Our Guides

The Luangwa Safari Association in the South Luangwa, along with the Zambian Wildlife Authority, run the annual guides exam and have done since 1989.  The standard of guiding is now extremely high in the South Luangwa where we now are in the top level of guides in Africa.   Robin Pope Safaris take this standard even further and continue the training of their guides.  They, as a team, are known as the best available.  Not only are they extremely knowledgeable but also know how interpret this knowledge to give their guests a thoroughly enjoyable safari.

Keyala Phiri

Born in Mfuwe and looking up to his father who worked as a ranger in National Parks, Keyala dreamed of following in his footsteps whether it be working for the Zambian Wildlife Authority or in the safari industry. After finishing his schooling he soon found a job with RPS working in the office and learning the ropes of a safari operation. However, keeping him behind a desk after 15.30 became rather trying as he somehow managed to disappear most evenings as a spotter on game drives. It soon became apparent that his huge personality and infectious laugh was not going to remain confined to the office and Keyela started guiding full time in 1997, becoming the manager of Nkwali Camp in 2002. In 2006 with the company expanding further Keyala became the overall manager of Nkwali and both houses as well as heading up the entire guiding team.

Jacob Shawa

With several older brothers being involved in National Parks Jacob was surrounded by books on wildlife as he was growing up. This interest continued to be developed at school when he was made chairman of the wildlife club, taking tours to visit Norman Carr who would encourage the children to get involved in conservation by giving them talks and taking them on small informative tours. Passing his guides exam in 1997 and joining RPS in 1999 he was firstly based at Nsefu then in 2005 moved to Nkwali where he became assistant manager before becoming the guide for Luangwa House when it opened at the end of that year. Jacobs’s enthusiasm and knowledge about everything that the bush has to offer from the smallest insect to the largest mammals is what has made him perfect for guiding at Luangwa House. Adapting his guiding for each group it has even been known for him to come back from a game drive with children on board and the entire vehicle to be joining in with a sing along.

Daudi Njobvu

Otherwise known as ‘The President’ Daudi has been guiding in the South Luangwa since 1990, joining Robin Pope Safaris in 1997 as a guide at Tena Tena later becoming the manager of the camp and since 2004 has been the proud and steady manager of Nsefu Camp.  Growing up with his father being in National Parks he always had an interest in wildlife – joining the wildlife conservation club at school.  However it was not until after his apprenticeship with Bill Astler a botanist that he made the decision to become a guide. Daudi’s honest and gentle way of managing has resulted in a very united and jolly team

Jason Alfonsi

Born in Zambia but with his Italian roots bursting out through his enthusiasm and passion for the bush Jason has been guiding in the South Luangwa since his gap year in 1984 which never ended. Falling in love with the area he decided that this was where he was staying. An astute conservationist and formidable guide Jason has been with Robin Pope Safaris since 1991. Jason is a member of the Zambia Ornithological Society and has a keen interest in Africa’s fantastic bird life. He also belongs to a local astronomy club, and his knowledge of the night skies of the Southern Hemisphere makes stopping in a large open area on a night drive far too tempting. Having abandoned the role of camp manager Jason adopts a very relaxed approach and can mostly be found leading our walking safaris up on the Mupamadzi river.

Zebron Chirwa

Growing up in the Chipata district south-east of the Luangwa Valley, Zebron did not have much exposure to wildlife as a child but he did however know that it was something he was interested in. Finding employment with National Parks in 1990 he was immediately posted to the South Luangwa with promises of doing a rangers course and being exposed to the bush. This however did not happen and he became increasingly involved in planning and monitoring of activities from the office. Becoming fed up of this he decided to put his mind to guiding, passing his exam in 1996. Joining RPS in 2000 and becoming the assistant manager of Nkwali camp in 2006 he is probably Nkwali’s strongest walking guide and his knowledge and enthusiasm for birding is bar none.

Obi Mukabiko

Born and brought up in the Copper Belt, Northern Zambia, Obi started his journey here through the hotel industry. Having completed a Food and Beverage course he started working for a chain of hotels which eventually brought him to the South Luangwa. Once here he became enamoured by the wildlife around him and so took every opportunity available to get out in the park from being a tea bearer on walks to spotting on evening game drives. He soon realised that this was where his passion was and so changed his career, becoming a full time guide in 1992. Joining RPS in 2002 Obi has become the guide for Robin’s House. Here he has created his own fan club of young followers as he draws both parents and especially children into his world. After game drives with the whole family he has often been seen turning a simple walk to the garden with the children into their own private walking safari.

Deb Tittle

Having often been convinced that she had been born in the wrong country Deb left the UK and started working in tourism.  First attacking France for 3 years and then taking overland trips in South America and later in Africa.  She soon realised that Africa was the place for her.  Finally coming to the South Luangwa in 1993 and leading walking trails in both the North and the South Luangwa Parks for Wild Zambia Safaris, and later for various other operators, before joining RPS in 2003.  There seemed no better and more suitable option than for Deb to head up our Bush camping safaris in the Nsefu sector: this is a wilderness and walking experience.  “I will walk the length of my days under the African skies” 
Renowned as being one of the best guides in the South Luangwa and a mentor, along with Kerri, to many trainee guides, Deb also heads up the guide training during the Emerald Season.

Rocky Simachila

Being born a survivor and named after a fighter Rocky attacks his life with great enthusiasm. This lust for life can not help but be noticed by all around him and becomes an addictive trait. Growing up in Mfuwe, Rocky from a young age would be taken out into the park on his own mini safari by his uncle whom was also a guide and later became somewhat of a mentor. “It has always been a dream for me to become a safari guide”. Achieving this dream he passed his guides exam in 2000 and since joining RPS in 2004 he has been based at Tena Tena camp where he has become somewhat of a fixture.

Masumba Mwanza

Having worked within the RPS fold for many years, from waiter to driver, to Bush Camping manager - Masumba sat and passed his grade 2 exam in April 2005. Now guiding full time at Nsefu camp under the supportive and watchful eye of Daudi Njobvu he is becoming one of the true characters of Robin Pope Safaris.

Brendon Reisbeck

A new addition to the Robin Pope team in 2006, Beej spent his childhood in Africa. Moving between Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa his family would take regular trips to neighbouring National Parks and spent their holidays camping in the bush, this is where he developed his keen interest in both wildlife and photography. After studying Hotel Management and Photography in the UK he returned to Malawi and from there concentrated on starting his career in the safari industry moving to the Luangwa valley in 2001. He is already a natural in the bush and patiently sitting watching animals in their natural habitat manages to capture some wonderful and intimate moments in both the minds of his guests and on film. In 2008 Brendan & his wife Clem have moved from South Luangwa to Lower Zambezi to run Chongwe River House.

 

Bertrame Njobvu

From working as a groundsman at Nkwali, Bertrame's bright nature and interest in the wildlife became ever more apparent. Starting him off in the workshop during the rainy season of 2004/2005, getting him used to all manner of vehicles and learning some basic mechanics, it was not long until he became involved with more and more guest transfers. This interaction with guests came as a natural transition and having spent a year doing this and absorbing huge amounts of information, he sat and passed his guides exam in 2006. Starting his guiding career that same year at Tena Tena and with the support of his manager - Kerri, Bertrame has become a very rounded and knowledgeable guide.

Sebastian Kamwendo

Becoming a guide because: “It just seemed like the natural thing to do”. He passed his exam in 1998 and joined Robin Pope Safaris in 2004. Sebastian can occasionally appear a little quieter than some of our other guides but with an incredibly dry sense of humour and gentle manner his absolute enjoyment of his profession is evident.  Since achieving his walking licence in 2005 Sebastian has been concentrating on honing his walking skills and examining the smaller details the bush has to offer.

Simon Pitt

This excitable Zimbabwean born Australian, who spent 12 years in Malawi as a kid, has a passion for wildlife where ever he is in the world. After completing a degree in Natural Resource Management in Australia Simon worked with New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service for 5 years on various projects including pest and weed control, threatened species management, general wildlife surveys and fire fighting. Simon returned to Africa in 2005 to visit his old Malawi school friend, and one of RPS’s all time favourite sons, Simon Cousins. The South Luangwa NP struck a cord with his affection of the bush and Simon went back to Oz sold his surf boards and returned to Africa to pursue his love of the African Bush. Initially working for RPS as our Workshop Manager Simon has now moved across to guiding where he takes people along on his enthusiastic discovery of the Valley.

Joseph Mfune

Joining the RPS family in 2007, Joseph has been guiding in the Luangwa Valley since 2000. He spent the next five years broadening his knowledge and bush experience before taking his walking exam in 2006 and passing. 

After the unfortunate death of his father he had to find any work available to support his family and his goal was to work in mechanics.  This however was put on the back burner once he started work as a casual laborer in one of the neighboring camps and gained more and more exposure to the bush and wildlife in and around the camp.  He soon found a natural passion and pursued a career in guiding. 

Now part of the Nkwali team Joseph has no problems competing with the raucous laughter of Keyala and Zebron coming from around the camp fire.