The difference between a good trip and a great one is often down to the guide—and Nat Hab Expedition Leaders are truly the best!
Annie Van Dinther
Expedition Leader Since: 1999
Annie's career as a naturalist began on a whale-watching vessel off Cape Cod. With degrees in biology and geology, and with her enthusiasm for teaching and understanding animal behavior...
Brad Josephs
Expedition Leader Since: 2005
Brad is a Nat Hab staff naturalist interpreter specializing in bear biology and ecology of the North Country. He attended the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and graduated with a B.S. in wildlife biology in...
John Mittan
Expedition Leader Since: 2005
Nat Hab Staff Naturalist John Mittan was born in South Africa, where from a young age he was introduced to the joys of the African bush. At the age of 5, he left with his family to live in Australia...
Aaron Bott
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
A Utah native, Aaron Bott was raised in an active outdoor recreation environment. Fly fishing, rock climbing and hiking across pristine backcountry nurtured an enduring love for wild country...
Abner Simeon
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Abner Simeon, a.k.a. Abby or "Eagle Eye," was born in a northern village in Namibia and grew up in the central region. He was raised at the safari lodge where his parents worked...
Aditya Dev
Expedition Leader
Aditya manages guiding operations for Nat Hab guests in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan and loves to share the entrancing natural beauty and serene culture of this small country...
Aditya Panda
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Aditya Panda is an award winning naturalist, wildlife conservationist and photographer from Orissa. Since his teen years, he has worked for the conservation of tiger and elephant...
Alex Mazuga
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Alex Mazuga is from northern Botswana. Born in a village called Mabele in Chobe, he lived a nomadic life with his family from the time he was 3 years old, traveling west along the Linyanti River...
Alexander Arias
Expedition Leader Since: 2006
Originally educated as a computer scientist, Alex’s abiding love of the outdoors eventually lured him into his current vocation as a naturalist guide. For the past 12 years he has been...
Andrea Reynolds
Expedition Leader Since: 1994
Andrea caught the travel bug at an early age, having grown up in such diverse places such as Japan, New Zealand, and New Jersey. After earning a degree from the University of Denver, she went on...
Andrea Serena
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Andrea was born and raised in a small village in northern Italy where he spent his early childhood mostly with his grandparents, who were farmers. Surrounded by nature...
Andres Vergara
Expedition Leader Since: 2013
Andres Vergara was born and raised in Ecuador's capital of Quito. His grandparents, however, lived off the coast of Ecuador where Andres' love of nature and wildlife was nurtured. Andres observed...
Anne Beaulaurier
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Anne grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where she was raised by a family that took every opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Childhood vacations were spent camping...
Anne Schuschke
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Anne grew up close to Glacier National Park in northwest Montana. She spent summers at her family cabin, tromping through the woods and playing in creeks, keenly focused on building forts, making mud pies...
Anouk N‘Guyen van Chinh
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
In addition to work as a naturalist guide for Nat Hab, Anouk is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist with a background in sustainable development, ecology, economics, and...
Ant Bennet
Expedition leader Since: 2017
Anthony is better known as Ant. He was born and raised in South Africa, where his curiosity in nature started young with visits to wildlife reserves and northern Natal's wild coastline...
Arpita Dutta
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Arpita Dutta hails from West Bengal, a state located in Eastern India on the Bay of Bengal. She has an immense love for nature and a lifelong fascination with flora and fauna...
Astrid Frisch
Expedition Leader Since: 1999
Astrid trained as a biologist at Mexico’s National University and has been leading natural history expeditions throughout Mexico since 1991. For years, she has introduced our guests to her country’s...
Brooks Kamanakao
Expedition Leader Since: 2008
Not every guide can claim to have been born in the bush he now guides in, but Brooks can. He grew up in the small village of Motopi, on the banks of the then-flowing Boteti River, one...
Bulisani Mathe
Expedition Leader Since: 2020
Buli was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city and the birthplace of the Ndebele kings. He is an outdoor enthusiast, wildlife photographer and storyteller...
Cassiano (Zapa) Zaparoli
Expedition Leader Since: 2010
Zapa grew up on his grandparents’ farm in the interior of Brazil, where he developed a deep love for nature and wildlife. As a teen he loved to camp and fished in the tropical forests and rivers...
Cecibel Guerrero
Expedition Leader
Ecuador-born “Ceci” spent 15 years living in Toronto, Canada where she obtained her bachelor's degree in Business Administration. After attending a training by Galapagos...
Celinda Humilde
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Celinda was born in Maras, Peru, a small community located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, approximately 25 miles north of Cusco. When she was young, her family moved to Cusco...
Chandraguptha (Wicky) Wickramasekara
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Born and raised in a rural village north of Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo, Wicky grew up near a beautiful lake and large rice fields where birds, mammals and reptiles roamed the terrain...
Cilas Mafoko
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Cilas Mafoko is a naturally gifted guide with a fervent passion for the wonders of nature. Growing up in a small village, he spent much of his childhood immersed in nature while herding cattle...
Colby Brokvist
Expedition Leader Since: 2006
Hailing originally from New England, Colby has an appetite for wild places. With a degree in Environmental Sciences, his passion for guiding lies in connecting people to wilderness...
Colin Boeh
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Colin grew up exploring the woodlands of western Pennsylvania. Turning over rocks to see what critters are living underneath has remained one of his favorite activities since...
Conan Dumenil
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
Conan was born and raised in the South of India and has always been drawn to the call of the wild. While studying business and then later tourism in college, he got his first taste of the jungle and...
Court Whelan
Expedition Leader
Court’s background in wildlife and conservation biology led him to pursue a joint Ph.D. in ecotourism and entomology, while simultaneously coordinating and guiding...
Daniel Behn
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Daniel was born in the United States and raised in Panama and Mexico by Swiss parents. His international background and varied interests enrich his expertise...
Daniel Hagaman
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
During the past decade, Daniel has passed the seasons being drawn back-and-forth from the extreme opposites of the earth. Living in Alaska and Patagonia, he migrated with the sun...
Darija Polic
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Darija grew up on the island of Hvar in Croatia, where she loved being outside in nature from a young age. She herded her family's goats into the hills, and her grandmother would take her to collect herbs...
Dave Luck
Expedition Leader
Growing up in Zambia and spending time in the Bush, Dave developed a passion for the wilderness. Time was spent
David Jaffe
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
David Jaffe has been guiding and teaching a variety of audiences about the natural world and our connection with it since 1991. His childhood interest in natural systems eventually brought him to...
Daniel Stavert
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Daniel Stavert hails from the Blue Mountains in Australia, which explains why he is drawn to the beauty of wild places, the extremes of cold and light, and an abundance of life...
Diana Lopez
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Diana was born in Mexico and earned both her bachelor´s and master´s degrees at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where she focused in marine mammals and bio-acoustics...
Diego Iglesias
Expedition Leader Since: 2020
Born and raised in the Galapagos Islands, Diego has been a full-time naturalist guide in Galapagos National Park since 2013. He has also worked as a crew member aboard...
Diogo Lucatelli
Expedition Leader Since: 2020
Diogo was born and raised in northeast Brazil, where he developed an interest and love for nature during early childhood adventures on the family's farm near Salvador da Bahia, his hometown...
Doug Gualtieri
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Doug Gualtieri has worked as a naturalist interpretive guide for more than 20 years. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biology and Conservation Biology at Central Michigan University. With this background...
Drew Hamilton
Expedition Leader Since: 2014
Born in Alaska and raised in the wilds of Iowa, Drew spent countless hours outdoors as a youth building forts along the Iowa River and delivering an incalculable number of newspapers...
Drew McCarthy
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Having spent most of his life above 61 degrees north, Drew is most comfortable negotiating the adventures and challenges of life at high latitudes. He grew up in Anchorage...
Dushyant Singh
Expedition Leader Since: 2009
Dushyant's passion for wildlife began when he was appointed as a management trainee at Tiger Tops Lodge in Chitwan, Nepal. Within 10 months he became the naturalist/manager of Tiger Tops Karnali...
Eddy Savage
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Born and raised on Vancouver Island in Sidney, British Columbia and now living in Victoria, Eddy’s passion for exploring the wild and sharing nature with others...
Eleanor Edye
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Eleanor was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Traveling with her family as a child cemented her wanderlust and drive for finding new places. Her love of exploration began early in life...
Emmanuel Shayo
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Currently living in Tanzania's safari capital of Arusha, Emmanuel Shayo, known as "Promise," is originally from the village of Marangu, located near the climbing base camp for Mount Kilimanjaro...
Erika Fitzgerald
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Erika grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduating with a degree in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she was presented with an opportunity to spend a week...
Esteban Biamonte
Expedition Leader Since: 2004
Esteban Biamonte’s aim in life is nature preservation. Literally since his early youth he has been a nature lover, especially when it comes to birds. Nature was his passion long...
Ethan Brown
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Ethan is a professional wilderness guide from Vancouver, British Columbia. Living on the west coast of Canada in the shadow of the mountains, beside the sea, has left an indelible imprint...
Faiza Mookerjee
Expedition Leader Since: 2022
Faiza grew up in India's bustling capital city of New Delhi, although she now hails from the eastern state of West Bengal. Being the daughter of a wildlife conservationist and travel writer...
Fermin Tzib
Expedition Leader Since: 2009
Fermin Tzib is a Belizean of Mayan descent who has been guiding natural history groups throughout Belize for many years. After completing his education in Belize, and furthering his education...
Fernando Romo
Expedition Leader Since: 2006
Born and raised in Mexico City, Fernando moved to Puerto Vallarta in 1999 to study marine biology and pursue his love of nature. During his studies he collaborated in different research projects...
Fiona Galbraith
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Growing up downtown Toronto, Fiona would use any opportunity to escape into nature. Her yearning for the outdoors ultimately led to a career divided between naturalist guiding and climate change work...
Francis Casapino
Expedition Leader Since: 2002
Born in Urubamba, Peru’s Sacred Valley, Francis has had personal contact with Andean highland communities and cultures throughout his life. Francis is passionate about Andean anthropological studies...
Francis Kudumo
Expedition Leader Since: 2009
Francis had an idyllic boyhood: born and raised in the Okavango Delta, he fished from a dugout canoe and camped on islands around open campfires. At night his father would tell stories about...
Fred Ackerman
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
From a young age, Fred sought out knowledge of wild things through books, television specials and rolling around in the dirt. Fred never missed a ranger talk as a child, and he’s now leading...
Fred Tavares
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Fred Tavares has completed extensive study in biology, the primates of southeastern Brazil and the ecology of the Pantanal region, and holds a degree from Izabela Hendrix University...
Garrett Fache
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Garrett was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, dividing his time as a child between the city, his grandparents' farm in Binscarth, and the family cabin on Lake of The Woods, which is where he fell in love with the wild outdoors...
Giancarlo Toti
Expedition Leader Since: 2009
Giancarlo was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where he attended both primary and secondary school at the American School of Guayaquil. He studied industrial engineering at the Polytechnic Institute...
Greg McCormack
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
For a New York-born boy, Greg McCormack has developed an exceptional wilderness adventure pedigree. He sprouted in the cement cracks of Brooklyn before being transplanted as a seedling...
Guillermo Knell
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Guillermo got his start as a naturalist guide leading nighttime forest walks in the Amazon. His interpretive and leadership skills expanded to include designing activities for Amazonian ecolodges...
Harsha Jayaramaiah
Expedition Leader Since: 2012
Growing up in the city of Bangalore, India, Harsha had the invaluable opportunity of learning about animals rather intimately due to his involvement with a local animal rescue center. He treated, cared for...
Heather Chrystie
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
Heather seeks to foster positivity in everyone who travels with her and aims to send guests home feeling awed, inspired and with a greater understanding of the intricacies of the natural world...
Helder Brandao
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Helder developed a passion for nature early in life. After earning a biology degree from the University of São Paulo, his fascination with the wild lured him to the Pantanal...
Hollie Galloway
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
As a child growing up in rural England, Hollie could be found in any weather exploring the countryside with her horses. These years developed a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and fostered her...
Ian Crookston
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Ian began guiding early in life, and has been safely escorting guests through the backcountry of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks since he was 15 years old. He was born and raised in the Rocky Mountains...
Isaac Rotich
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Isaac is a world-class naturalist and fantastically enthusiastic guide—one of only a few gold-certified guides in Kenya. His career in the bush started with...
Jackie Weston
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
With a master's degree in physiology and a never-ending curiosity about the world around her, Jackie has a love of nature and the outdoors that has carried her through many challenging...
Jake Richards
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Jake grew up in a log cabin in the forests of Vermont. After graduating from Castleton University with a bachelor's degree in History, he spent nine years in manufacturing as a forklift driver. During that time, he went back to school...
James Beissel
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Born and raised in Michigan, Jim developed a fascination with the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem while guiding rock climbing trips in Wyoming. It grew as he completed his bachelor’s degree in Earth Science...
Jim Phillips
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
For as long as he can remember, Jim has been driven by wanderlust, beginning with exploring the forests of the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee and discovering the wonders of many U.S. national parks with his parents...
Jean Lawrence
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
After earning a bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University, Jean pursued a career that reflected her love of the natural world. She worked as an interpretive ranger at Grand Teton National Park...
Jeremia Mwapopi
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Jeremia was born in the far northern reaches of Namibia in a region known as Owamboland. As a young boy, his daily chores were herding cattle and goats, cultivating millet crops...
Jeremy Covert
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Jeremy, who was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, became enamored with nature at a young age thanks to the woods near his house on the banks of the Ohio River...
Jessica Morgan
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Spending the majority of her life in the Sonoran Desert, Jessica has developed a deep interest in the way plants and animals adapt to their environments, especially in arid settings, and it’s an...
Jimmy Limbo
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Jimmy was born and raised in Namibia. Growing up in the small village of Mambali in the Caprivi region, he spent much of his time as a young boy in the bush...
Jimmy Tosso
Expedition Leader Since: 1998
Although Jimmy has participated in and led many classroom programs designed to educate guides about the natural history of Costa Rica, his true love is in the field—Costa Rica’s rain forest...
Joanna Fonkert
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Growing up in New England, Joanna was exposed to the Northeast’s mountains, lakes and oceans at an early age. Though she is clearly an extrovert and loves people, her first love was wildlife...
Joe Charleson
Expedition Leader Since: 2012
Along with his wife, Gillian, Joe Charleson manages various safari operations for Nat Hab from Kenya, where he divides his time between Nairobi and the bush, when he's out on safari...
John Beye
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Growing up as the son of two teachers in southeastern Wisconsin, it didn’t take long for John to gain an appreciation for the value of both education and summer vacations...
Joseline Cardoso
Expedition Leader since: 2005
As an Expedition Leader, Josy's desire is to share her passion for the islands with her guests and to impart an appreciation for their natural environment and wild inhabitants...
Jordan Koroll
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Jordan was born and raised in a small lakeside town a few hours north of Toronto, Ontario. From an early age, he was passionate about water sports and wildlife he encountered during his family's travels...
Judy McKenzie
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
A professional guide since 1996, Judy has an extensive background in many facets of New Zealand's travel industry. She leads groups throughout the country, and she has worked with families...
Judy Wilson
Expedition Leader since: 2018
Judy is curious by nature, a trait that has taken her down roads less traveled and rewarded her with interesting people and unique experiences, always with camera in hand. Born a city girl, Judy quickly realized her love of the outdoors and wide-open spaces...
Julio Madriz
Expedition Leader Since: 2010
It’s no wonder Julio Madriz Nuñez loves the land: he was raised on it. Born into a farming family in rural Costa Rica, Julio spent his childhood developing a natural understanding of Costa Rica’s...
Justin Gibson
Expedition Leader Since: 2011
At the age of eight, Justin saw his first wild bear. Decades later, his infatuation with all things ursine continues to grow. While attending the University of Alaska, Anchorage, he spent...
Karel Beets
Expedition Leader Since: 1999
Karel’s lifelong love of nature and the outdoors lead him to a career as a naturalist and conservationist in 1991. He is a co-founder and past president of the Mexican Association of Ecotourism...
Kari Nielsen
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Kari Nielsen grew up between Montana's Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems, where she spent a feral childhood exploring creeks, fields, forests, mountains and lakes...
Katrina Rosen
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Katrina was born in the prairies of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She began exploring at a young age, finding solace in the boreal forest and spending nights alone in the outdoors as a young teenager...
Kenneth Kinoti
Expedition Leader Since: 2022
Kenneth grew up on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya surrounded by the vast Laikipia Plateau and the country's northern conservation areas. In such a setting, nothing could impede his falling totally in love with nature...
Kristina Disney
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Growing up as the youngest of four on a farm in southern Saskatchewan, Kristina had a rough and tumble childhood of riding horses, wrestling calves and building barbed-wire fence...
Kurt Johnson
Expedition Leader Since: 2014
Kurt Johnson is a naturalist, author and photographer with a passion for the natural world and ecotourism. He grew up in both the urban setting of northern Virginia and the remote Adirondack...
Laura Geissinger
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Laura has always loved nature. She was born in Alaska, and as a child, her family spent time outside boating, berry-picking and enjoying having cookouts on the beach...
Lazarus Moalosi
Expedition Leader Since: 2014
Lazarus — "Lazi"— was born and raised in Bobonong village in Botswana. During weekends and school holidays he helped his parents on a farm along the Limpopo River...
Leah Okin
Expedition Leader Since: 2003
Leah was born in England and began a life of adventure at an early age. After living in many remote areas, she now calls Alaska her home. Working as a guide, naturalist and...
Leah Pengelly
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Growing up in the Canadian Rockies, Leah found her passion for exploring the outdoors early on, spending much of her childhood backpacking, skiing, horseback riding and canoeing...
Lemme Gust
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Lemme Guest was born in the small southwest Botswana village of Ncojane and raised in Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. He spent school holidays in the bush...
Leo Garrigues
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
A birder since the age of six, Leonardo Garrigues has been accumulating natural history knowledge and experience all his life. In addition to studying biology and forest engineering...
Lets Kamogelo
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Letsogile “Lets” Kamogelo was born and raised in eastern Botswana’s Tuli Block, an area so dominated by nature that it molded him early into an ardent naturalist and conservationist...
Lianne Thompson
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Lianne was born in England, but has spent most of her life in Canada. She grew up in southern Ontario, where her love for nature started early. While obtaining her undergraduate zoology degree...
Lilia Gonzalez
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Lilia was born and raised in Mexico City. Even as a young child, she showed a keen interest in the ocean and its creatures, especially whales and dolphins. Her passion continued into young adulthood...
Linda Himelbloom
Expedition Leader Since: 2010
Linda loves Alaska! She moved to the 49th state to work as a geologist after living initially in Canada, then into naturalist guide work with Nat Hab after she relocated to Kodiak Island, where...
Lindsey Nielsen
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Born to a pair of ski bums in Montana, Lindsey says her earliest memories were of being toted around in a backpack as her parents carved fresh tracks in the snow...
Lorraine Doyle
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Lorraine was born and raised in Zimbabwe. As a teenager, visits to Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba and Great Zimbabwe fostered her passion for the natural world...
Luis Lobos
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Luis was born in the riverside town of San Ignacio, Belize. From a young age, he pursued adventurous endeavors that immersed him in nature near his beautiful hometown...
Marco Fallas
Expedition Leader Since: 1997
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Marco has small-group explorations through all regions of his country. His research focus is birds and plants, and he has often participated in bird studies...
Mark Jordahl
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Mark’s love affair with Africa started in 2004, when he was mid-way through a master’s program in conservation education and he moved to Uganda. The move spurred him to...
Marlo Shaw
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
As a child, Marlo spent her summers in northwest British Columbia. It was during these formative years that she first became acquainted with the flora and fauna of the coastal temperate rain forest...
Matt Meyer
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Matt was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and grew up between Durban and his family's game reserve. His passion for the outdoors and wildlife developed young, while his family would vacation at their private game reserve in northern Zululand...
Matt Turner
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
From an early age Matt has been fascinated with the natural world. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and having lived in the Bay Area for much of his childhood, he made a life-changing decision...
Melissa Silva
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
Melissa Silva is a Marine Biologist who has been guiding in México for the last 3 years, sharing her passion for wildlife and conservation with guests from around the world...
Mike Hillman
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Mike grew up in the North Woods of Michigan and spent his early years learning all he could about the natural world. As an Eagle Scout, he led groups through the wilds while identifying plants and...
Miranda Unger
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Miranda’s interests in marine life and ecosystems were sparked visiting the intertidal zones on the east coast of North America...
Moira Le Patourel
Expedition Leader Since: 2014
Moira began working with Natural Habitat Adventures in Churchill, Manitoba in 2014, building on her role in the Canadian outdoor tourism industry as an adventure guide and naturalist...
Monika Mikulec
Expedition Leader Since: 2010
Born and raised in Croatia, athletic Monika has always been a lover of the outdoors. After working in the corporate world for five years, her deep passion for travel and photography took over...
Nancy Moore
Expedition Leader Since: 2004
Nancy’s appetite for adventure was fed at a very young age by her grandmother who would orchestrate weekend drives into the New England countryside and announce, much to Nancy’s delight...
Nina Gerber
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Nina was born and raised in a small village in Switzerland. She developed a fascination with nature and wildlife as a child, often dragging her family members out of bed early in the mornings to watch wildlife...
Ollie Porote
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Olebogile (known as Ollie) Porote was born and raised in Maun, Botswana. He comes from a long line of subsistence farmers, and his passion for and appreciation of nature and wildlife dates back to...
Ona Basimane
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
Ona was born and raised in Maun, Botswana. His passion for the natural world started at a young age when he had opportunities to visit the Moremi Game Reserve as well as several trips...
Ona Lekgopho
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Raised in a tribal village within the Okavango Delta, Onamile (Ona) Lekgopho was born “on safari.” Keen to pursue his wildlife passion, he undertook formal training to become a safari guide....
Patricia Valdespino
Expedition Leader Since: 2004
Patricia was born and raised in Mexico City, but has spent the majority of her life in the great outdoors. She graduated from the National University of Mexico with a B.S. in biology where she...
Paul Kirui
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
One of Kenya’s most distinguished safari guides, Paul was born on the northern outskirts of the Maasai Mara game reserve. He grew up herding cattle on the savannas, where he grew to know...
Payal Mehta
Expedition Leader Since: 2013
Payal’s life journey has taken her from a typical urban childhood in Mumbai to a career as a naturalist guide. Though she grew up in one of India’s largest metropolises, Payal loved the outdoors...
Pietro Luraschi
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
Pietro was born in Milan, Italy in 1975 and later trained as a civil engineer there. His passion for Africa inspired him to first experience the continent as a volunteer in the Tarangire Lion Project...
Rachel Sullivan-Lord
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Hailing from the coast of New England, Rachel grew up with a passion for the ocean and the creatures that live beneath the water’s surface, leading her to become a marine ecologist.
Ramani Jayewardene
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ramani lives and breathes nature and has been involved with wildlife professionally for more than two decades...
Rashid Ali
Expedition Leader Since: 2012
Rashid’s passions are natural history and wildlife conservation. As a child growing up in a family of naturalists, Rashid developed a keen interest in the natural world as the family visited...
Renzo Zeppilli
Expedition Leader Since: 2014
From an early age, Renzo developed a deep love for the natural side of his native Peru, which he enjoys sharing with Nat Hab guests as an Expedition Leader on our Amazon River voyages...
Richard Avilino
Expedition Leader Since: 2006
As a boy growing up in Maun, Botswana, Richard Avilino would sit in his grandfather’s field and watch the bushbucks play on the other side of the Thamalakane River. Those quiet...
Richard de Gouveia
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
Richard started out his career as an environmental consultant, conducting environmental impact assessments for various companies. He had always been drawn to the bush and eventually...
Rinie Van Meurs
Expedition Leader Since: 2003
Born in the Netherlands, Rinie has been a keen naturalist his entire life. He received his formal education in forestry and civil engineering and then set out to travel the world in search of wildlife...
Rob Norton
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Rob was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario where he spent his youth exploring the forests, lakes and rivers of the Ottawa Valley and Gatineau Hills. It was here at a young age that he first discovered...
Robert Weeden
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Robert was born into a family of professional biologists in Fairbanks, Alaska. His early summers were spent at Eagle Summit in the White Mountains, where his father studied ptarmigan for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game...
Rosa Alegria Gonzales
Expedition Leader Since: 1997
Rosa was born and raised in Peru. She is a native Quechuan, and is extremely proud of the diverse flora and fauna, as well as the cultures, of her native country. Rosa has been a guide...
Roy Valverde
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Roy is a passionate nature interpreter and bird-watcher, having worked as a certified professional naturalist guide for over a decade. A committed advocate for the protection of...
Russell Gerber
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Born and raised in South Africa's Eastern Cape, Russell has a deep passion for the conservation of Africa’s environmental and cultural diversity. He earned his undergraduate degree...
Sabina Moll
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Born and raised right in the middle of the Alps, Sabina grew up in the woods and mountains of southern Germany. She spent most of her childhood outside and in the forest, often all day long...
Sam Anthony
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Samuel was born and raised in Winnipeg, where the great Canadian wilderness was his playground. He grew up spending weeks camping and canoeing across the boreal forest each summer...
Sam Mushandu
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
One of southern Africa's top safari guides, Sam Mushandu was born and raised in southeast Zimbabwe. Growing up in a rural village surrounded by wild country gave him a great appreciation...
Sam Wilson
Expedition Leader Since: 2022
Sam Wilson launched his career as a naturalist guide in the Alaska backcountry in 2017, but his immersion in nature and science education is far more extensive. An expert on bird migration and wildlife behavior...
Samantha McNearney
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
As a child, Samantha loved being outside and watching wildlife. Seeing living things in nature thrilled her and ultimately inspired her to earn a biology degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks...
Santiago Moran
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
Santiago arrived on the island of Santa Cruz as a boy of 7. His first memory is the view of Academy Bay as he descended the dirt road from the lush highlands of Santa Rosa...
Sean Beckett
Expedition Leader Since: 2013
Years ago, somewhere in Costa Rica’s rainforest, a teenage Sean was awoken by his guide from a peaceful slumber in an airy bungalow and shuffled into...
Seth Adams
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
Seth was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, and happily still calls it home. He had an interest in science from an early age, but in his teens his passion for science...
Shawn Eggleston
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Shawn grew up playing in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Led by his father, he was inspired to explore the wilderness from a young age, which led to a deep appreciation for the land and wildlife...
Sheri Saari
Expedition Leader Since: 2014
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Sheri tagged along on family hiking outings in the Columbia River Gorge where she forged a deep connection to wilderness...
Sierra Zacks
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Sierra Zacks grew up along the entrance road to Joshua Tree National Park, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet in southeastern California. She spent her early years hiking, rock climbing and horseback riding in the park...
Simon McLaughlin
Expedition Leader Since: 2020
Simon was born in the U.K. and traveled among various military camps throughout his early years, while his father served in the first battalion Royal Scots. He discovered a passion for wildlife...
Sofia Merino
Expedition Leader Since: 2018
Ana Sofia Merino was born in the metropolis of Guadalajara but raised in one of Mexico's smallest communities, Zacatecas. She comes from an adventurous family that loves traveling and being close.....
Sophie Mazowita
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Sophie's childhood was split between the capital cities of Canada and Australia, but she felt most at home exploring the lakes and woods near her grandmother's home in the Ottawa...
Surya Ramachandran
Expedition Leader Since: 2017
Surya hails from the South India city of Chennai. While his academic background and formal training are in engineering, the call of the wild was stronger...
Tadeu de Oliveira
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Tadeu de Oliveira—"Tadeu"—got his start in the travel industry as a flight attendant. Realizing after four years that he was drawn more to wild nature...
Teresa Whipple
Expedition Leader Since: 2015
Teresa is thrilled that her passions have become a career built upon sharing an untamed world with other nature enthusiasts who agree that the wilderness deserves reverence and dedicated preservation...
Thuto Moutloatse
Expedition Leader Since: 2007
Named "Best Safari Guide on the Planet" in Outside magazine’s 2014 Travel Awards, Thuto Moutloatse had the privilege of growing up in the superb wildlife areas of Botswana, where his father...
Toby Sinclair
Expedition Leader Since: 2007
A London-born Scot, Toby first drove out to India in 1974 and by late 1975 he joined the Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge in Nepal’s Royal Chitwan National Park. In April 1977 he moved to Delhi and helped establish...
Tom Skeele
Expedition Leader Since: 2022
As a child growing up in the Northeast, Tom found his greatest joy running around the woods, sailing the New England coast and traveling to the Bahamas...
Veronica Maruri
Expedition Leader Since: 2011
Veronica was born and raised in Guayaquil, on the Ecuadorian coast. When she was 12 years old, she spent a year in Massachusetts giving her the opportunity to learn English...
Victor Horatius
Expedition Leader Since: 2009
Born and raised in Maun, Botswana, Victor grew up spending weekends and school holidays helping out on a farm in the Kalahari. He worked his way into managing camps in the Okavango Delta...
Vineith Mahadev
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Vineith Mahadev grew up in India's Western Ghats, which is dotted with some of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world. From an early age he lived with his family in Mysore, where he spent most of his childhood birdwatching...
Warwick Lister-Kaye
Expedition Leader Since: 2022
Warwick Lister-Kaye is Nat Hab’s head Expedition Leader in Scotland. He and his wife, Becky, love welcoming Nat Hab guests into their home in the Highlands where they live and are raising their young family...
Wendy Redal
Expedition Leader Since: 2019
Born and raised near Seattle, Wendy grew up exploring Puget Sound at her doorstep, the Cascade Mountains behind her, and British Columbia to the north. She isn’t exactly sure when Alaska first took hold of her heart...
Wesley Mathis
Expedition Leader Since: 2021
During the winter months, Wesley teaches high school and college English and composition in Utah. But when that last bell rings, signaling summer vacation, Wesley ditches the paved environment...
Wilfredo Huillca Gamarra
Expedition Leader Since: 2016
Wilfredo was born in Cusco, Peru. He grew up with a passion for nature and an unending curiosity. In the Peruvian countryside, he fell in love with his surroundings and soaked up information...