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Dennis Smith

Dennis was born in Maun, Botswana, in the early 1980s and grew up in a village called Mahalapye in the central part of the country. Growing up in a village meant that Dennis would go to his family's cattle post during school holidays to stay with his grandfather and uncle. It was during these times that his love for nature and birds began to grow. From an early age, he started learning about the local flora and fauna while tracking animals and birds.

Dennis holds a bachelor's degree in conservation tourism and sustainable development, graduating in 2007 from Northwest University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa. He joined Wilderness Safaris in 2011 and has a Professional Guide License. In 2015 and 2016 respectively, he became a Level 2 Trails Guide and Level 2 Specialist Birding Guide through the Okavango Guiding School. Dennis completed the Okavango Wilderness Safaris Guide Mentors Course, and in 2018, he represented Wilderness Safaris at the Wild Shots Wildlife Photography Conference in Cape Town as a speaker.

Throughout his guiding career, Dennis has worked in various locations within the Okavango Delta, including the Vumbura Concession, Xigera Concession, Jao Reserve, Chitabe Concession and the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. He became a Nat Hab Expedition Leader in Southern Africa in 2024.

Dennis enjoys photography, walking safaris, birding, boating, game drives and exploring the delta in a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe. He is married with three children: one boy and two girls.

Praise from Nat Hab Travelers: 

C. Crawford
"Dennis was incredible! His knowledge of African wildlife is deep and wide and he filled every moment with fascinating and pertinent information about the animals and their behaviors. His ability to predict wildlife actions was nothing short of extraordinary. Dennis didn’t just identify species; he provided deep insights into animal behaviors and explained why they acted the way they did. His detailed knowledge of the wildlife and natural history of the Delta was both educational and engaging. It is evident that he has a profound love for wildlife and his country, which shone through in every explanation and story.

When we weren't out on safari, Dennis's infectious smile and laugh made him a joy to be around. He created a fun and relaxed atmosphere, making the experience enjoyable for all the guests. Thank you, Dennis, for making this safari an unforgettable adventure."

W. Umberger
"Dennis was next level. Conscientious does not even to cover it! He made it his mission to make sure we got 'bang for our buck' while constantly reading us to make sure he was giving us what we needed from this trip. Dennis knows how to graciously transition guests from Point A to Point B in a way that loses no time and keeps the schedule on track. He is a master at it and I appreciate such fluid efficiency. He has a deep understanding of animal behavior and accurately predicted what an animal would do next, which meant he knew when to follow an animal to see something exciting or when to move on. He always positioned the vehicle for the best lighting and best angles of our subjects. Even while constantly reading animal tracks, sweeping the landscape for birds and animals, and keeping guests clear of potentially harmful branches as we rode, Dennis unfailing sensed when I wanted to stop for something or had a question. He also has a wonderful sense of humor, which is really important to me. Dennis's pride for Africa is contagious and I learned so much and came away with a deeper appreciation for everything I had experienced."  

J. Christensen
"Dennis had amazing animal-spotting ability and a deep knowledge about all the wildlife we encountered. We peppered him with hundreds of questions and he always knew the answers and enriched our entire experience. We feel so lucky to have had him as a guide!"
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