George Archibald, who captive bred the whooping crane back from extinction. Ralph then worked with his mother to establish Botswana's first Wildlife Orphanage and Education Centre and upon Jack's tragic death in 1992 built Jack's Camp (with his partner Catherine) in Jack's memory (on the site of Jack's original, and considerably more rustic, camp from the 60's). In 1998 Ralph co-produced and presented a sixteen part series for the Discovery Channel entitled "Uncharted Africa", which was filmed in Botswana, Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania.
He knows the Pans better than almost anyone else in Botswana, has an affinity with the Delta, and a very special relationship with the Zu/'hoasi people of the Western Kalahari. He is one of the best (and most charming) guides in Africa, and a real Botswana expert - he's been there all his life, and has dedicated himself to knowing all there is to know about it's people, it's fauna, it's flora and it's ancient past...
Robin Pope & Keyala Phiri
Robin, born in 1951, has lived in Zambia all his life and has immense knowledge of the country. He spent his youth running around the Zambian (Northern Rhodesia) bush with a pellet gun and a fishing rod. His collection of bird wings and various animal parts, along with his efforts to taxidermy birds, was packed and unpacked as the family moved around the country. The Pope Family spent a number of school holidays in the Luangwa Valley and Robin knew his way around the bush.
Schooled in Zimbabwe, Robin then studied geography and zoology for 3 years before taking a break in 1974 to work in the bush. He never returned to university and from this time developed his bush knowledge and guiding skills, working for the likes of the walking safari legend, Norman Carr. In the 1980's Robin was offered the management of Nsefu Camp, an old government safari camp in the South Luangwa National Park. During the next 5 years his international reputation grew. He had a great team in place and the camp became very busy. In 1982 he opened a fly camp at Tena Tena and offered 3 day walking safaris. The population of black rhino in the area was high and it was not unusual to see 4 or 5 rhino during a morning walk. The camp was extremely simple - a row of tents, simple drum showers filled by buckets, long drop loos and bread baked in the ground. Robin Pope Safaris was formed and Tena Tena was upgraded a 12 bed camp, each tent with running water and fush loos!
Jo Holmes, who first came out to be the caterer/hostess at Tena Tena, stole Robin's heart and they wed. The company then hatched exciting new plans. The Robin Pope Mobile Walking Safari has become famous for its adventure and "true Africa" experience. The mobile walking safaris venture to the remote area of the Mupamadzi River in the north of the South Luangwa National Park. This safari runs ten nights and includes a four or five day walking portion which explores diverse habitats and encourages guests to use all their senses while in the bush. The anticipation of what is around the corner keeps your focus keen.
Robin now presides over the most successful safari operation in Zambia, one that many years ago set the standards in "bush" luxury that we take for granted today. Robin Pope Safaris is a pioneer of responsible tourism in Zambia and, along with their small and intimate safari camps and walking safaris, they support many community projects including a village school. They also recently launched Safari Houses in Zambia, which involved building two luxury houses for private rental deep in the bush, a hugely successful venture. Robin continues to lead walking safaris with his unique style.
Born in Mfuwe and looking up to his father who worked as a ranger in National Parks, Keyala dreamed of following in his footsteps whether it be working for the Zambian Wildlife Authority or in the safari industry. After finishing his schooling he soon found a job with RPS working in the office and learning the ropes of a safari operation. However, keeping him behind a desk after 15.30 became rather trying as he somehow managed to disappear most evenings as a spotter on game drives. It soon became apparent that his huge personality and infectious laugh was not going to remain confined to the office and Keyala started guiding full time in 1997, becoming the manager of Nkwali Camp in 2002. In 2006 with the company expanding further Keyala became the overall manager of Nkwali and both houses as well as heading up the entire guiding team.
Dr Julia Salnicki BSc, M.Phil. Elephant Research in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Julia has found her utopia living in the Okavango Delta studying the behaviour of the adolescent male elephants as they leave the social and tight-knit structure of their natal herd. They head off into the wild to live on their own and integrate with other older bulls, until it is their time to mate and live a normal adult bull lifestyle. This is a big change from Macquarie University in Sydney, where she recently completed her masters and observed adolescent male behaviour that in some ways was not all that different! Julia is based at Abu's camp and can be contacted on: julia@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au
Peter Allison
Peter Allison spent more than ten years working in some of Southern Africa's finest wildlife reserves. His knowledge and passion for the region eventually led him to training guides, and he was appointed head guide trainer for Wilderness Safaris, the largest eco-tourism operator in the region.
Peter specializes in interpreting animal behavior, but equally enjoys African legends and stories. He has a keen sense of humour and is a gifted storyteller. Peter has a book due for release in 2007 titled Whatever You Do, Don't Run, about his adventures in Africa.
Currently based in Sydney, Peter travels regularly to Africa to lead safaris, in Botswana, Namibia, and Gabon.
Margaret Jones
Margaret's love affair with Africa started on her first safari in Botswana. With a head start from her work at Werribee Open Range and Melbourne Zoos, she's now even more passionate about wildlife and conservation. She's since "discovered" Zambia and is now surrounded by friends and colleagues who've caught her southern Africa bug!
Margaret left the corporate world a few years ago to pursue her passion for animals and travel. With an eye for a great photo, she's in her element bringing Africa to life for people, whether it be "transporting" them to Africa inside themed zoo exhibits, or accompanying them on the ground for the real thing.
Richard Field
Richard Field was born in Africa and managed to maintain his enormous passion for the continent despite moving to Sydney, Australia with his family when only 5.
After finishing university, he made a permanent return to Africa, where he helped build and manage a camp in Zambia's remote and wild Lower Zambezi.
His next stop was Phinda Game Reserve in South Africa, where he honed his guiding skills before heading north to Botswana. Botswana's untamed wilderness areas captured his heart. Along with his wife Rebecca, he spent over 7 years guiding throughout northern Botswana's Okavango, Linyanti and Chobe regions as well making regular expeditions into the Kalahari Desert.
He has now guided throughout Africa and the world, having lead trips to places as diverse as Uganda to see the mountain gorillas, Tanzania to witness the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, and Canada to see the polar bears on Hudson Bay.
He now lives on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, but Africa's wilderness is still the driving passion in his life.
Tim Porteus
Tim Portas was born and raised in Bundaberg, Queensland before moving to Sydney to study Veterinary Science. Following graduation he worked in private veterinary practice for several years before beginning to work exclusively with wildlife. He has worked with captive and free-ranging wildlife in Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Nepal and Vietnam. His professional interests include wildlife disease and the application of veterinary medicine to the conservation of free-ranging wildlife. He is a keen amateur photographer and birdwatcher and is fascinated by the flora and fauna of Africa. Tim is currently based in the central west of New South Wales where he lives with his family.
Chris Manfield
Christine Manfield is a perfectionist inspired by complex flavours and a writer whose successful books, Paramount Cooking, Christine Manfield Desserts, Spice and Stir, have spiced up the lives of keen cooks from Melbourne to Manchester and Manhattan. She is currently writing her fifth book due for release in 2007. Chris has travelled on a number of spice trips and has an in-depth knowledge about the destinations we have chosen for these unique trips.
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