Ona Basimane2015
Ona was born and raised in Maun, Botswana, where his love for the natural world took root early during visits to Moremi Game Reserve and Lake Ngami. After school, he joined the Botswana Predator Conservation Program as a field assistant, working closely with lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs—an experience that deepened his passion for wildlife and conservation.
In 2007, drawn to a career that combined people and nature, Ona became a safari guide. He spent nearly two years at Kalahari Plains Camp before moving to Duma Tau Camp and eventually joining Natural Habitat Adventures.
A keen photographer and aspiring wildlife photojournalist, Ona’s work appears in several publications, including Peolwane (Air Botswana’s in-flight magazine), Discover Botswana, and Travel Ideas (South Africa). He was a guest speaker at the 2015 Wild Shots Wildlife Photography Symposium in Cape Town and served as a judge for Nature’s Best photo competition in 2021 and 2022.
His photography fuels his interest in animal behavior and behavioral ecology—core elements of his guiding. Ona especially enjoys leading walking safaris, focusing on macro life often missed from a vehicle. A dedicated birder, he’s active in birding forums across southern Africa.
Equally passionate about mentorship, Ona takes pride in guiding and inspiring younger safari guides as he travels between camps.
What's in My Camera Bag
I always prefer to travel light and take only the essentials when it comes to camera gear. I usually carry two lenses—a zoom and wide angle. Because we get so close to wildlife, I prefer the 70-200mm EF IS for zoom. My wide angle lens is a 24-105mm. I always bring along a 1.4x converter to occasionally pair with the zoom lens. For bird photographers however, I would encourage a bigger zoom lens such a 600mm. To minimize dust, I use two camera bodies, each with its own lens. This way I don't have to switch lenses and introduce dust into my cameras.
What Our Guests Say
Ona is a five-star leader and guide! He is knowledgeable, intelligent, communicative and has a vibrant personality. We learned quite a lot about plants, trees, birds, mammals and reptiles. He shared his photographic expertise with us and positioned our vehicle to give us the best photo opportunities. Ona had a way of sharing information that kept our group interested and eager to learn more. By the end of the trip, he had imparted to us a love of the country and an ongoing appreciation and fascination with Botswana’s beauty and, in particular, its wildlife.
Ona was simply amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of flora and fauna in Botswana. Whether we were discussing termites, birds or large predatory mammals, he willingly and expertly shared information and educated us. He was the most outstanding guide. He was personable, outgoing and just very enjoyable company. He totally exceeded our expectations and was a real difference maker. We both felt like he was a key element that differentiated our experience.
Ona is an exceptional Expedition Leader and an incredible human being. Ona made this truly a trip of a lifetime. His passion and sense of adventure, his untiring efforts and enthusiastic personality made all the difference. He is extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife, nature, conservation, photography, Nat Hab, the impact of conservation tourism, the country of Botswana and the role of the government in managing these parks. He was always looking for opportunities to make every moment unique and special. His capacity to build bonds with every member of the trip was amazing. We have indeed made a friend for life. He was also considerate of each person's needs. He is a professional with incredible passion for the work that he does. Any time we travel with Nat Hab, we would like to have Ona as our Expedition Leader. Our son was in tears on the last day and did not want to leave Ona. Both our kids want to go back to Africa and especially to Botswana, and this is mainly due to Ona.
