Our Guides
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Abeduico "Shaka" Masuku
Abeduico “Shaka” Masuku was born in a small village called Mosojane close to Francistown in 1969. After completing high school he joined the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) where he worked for 10 years – it was this time spent with DWNP that instilled Shaka’s love of the bush and he decided that he wanted to fully immerse himself in the bush and proceeded to study to become a guide.
He spent 3 years in the mobile sector and then moved to the lodge sector where he soon became head guide for Wilderness Safaris at Vumbura Camp. After a few years here he moved to Orient Express as a lodge manager and spent a year in South Africa having extensive management training. On returning to Botswana he continued in the lodges as a camp manager and realised that his passion was guiding and sharing his love and knowledge of the bush directly with clients so he returned to guiding and the mobile sector, where he has been working again for the last 6 years.
His favourite animal is a Vervet monkey because it is cheeky and clean. Shaka is married with 4 children – 3 daughters and 1 son who he is proud to say is following in his footstep’s with his love of all aspects of the bush.
He spent 3 years in the mobile sector and then moved to the lodge sector where he soon became head guide for Wilderness Safaris at Vumbura Camp. After a few years here he moved to Orient Express as a lodge manager and spent a year in South Africa having extensive management training. On returning to Botswana he continued in the lodges as a camp manager and realised that his passion was guiding and sharing his love and knowledge of the bush directly with clients so he returned to guiding and the mobile sector, where he has been working again for the last 6 years.
His favourite animal is a Vervet monkey because it is cheeky and clean. Shaka is married with 4 children – 3 daughters and 1 son who he is proud to say is following in his footstep’s with his love of all aspects of the bush.
Brent Reed
Brent Reed was born in the Magaliesberg mountains in South Africa where he developed a deep and abiding love for the bush and all things wild but snakes in particular. Although he has been a birder all his life it wasn't until he was near-fatally bitten by a Black Mamba in 2004 that he decided to focus more strongly on the avian fauna rather than the reptillian. Brent's guiding career started in 1997 when he moved to Botswana to join his brother after a brief career in IT which took him to Europe for 3 years. He has guided safaris in South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mocambique, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Madagascar. Brent is a Level III FGASA Trails Guide and registered Trainer & Assessor with FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa). Along with his brother, Grant, he is a founding director of Letaka Safaris and African Guide Academy (formerly Okavango Guiding School).
Brent lives in Maun at the southern tip of the Okavango Delta on the banks of the Thamalakane river with his wife Ashleigh and his two sons, Jarryd and Troy.
Brent lives in Maun at the southern tip of the Okavango Delta on the banks of the Thamalakane river with his wife Ashleigh and his two sons, Jarryd and Troy.
Grant Reed
Born in the Magaliesburg mountains in 1974, Grant was raised with a love for birds, snakes and all things African, a passion passed on from his paternal grandfather and father.
Grant’s run-in with snakes came earlier in life on his eighteenth birthday when he was bitten by a puff-adder and ended up spending six months in and out of hospital. Having survived hospital and the puff-adder bite Grant continues to be passionate about snakes and to this day Grant still lectures interested parties on snakes and snakebite. A consummate naturalist, Grant’s interests include such diverse subjects as dragonflies, birds, butterflies and wildflowers.
He is widely considered to be one of Botswana’s top guides and holds two post-graduate degrees in Nature Conservation as well as the FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) Level III certificate and a number of specialist qualifications. He is also a founding director of Letaka Safaris and of Okavango Guiding School and a large portion of his passionate energy is directed towards the training and development of guides in Botswana. Grant lives outside Maun on the banks of the Thamalakane River with his wife Trudi and his sons, Merrick and Ross.
Grant’s run-in with snakes came earlier in life on his eighteenth birthday when he was bitten by a puff-adder and ended up spending six months in and out of hospital. Having survived hospital and the puff-adder bite Grant continues to be passionate about snakes and to this day Grant still lectures interested parties on snakes and snakebite. A consummate naturalist, Grant’s interests include such diverse subjects as dragonflies, birds, butterflies and wildflowers.
He is widely considered to be one of Botswana’s top guides and holds two post-graduate degrees in Nature Conservation as well as the FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) Level III certificate and a number of specialist qualifications. He is also a founding director of Letaka Safaris and of Okavango Guiding School and a large portion of his passionate energy is directed towards the training and development of guides in Botswana. Grant lives outside Maun on the banks of the Thamalakane River with his wife Trudi and his sons, Merrick and Ross.
Kehakgametse 'KG' Mochaba
KG was born in Maun in 1979 and went to school in a very small village called Ngarange on the northern banks of the Okvango River. In this village, KG and other small boys used to go canoeing and fishing in the wooden Mekoro. After primary school, KG attended boarding school in Seronga, another village on the edge of the Okavango Delta. On completion of high school, he actually worked for the Magistrates Court as an interpreter.
His interactions with animals growing up, triggered his love for wildlife. He was a member of the wildlife club in his younger days at school, which mainly involved rescuing vulnerable animals and looking after them, as well as planting trees in the local village and school grounds.
KG started guiding in 2009 and has worked in several lodges in the Okavango Delta, the CKGR and Savuti of Riverfront areas of Chobe National Park. As a trainee, he worked as a tracker, mokoro poler and even a boat driver, gaining experience in each area. He has worked in mobile safaris since 2017 and when he is not guiding he enjoys time with his 3 children.
His favourite animal is thee a Steenbok, a very independent animal despite their small size, being able to live in very harsh conditions where there is little water. Bird – has to be the Malachite Kingfisher, such a beautiful little bird, who just appear like a very colourful jewel.
His interactions with animals growing up, triggered his love for wildlife. He was a member of the wildlife club in his younger days at school, which mainly involved rescuing vulnerable animals and looking after them, as well as planting trees in the local village and school grounds.
KG started guiding in 2009 and has worked in several lodges in the Okavango Delta, the CKGR and Savuti of Riverfront areas of Chobe National Park. As a trainee, he worked as a tracker, mokoro poler and even a boat driver, gaining experience in each area. He has worked in mobile safaris since 2017 and when he is not guiding he enjoys time with his 3 children.
His favourite animal is thee a Steenbok, a very independent animal despite their small size, being able to live in very harsh conditions where there is little water. Bird – has to be the Malachite Kingfisher, such a beautiful little bird, who just appear like a very colourful jewel.
Keitshokile “Alex” Leatamo
Alex was born in a small village just north of Maun, called Shorobe, but grew up in the Chobe area where he did his primary education, before moving to Tonota village to complete his secondary schooling.
His wife and three kids live in Kazungula near the Zimbabwe border and Kasane.
Growing up in remote villages meant learning to live in areas that are frequented by wild animals and often seeing Elephants on his way to school. Inevitably, this led to his fascination with wildlife and prompted him to pursue a career in guiding so he could showcase these animals and areas to people visiting Botswana.
Alex has been guiding since 2008, in many different areas of Botswana, from the Delta to Linyanti, Chobe to Makgadikgadi and CKGR to Nxai Pan National Park… he thoroughly enjoys the mobile aspect of a safari, being able to explore different areas with the same group, guide, team and seeing the different habitats and animals in each of those areas.
His favourite animal is the Honey Badger, a small animal that is often underestimated for its feisty nature and determination to defeat any animal that may challenge it, regardless of the size of its opponent.
His avian favourite is the Cape Penduline Tit. A rather small but very intelligent bird, proved by how they build their nests with a main entrance as well as a false entrance to fool its enemies looking to raid their nests, as well as being able to close up the main entrance after entering the nest, almost ensuring its safety!
His wife and three kids live in Kazungula near the Zimbabwe border and Kasane.
Growing up in remote villages meant learning to live in areas that are frequented by wild animals and often seeing Elephants on his way to school. Inevitably, this led to his fascination with wildlife and prompted him to pursue a career in guiding so he could showcase these animals and areas to people visiting Botswana.
Alex has been guiding since 2008, in many different areas of Botswana, from the Delta to Linyanti, Chobe to Makgadikgadi and CKGR to Nxai Pan National Park… he thoroughly enjoys the mobile aspect of a safari, being able to explore different areas with the same group, guide, team and seeing the different habitats and animals in each of those areas.
His favourite animal is the Honey Badger, a small animal that is often underestimated for its feisty nature and determination to defeat any animal that may challenge it, regardless of the size of its opponent.
His avian favourite is the Cape Penduline Tit. A rather small but very intelligent bird, proved by how they build their nests with a main entrance as well as a false entrance to fool its enemies looking to raid their nests, as well as being able to close up the main entrance after entering the nest, almost ensuring its safety!
Lucus Tshupo
Lucas was born in the northern border town of Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River in 1989. Back then Kasane was a pretty wild place as it bordered on the Chobe National Park as it still does today but in those days there was a lot more human / wildlife interaction as Kasane was still a dusty little village with little development.
From a young age Lucas developed a fascination for the creatures that surrounded him even though he and his family had to deal with lions eating their livestock and elephants raiding their crops on an almost daily basis.
Lucas first qualified as a guide in 2010 and has been guiding safaris in Botswana ever since. His favourite animal remains the pesky elephants that used to raid his corn fields and his favourite bird is the Lilac-breasted Roller.
From a young age Lucas developed a fascination for the creatures that surrounded him even though he and his family had to deal with lions eating their livestock and elephants raiding their crops on an almost daily basis.
Lucas first qualified as a guide in 2010 and has been guiding safaris in Botswana ever since. His favourite animal remains the pesky elephants that used to raid his corn fields and his favourite bird is the Lilac-breasted Roller.
Mbara Ndjavera
Mbara grew up in a small village called Kareng, about 50km from Sehitwa near Lake Ngami.
Growing up in such remote areas meant he kept himself busy in the outdoors and this sparked his love and passion for wildlife and especially birds, from a very young age.
With said passion he pursued the skills and training to become a guide and has been doing this job he so loves since 2014. Mbara has spent a fair amount of time in the Chobe National Park working in different lodges there and has not taken on the challenge of mobile safari guiding, learning about several different safari areas and being an expert on them all. When not on safari, he is with his fiancée and his two daughters.
His favourite animal is a Cheetah because he hardly ever sees them but when he does it is such a special sighting.
Avian favourite is the Kori Bustard, the national bird of Botswana, and Africa’s heaviest flying bird.
Growing up in such remote areas meant he kept himself busy in the outdoors and this sparked his love and passion for wildlife and especially birds, from a very young age.
With said passion he pursued the skills and training to become a guide and has been doing this job he so loves since 2014. Mbara has spent a fair amount of time in the Chobe National Park working in different lodges there and has not taken on the challenge of mobile safari guiding, learning about several different safari areas and being an expert on them all. When not on safari, he is with his fiancée and his two daughters.
His favourite animal is a Cheetah because he hardly ever sees them but when he does it is such a special sighting.
Avian favourite is the Kori Bustard, the national bird of Botswana, and Africa’s heaviest flying bird.
Otlhagile "Bate" Keemekae
Bate was born in 1985 and grew up in the pan-handle of the Okavango Delta. Growing up in the heart of the Okavango Delta, he grew his passion for wildlife and nature in general.
This interest and passion drove him to obtain his professional guide’s license in 2009 and further grow his knowledge of Botswana flora and fauna.
In his years of guiding, Bate has worked in many lodges in the delta until he joined Letaka Mobile Safaris in 2019.
Bate’s favourite animal is the Wild Dog, he loves their social structure and the way they look after each other and share food. His favourite bird is the Rosy-throated Longclaw, because of their elusive nature and it is a great accomplishment finding them!
When he isn`t on safari he lives with his wife and two kids in Maun, the Gateway to the Delta.
This interest and passion drove him to obtain his professional guide’s license in 2009 and further grow his knowledge of Botswana flora and fauna.
In his years of guiding, Bate has worked in many lodges in the delta until he joined Letaka Mobile Safaris in 2019.
Bate’s favourite animal is the Wild Dog, he loves their social structure and the way they look after each other and share food. His favourite bird is the Rosy-throated Longclaw, because of their elusive nature and it is a great accomplishment finding them!
When he isn`t on safari he lives with his wife and two kids in Maun, the Gateway to the Delta.
Vincent Kachere
Vincent was born in Kasane but grew up 50km west of there in a small village called Kavimba.
His love of nature started from a young age. His family reared cattle, and he was a young herd boy in charge of driving the herd to and from the grazing grounds and the river, which meant learning animal and bird behavior for survival whilst in the bush for occasionally days at a time.
His passion for the bush could only grew and drove him to become a guide in 2008. Over the years he has worked in different lodges to gain experience in several different areas like Chobe, Moremi, CKGR and Linyanti.
Vincent’s family reside in Kasane and he has two children.
He is a lover of all animals as they are all unique in their own ways but his favourite bird is the Rosy-throated longclaw as it is a rather rare and special bird and he enjoys watching its flight pattern.
His love of nature started from a young age. His family reared cattle, and he was a young herd boy in charge of driving the herd to and from the grazing grounds and the river, which meant learning animal and bird behavior for survival whilst in the bush for occasionally days at a time.
His passion for the bush could only grew and drove him to become a guide in 2008. Over the years he has worked in different lodges to gain experience in several different areas like Chobe, Moremi, CKGR and Linyanti.
Vincent’s family reside in Kasane and he has two children.
He is a lover of all animals as they are all unique in their own ways but his favourite bird is the Rosy-throated longclaw as it is a rather rare and special bird and he enjoys watching its flight pattern.