Ona Basimane 2015
Ona was born and raised in Maun, Botswana. His passion for the natural world was fostered at a young age when he had opportunities to visit Moremi Game Reserve as well as several trips to Lake Ngami. After finishing school, he joined the Botswana Predator Conservation Program as a field assistant. His regular interactions with animals under study such as lion, hyena, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog fueled his growing interest in wildlife and conservation. Following the urge to work in an environment where he could engage with both people and wildlife, Ona pursued a guiding career beginning in 2007. He would spend almost two years at Kalahari Plains Camp before moving to Duma Tau Camp and eventually joining Natural Habitat Adventures.
Ona is a keen photographer and an aspiring wildlife photojournalist. His images and articles regularly appear in numerous travel magazines including Peolwane, the Air Botswana in-flight magazine, Discover Botswana, the annual publication of the Botswana Tourism Board, and Travel Ideas magazine in South Africa. Through his photography, he is an ambassador for his country, with the pinnacle so far being an invited guest speaker at the Wild Shots Wildlife Photography Symposium in Cape Town in 2013. His passion for photography has also cultivated a major interest in animal behavior and behavioral ecology, which are integral focuses of his work as a guide.
Ona enjoys leading walking safaris where the focus is on small, close-up macro life that one would completely miss while traveling in only in a vehicle. He is also a keen birder who participates in various birding forums around southern Africa. Another important dimension of Ona's multifaceted role as a guide is his mentorship of younger, up-and-coming guides, whom he seeks to inspire as he travels through various safari camps.
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.
