When Dave was a young child his parents relocated to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). The family settled in the small town of Kitwe on the Copper Belt. His father worked on the mines and was also a keen conservationist, actively involved with the Wildlife Society of which he later became Chairman.
Dave accompanied his father on many trips and quickly developed an interest in the fauna and flora and with the numerous books that his father gave him, developing an incredible all round knowledge ranging from amphibians to aardvarks. When cycling around Kitwe he would take his 17 pet chameleons with him!
In the early 1970s Luangwa was experiencing poaching elephant and rhino and in the 1979 Dave would accompany the rangers on patrols during his school holidays. This taught him exception bush skills and tracking and he became a good shot with the rifle.
His interests as a young African were numerous including fishing, swimming, drawing and painting and he developed a passion for photography. Demand for chimpanzees in zoos and private collections resulted in numerous orphans. He was involved in the building of a rehab centre outside Kitwe and this gave him the opportunity to observe the chimpanzees in close quarters.
In the afternoons after school Dave spent every available moment exploring the bush in search of anything great and small. He finished high school in 1979 and in 1980 David was drafted into the South African Defence Force and spent two years in Angola. Here, he had ample time to observe the little known Giant Sable.
His passion for books and photography made him choose a career in publishing and printing where he obtained a Diploma in Photolithography with Distinction. For 3 years he pursued the trade, but the bush made him homesick so he went to Zimbabwe and became a guide at Bumi Hills in the Matsusadona National Park
Dave has worked in many countries including Zimbabwe, Botswana and Malawi where he worked at a lakeside lodge and was involved in scuba diving safaris and yacht charters.
In 1999 he joined Okavango Wilderness Safaris as a houseboat captain and a river guide and later went on to manage Vumbura camp in the Okavango Delta.
In 2001 Dave joined the Privately Guided Safari division. He is currently running privately guided trips specializing in walking, catch and release fly fishing, sketching and painting, birding, elephant and leopard behavior and digital photography. Dave remains passionate about the bush and he shares this with his guests. He is a dedicated naturalist guide and wonderful host.
::::
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and chill out retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
Posted by vacationtechnician at April 22, 2004 09:02 PM | TrackBack