Bulisani Mathe

Buli's adventures and training in the wild started at a tender age under the watchful eye of an uncle who provided inspiration as a guide and wildlife guru. Buli learned the skills of his trade like a chick in the nest. On takeoff, he was well prepared to spread his wings of knowledge and experience as a safari Expedition Leader. His has carried his naturalist expertise as a safari guide beyond Africa, too: His feathers where seen shedding some pixie dust at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge during a full year as a savanna guide, where he shared his passion for wildlife and personal experience of African culture. During his time in the United States, he also traveled across Florida to teach wildlife and conservation education at the Patel College of Global Sustainability at the University of South Florida. He called his talks "Wanyama," Swahili for love of animals.

Buli's guiding knowledge is immeasurable and he is committed to making epic interactions with wildlife and his guests. A broad smile, humor and enthusiasm are his second nature, and he always has a story to tell. When he is not guiding, Buli enjoys traveling with his family and discovering the wonders of the world.

Praise from Nat Hab Travelers: 

J. Ramsey
"Buli has such a great spirit. We felt like he truly cared for all of us and always with a smile. My husband and I both had health issues during the trip, and Buli stayed by our side throughout and followed up afterwards (as did the NatHab and Wilderness home teams). This was very much appreciated."

M. Kuczynski
"I found Buli to be an excellent leader. His communication skills were great, always letting us know what to expect and what was happening. His coordination with the staff at each camp was seamless, and every camp leader seemed to respect him. Buli's knowledge of the countries we were in and the people was incredible—we learned so much from just listening to him. In respect to the wildlife, his knowledge was again incredible. He knew all the different animals, birds and reptiles we came across, as well as the different trees and plants. Buli has a very laidback approach that makes it a pleasure to travel with him. This was only our second trip with Nat Hab, and the first was so exception that I thought there would be no way that we could have another experience like that, but I was wrong. This trip was like three vacations in one, and Buli was a big part of that!"

D. Caruso
"Buli was exceptional! He always had a smile on his face and was very personable and approachable. There were an incredible amount of logistics and moving parts on this trip, and he always made us feel safe and well taken care of. This trip was such a success in large part due to Buli and his warmth, expertise and genuine care for what he does and his love for his country. A huge thank you to Buli!"

D. Morgan
"This young man was superb! His knowledge is immense and he is extremely personable. I can not speak highly enough about him."

B. Hanna
"Buli was the perfect leader. He took care of all details, was very personable and outgoing, and was very knowledgeable. He shared information on all manner of subjects including area history, political boundaries, tribal politics, living conditions in the visited countries, and, of course, the flora and fauna. I learned a great deal from him."

H. Scott
"Wow! Buli is amazing as a guide. He is extremely knowledgeable about all the animals and their behaviors, plants and trees, birds, and the vast areas we visited. His sense of humor is infectious—he had us smiling and laughing early in the mornings as well as late at night after long days bouncing along in the Jeeps. Buli kept saying that we were good luck charms because we were able to see so many amazing animals and behaviors, but I think it was his experience as a guide and his good luck that gave us all such an amazing trip."

C. Peake
"Buli is one of the Expedition Leaders that I will remember forever. What a treat to travel with him! He did a great job with our varied group of newbies and seasoned safari travelers. He obviously has comfortable, jovial relationships with camp and boat staff. An all-around star!"