Cheryl Pagel

Cheryl hails from Adelaide, South Australia. A glance at her childhood pictures would often find her digging in the dirt or tending to the chooks—a colloquial Australian term for chickens. Initially, she followed a traditional life path with an office job, a mortgage and a family. Nature was her happy place, and she embraced a sustainable lifestyle. She utilized solar energy, harvested rainwater and cultivated an abundant vegetable garden. Her home continued to host chickens, echoing the pastoral charm of her youth. With her children growing more independent, Cheryl decided to realign her career with her deep-seated passion for conservation.

Embracing her love for nature and wildlife, she became a guide at the Adelaide Zoo. On a transformative journey to Sumatra in 2019, she encountered wild orangutans and elephants. Barely three days after her return, she found herself beneath the sunset at Uluru in Central Australia, training to become a safari guide. Cheryl now guides in regions of rich natural beauty across Australia. Her repertoire includes the Australian Outback, the Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island in South Australia, and the Margaret River and Purnululu National Park in Western Australia. She is thrilled to join the Nat Hab team as an Expedition Leader starting in 2024.

Our Story