Professional Safari Guides
"our safari guide was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Kenya and the wildlife and made the experience more rich than we could have possibly imagined!"
Why use a professional safari guide?
For our road safaris and for all game drives from your camp or lodge in the main game parks and conservancies you will have a local Kenyan driver-guide. The local driver guides are usually experienced however few have professional safari guiding qualifications. Using a professional guide for your safari not only gives you peace of mind, but also ensures the highest level of professionalism and service. Professional guides and have unrivalled knowledge of the wildlife and their varied habitats as well as the local tribes who live amongst them.
Over the years the guides develop specific expertise in certain areas, from animal behaviour, to birdwatching, flora, wildlife photography, bush-craft, or specific tribal cultures.
Whilst some of the professional guides are native Kenyans, most of our safari guides are 2nd or 3rd generation white-Kenyans who have spent much of their lives in the African bush. All of the guides listed below attended university in the United Kingdom and are well-travelled and well-educated individuals - as such they understand their clients' needs and requirements. They are excellent communicators and great story-tellers.
All guides are proficient in Swahili and in some cases, other local dialects. Some speak fluent French, Spanish or Italian.
The activities of professional safari guides in Kenya are governed by the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA). The KPSGA establishes standards and guidelines for safari guides and manages the exams which guides are required to take to gain their qualifications.
All our guides are Silver members of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association. "Silver" is currently the highest level of qualification with "Gold" exams being introduced during 2007.
All guided safaris are tailor-made so please get in touch for further information or complete our Plan Trip Form.
Guide Biographies
Below are the biographies of some of the safari guides we work with - they are amongst the best young driver-guides in East Africa.
| Name – Bobby Abbonizio Age - 33 Place of Birth – Nairobi, Kenya KPSGA Level - Silver Bobby was born and brought up in Kenya and educated in England; where he attained a degree in Business and Tourism. He has a wealth of experience, having managed a luxurious 'bush home' in northern Kenya, as well as having led mobile safaris for many years at the highest levels. Bobby particularly enjoys leading safaris into areas that off the beaten track, his infectious humour and campfire manner make him a very popular guide and a favourite amongst clients. He was also one of the first Safari Guides to attain the Kenya Professional Safari Guides 'Silver' level |
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| Name - Andrew Campbell Age - 31 Place of Birth - Nairobi, Kenya KPSGA Level - Silver Biography - Andrew Campbell was born in Nairobi where his parents were involved in the safari business. Whilst accompanying them on safari, he learnt a great deal about wildlife and the different cultures and customs of East Africa. He specialises in walking and fly fishing safaris and, being a keen golfer, leads groups mixing golf and game viewing. He is a KPSGA silver guide, fluent in Kiswahili, French and Spanish. |
| Name - Phil West Age - 32 Place of Birth – Nairobi, Kenya KPSGA Level - Silver Phil has previously managed a luxurious lodge in Kenya, but his real love lies in walking safaris. Considered one of the top young safari guides in the country, Phil a professional guide in Kenya (KPSGA) and Southern Africa (FGASA), has at the age of 32 already been involved in the national exam committee; helping to write the Silver level syllabus. He has collected Insects for museums but when in the bush, Phil mostly enjoys tracking, bush craft and ethnobotany (medicinal Plants). His love of Leopards can lead to hours of following spoor in the African bush. A 'lifer' for him was following a melanistic (black) Leopard in Kenya, for a year and a half. He loves nothing more than seeing guests love Africa and its wildlife as much as he does. Phil is also an expert in bush craft and has recently presented a docu-drama for the Discovery Channel which aired at prime-time in the US, Canada and Australia. |
| Name - Joe Charleson Age - 32 Place of Birth - UK KPSGA Level - Silver Biography - Joe grew up in Kenya with family safaris as part of his childhood. He has a biology degree and previously worked as a Professional Safari Guide in Botswana before returning to Kenya. He is a KPSGA silver guide with a keen interest in animal behaviour and is involved in wildlife conservation initiatives. He leads luxury tented camping safaris and hosts guests at his Leleshwa Camp in the Maasai Mara |
| Name - Gordon Church Age - 37 Place of Birth - Nairobi, Kenya KPSGA Level - Silver Specialism - horseback safaris Biography - Gordon is a third generation Kenyan, and as one of best know young guides in the safari business. He is somewhat unique in that his professional guiding abilities span a diverse spectrum of activities. Not only is he a competent leader of wildlife-photographic safaris, but he has also gained invaluable experience guiding horseback adventures across Masailand, is licensed by the Kenya Wildlife Service to escort bird hunting parties, has co-guided palaeo-anthropological trips with the Leakey family and is a competent and ethical professional hunter in Tanzania. |
| Name – Nicholas Cahill Age - 31 Place of Birth – Nairobi, Kenya KPSGA Level - Silver Nic was born in Kenya but educated in England, first at Cranleigh School and then at Loughborough University. He has travelled extensively throughout the World and particularly in Eastern & Southern Africa. His passion for safaris and birding stemmed from his father, Robin - a dedicated and passionate birder all his life, with more than 30 years birding and safari experience in Kenya. Nic guides a range of safaris, from big-game photographic safaris to specialist birdwatching safaris. He also guides adventure safaris, with experience ranging from surfing to white-water rafting. Nic has been awarded a Certificate in Ornithology by Nature Kenya, and is a Silver member of the KPSGA |
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In addition to our traditional safaris, for most of the following safaris we will engage the services of a professional safari guide:- horseback safaris, fishing safaris, bird-watching safaris, walking safaris (except for budget walking safaris), golf safaris, survival skills and bush-craft.
For further details on safaris guided by our KPSGA guides, please email us: info@extreme-safari.com
