Ona Lekgopho

Onamile (Ona) Lekgopho’s experience and professionalism, as well as his passion to pass on his knowledge, make him a great companion to have in the bush. It is therefore no surprise that when he is not out looking for wildlife with guests, he is training and assessing his juniors.

Born in Maun, Botswana, but raised by farmers in a tribal village on the western side of the Okavango Delta, Ona fell in love with nature and conservation early. Keen to pursue his wildlife passion, he undertook formal training to become a guide straight out of school in 2003. His experience now includes mobile safaris—making him an expert in all Botswana’s ecosystems, including the Okavango and the Kalahari—as well as working in camp as a guide. To boot, he has training in auto mechanics—always a handy trick when you are stuck miles from anywhere.

His other areas of expertise include photography, tracking, ornithology and mokoro poling—his favorite mode of transport in the Delta. He is also an authority on the country’s diverse cultures. With his deep-seated hunger to learn more about ethnicity, he’s likely to question you—his guest—on your own background and customs while sharing his.