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 of the main channels of the Okavango Delta. Belonging to the Bayei tribe (the people who introduced poled mokoro boats to the Okavango Delta), Brooks had a fascination with Botswana’s wild areas from a young age.

Determined to pursue a career in tourism, Brooks began working as a safari camp assistant, then earned a position as a waiter. His real interest was in the wilds of the bush, though, and he soon became a tracker for one year before passing his professional guide course in 2000. Since then, Brooks has fine-tuned his guiding skills while working at premier camps like Kings Pool and Mombo, earning a reputation for never giving up on a wildlife chase.

Brooks enjoys sharing his passion for astronomy, birding and the history and legends of Botswana's diverse cultures, and he is always up for a good joke. His infectious laugh and encyclopedic knowledge of flora and fauna have made him one of Southern Africa's most requested private safari guides, with many repeat guests who have returned for another “Brooks safari." He also helped two of his past guests with a philanthropic endeavor to set up a school library in Maun, Botswana.

When he’s not tracking wild animals, Brooks can be found gazing up at the starry night sky or photographing wildlife and birds—some of his photos have been featured in Africa Geographic magazine and Barcroft media.

Brooks has traveled to the U.S. on several occasions to educate school children about conservation, and he is a regular visitor to Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks.