Some children dream of becoming doctors or astronauts or firemen… not our Cameron though! From when he was knee-high to an elephant he knew he wanted to live the life of a safari guide.
Although growing up in the melting pot of Johannesburg is not the most obvious place to start, it certainly gave him an appreciation and fascination of Africa’s people and cultures. After school that he decided to study business management before embarking on his journey.
As a junior guide at Lion Sands Private Game Reserve in the renowned Sabi Sands, he got his first taste of Africa’s big game and its large predators. This kick-started a lifelong fascination and is also when he began to develop his skills as a professional walking trails guide. A short hop across to Sabi Sabi for three and a half years saw him achieve the coveted FGASA Level 3 status and Cybertracker Level 3. To this day, he still believes that being a good tracker makes you an even better guide, and we tend to agree. He also picked up plenty of experience as head guide and lodge manager during his time here.
His thirst for adventure drew him further afield into the mystical Kalahari Desert, where he became an expert on the intricate landscape and its unique species, gaining the SKS (Birding) qualification along the way. But after spending three years at Tswalu Kalahari a completely different opportunity arose, which saw him move to London in the United Kingdom to broaden his horizons. There he worked for a couple of years as the Southern African specialist for a luxury bespoke safari operator, gaining valuable knowledge of sales and marketing as well as designing jaw-dropping itineraries. He also travelled extensively during this time and managed to visit most of the best camps and lodges in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique and Lesotho.
Africa never leaves your blood though, and eventually, Cameron returned to Africa permanently. He now spends his time guiding private safaris, personally designing safaris and training young guides in South Africa and Namibia. He feels strongly about giving back to the industry by contributing to rhino anti-poaching efforts and he even puts a young Zimbabwean child through school each year. When he’s not in the bush he may be found flying his way to a private pilot’s licence, fly fishing on some remote river or having his wildlife photographs published in Africa Geographic.
Cam's Qualifications
- FGASA Assessor
- FGASA Level 3 Nature Guide
- FGASA SKS Birding (South Africa, Botswana and Namibia)
- FGASA Professional Trails Guide
- FGASA Biome Guide (Savanna)
- FGASA Marine Guide
- FGASA Tracker Level 3
- Cybertracker Track & Sign Professional
- Cybertracker Tracker Level 3
- Cybertracker Trailing Level 3
Benefits of Travelling With a Private Safari Guide
- His attention is not divided amongst other guests. Cameron is focussed purely on delivering the most extraordinary safari experience to your family and friends.
- Most local guides in Africa known their surroundings intimately but may not speak English well enough to communicate the finer details and concepts. Cameron is an expert at bringing out the best in the local guides and bridging the communication barrier.
- As you move between different locations there will be less repetition. Cameron will know what you have seen and heard already, allowing you to see and experience a wider variety.
- As a published wildlife photographer with an excellent eye, Cameron is able to help you to understand your camera better and get you into the best angles to take those award-winning shots. For an additional fee, he will also put together a bespoke photographic book that will remind you of your safari for many years to come.
- Travelling through Africa can be daunting but having Cameron there is like having your own personal travel agent on speed dial. He will take care of any snags that you may encounter along the way, leaving you to relax and fully enjoy your trip. You will never have to worry about flight complications, incorrect reservations, dietary requirements, lost baggage or how much to tip the local staff. Your vacation is not meant to be a problem-solving exercise!
- His extensive knowledge of Southern Africa means that Cameron has personally visited most of the best camps and lodges in the region. He is always happy to share his knowledge with you which will prove invaluable when building the perfect bespoke safari, even during the booking process.
- Cameron has been in the industry for a long time and has friends in most of the places you will visit. This means that he is often able to organize special touches which would not be offered to other guests.