Meet the team behind Robin Pope Safaris

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 TenaTena. He later became manager of the camp and since 2004 has been the proud and steady manager of Nsefu Camp before moving to Luangwa River 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 enthusiastic team.

From working as a grounds man 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, Bertrame has become a very rounded and knowledgeable guide. He is now the manager at our Tena Tena Camp.

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

Born in Mfuwe and looking up to his father who worked as a ranger in National Parks. After finishing his schooling he soon found a job with RPS working in the office and learning the ropes. 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. Keyala 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 safari houses as well as Senior Safari Manager.

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.

Hailing from the Western Province near the Liuwa Plain National Park, Nyambe explored Zambia in search of employment after completing his secondary education. Upon arrival in Mfuwe he found a job as a stores-man in one of the camps. Being surrounded by the Luangwa Valley Nyambe was inspired to start training for his guide’s license. He has been with Robin Pope Safaris since 2007 but a resident of the Valley since 1995. Everyone always enjoys his quiet enthusiasm and quirky sense of humour.

Born and brought up in Mfuwe, surrounded by nature and with a role model like his uncle Kiki, how could he not become enthralled by wildlife and what it had to offer… With a genuine love for nature and steadfast passion to conserve it, Yona felt that becoming a guide really was the best route for him. Being loud and gregarious, he loves meeting new people, the interaction of it all and making new friends. What better place for Yona to be than behind the wheel of a game viewer showing everyone the magic of the Luangwa.

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. He 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.

‘Kanga’ was first inspired to become a guide at school where he was an active member of the wildlife and conservation club for four years. After completing school he studied automotive mechanics and moved to the Valley to be a mechanic. Upon arrival he spent every spare moment studying and in 2007 joined Luangwa Bush Camping as a tea bearer. Spending every day in the bush Kanga learnt a lot and passed his exams first time at the top of the class. Kanga is fast becoming one of our guests’ favourite guide for his enthusiasm and love of the bush.

Born in Chipata John moved to Mfuwe when he was 10 where he excelled in school and in 2006 but struggled to make ends meet but he soon found work as a general worker at Robin Pope Safaris.  John soon caught the eye of Robin and Jo and they took him under their wing and trained him up as a housekeeper for their house.  Whilst working at their house he dreamt of becoming a guide and spent any spare time studying and it wasn’t long before he started spotting on the evening game drives learning on the job from the guides.  As soon as he got his drivers licence he officially applied to become a trainee guide and has never looked back from there.  John has gone from strength to strength and is now managing Luangwa Bush Camping showing the guests how wonderful the Nsefu sector is and discovering all the little nooks and crannies’ by foot.

Born in Lusaka but moving to Mfuwe was quite a change but one which Sebastian as a young boy relished most especially the Chipembele excursions and game drives.  After school he straight away joined Robin Pope Safaris as a rains watchmen then the following year joined the Luangwa Bush Camping team as a groundsman.  It soon became apparent that Sebastian wanted more interaction not only with the bush but the guests as well so he next became a teabearer so for 5 years he joined all the walks and learnt from both Deb and Kanga which is a pretty good bench mark.  Next on the agenda was getting his guides licence which he achieved without any troubles in 2022 and has not looked back since.

Julias grew up as the sixth child in a family of nine, fostering a deep love for animals from a young age. In 1996, after completing senior secondary school, he took on the challenging role of a wildlife scout, which was no easy feat at the time. While working and chatting with Robin in the workshop, Robin asked Julias, “What would you like to be doing in the future?” Julias replied, “Guiding, Bwana.” It was this conversation that led to Jo Pope to connect him with nature in 2007 through spotting and tea bearing. Since then, Julias has been a dedicated guide, sharing his passion for wildlife and the natural world since 2009.

Emily Haynes, with almost 20 years at Robin Pope Safaris she knows the camps and the teams inside out and will make sure that everything is ship shape in Zambia.

Rob Clifford, born and brought up in Africa and spending his entire life in the bush he has handfuls of experience within the safari industry.  Believing in a hands on approach and working with the staff he will make sure that he guides us in the right direction.

Born near Liwonde Township, Thom began his guiding journey in 2005, working as a waiter. Surrounded by the beauty of the bush and Liwonde National Park, he quickly developed a deep passion for nature, conservation, and the environment. In 2013, Thomas was selected to attend guide training, an opportunity that allowed him to pursue his dream of working closely with wildlife. Specializing in birdlife, he successfully transitioned into a guiding role. Now in Majete, Thomas finds great joy in guiding within the Reserve, where the stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife create a fulfilling experience. His deep appreciation for nature is summed up in his belief: “Nature has no limits; it is truly beautiful

Justin JB Ngulube began his field guiding career at Mvuu Camp and Lodge in 2013 under Central African Wilderness Safaris at Liwonde National Park. After showcasing his passion for wildlife and excellent guest interaction, he transitioned from bar work to trainee guide. In 2017, he earned his Field Guide Skills certificate from Eco Training, specializing in animal behaviour, birding, astronomy, and more. Justin joined the Mkulumadzi team in 2023 and enjoys showing his guests the wonders of Majete Wildlife Reserve.

Mali was born and brought up (“like Tarzan” he likes to say) in different National Parks in Malawi. For many years, his father & his two elder brothers worked for the National Parks & Wildlife Department so being in the bush is second nature to Mali.

After school he worked as a driver for various Non-Governmental Organizations, mainly in the Machinga area but his heart remained in the wilderness. Inspired by an old friend with whom he grew up with in Liwonde National Park, Mali decided to try his hand at guiding and ended up at Mkulumadzi Lodge in Majete Wildlife Reserve where he still guides today. Mali is married to a teacher and has recently started a beautiful family.

Henry is no stranger to Liwonde National Park, having grown up in the area, and has been guiding in the park since 2008. His passion for nature started as a youngster, as his father was a herbalist who instilled the importance of nature and wildlife into him. This passion turned into a career for him. He started working towards his goal by first working as a mechanic, barman and then guide. Henry is quick with a joke, a smile, and knows how to tell a good story around the campfire.

Eneson’s journey with Robin Pope Safaris started back in 2011 as security guard at Mkulumadzi’s famous footbridge. Before long, it became apparent that the hours spent at the footbridge were not idle, but that Eneson enjoyed learning about the trees and birds (and the odd elephant) on the shores of the Mkulumadzi River. His talent and eagerness to learn soon resulted in him being promoted to waiter and a storeman. Yet, Eneson kept on studying and during the quiet Covid years could spend every waking hour pursuing his dream of becoming a guide. He guided for several years at Mkulumadzi Lodge in Majete Wildlife Reserve before making the move to Kuthengo Camp in Liwonde National Park.

Godfrey grew up in Thyolo, southern Malawi. According to him, “there were no big rivers for me to learn how to swim, or how to drive a speedboat and certainly no telescope to enjoy the stars!” Godfrey joined the team at Pumulani in 2009 and was originally assigned a driving position. Soon he started taking more responsibilities on his broad shoulders, learnt to swim and yes, taught himself all about our grand telescope and the stars and planets above. Today he is the Assistant at Pumulani Lodge and his calm demeanour means he is also the general go-to guy for whatever needs to get done, whether in the lodge, in the local community or on the busy streets of Blantyre or Lilongwe.

Black Yusufu started working at Pumulani in July 2008 when we had just ‘opened our doors’ and has been with us ever since.  He started off as a gardener for one and a half years before being promoted to beach attendant.  Black is very passionate about  all the activities offered at Pumulani and will entertain guests for hours with his wonderful stories.

Hailing from Monkey Bay – a village on the Southern shores of Lake Malawi, Precious joined the Pumulani team in 2017 as a beach attendant. Having grown up by Lake Malawi, he naturally loves being out on the water, taking guests on snorkelling excursions and more!

Anneri has had a long career in sales and fell in love with the bush after visiting Johan in Botswana before they got married. Johan has spent his entire life in hospitality between South Africa, England, Botswana and now Malawi. They spent the next 6 years managing lodges throughout the Okavango before moving back to home soil, South Africa. After 2 years in the Drakensberg in Kwazulu Natal, they realised how much they missed the bush. They then answered the call from ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’, Malawi. Anneri manages Mkulumadzi and Johan has taken on the Malawi Country Manager position.

A passionate and adventurous couple, Yolandi and Casper share a profound love for the African wilderness. Their journey together began when Casper, with his guiding and management experience, introduced Yolandi to the magic of the bush. Captivated by the beauty and excitement of the wild, Yolandi has spent over 20 years working in administration, management, and front-of-house roles within the safari industry. As proud South Africans, they decided to extend their love for adventure to Malawi, embracing new challenges and experiences. Along with his expertise in guiding, Casper has honed his maintenance skills over the years, while Yolandi brings a holistic touch with her qualification as a massage therapist.

Our journey has led us here to the Lake of Stars… Christo has many years of maintenance experience and a keen interest in birding.  I have vast experience in service industry and my heart beats for Africa. With our various skills we hope to make a difference at Pumulani. Kascha heads the front of house and guest experiences while Christo oversees operations and maintenance.

Tawanda helped open the very first camp in 2009 and took on the role of assistant chef, but has flown through the ranks over the years being promoted to head chef, Operations Manager and now Camp Manager.

Born and raised in Harare, Tawanda’s love of the bush (especially fishing!) is what led him to meeting John Stevens and forming a life-long friendship with the Stevens and Harrups. Tawanda’s positive outlook and infectious smile, coupled with his incredible stories and a clear passion for wildlife make him an absolute hit with guests and staff alike.

Tawanda can definitely be described as a jack of all trades undertaking all sorts of tasks around camp including cooking, operations, maintenance and he is currently studying to get his walking guide licence, and has aspirations of getting his pilot’s licence in the future too.

Mark is Zimbabwean born and bred, and has over 30 years of experience of leading safaris in Mana Pools, Hwange and further afield in Zimbabwe. His knowledge of Zimbabwe’s wildlife and vegetation is a testament to the many years of guiding walking safaris and undertaking canoeing expeditions all along the lower Zambezi river.

Mark’s passion for conservation and respect of the animals is immediately clear from the moment you meet him. His clear, calm and humorous briefings bring comfort to your walking safaris, and his approach to guiding is clearly centred around ensuring that the wildlife remains as undisturbed as possible.

A gifted storyteller, Mark is known for his sharp wit and sense of humour. Sitting at the dinner table, under a sky of stars, after an excellent day of morning and evening game drives, you will find yourself enthralled and transported by Mark’s tales of personal adventure and close encounters with the incredible wildlife of Zimbabwe.

Sarah and Milo (daughter and son-in-law of the extraordinaire safari guide John Stevens) have been operating John’s Camp since 2009. Milo splits his time between the office in Harare and in Mana Pools, doing what he loves most, looking after guests. Sarah, with their two children, Imogen and Max, are based full time in Harare.  Sarah helps operate the camp remotely and makes sure nothing gets left behind before it’s 7 hour journey into Mana Pools National Park.

First one in and last one out… Munyama heads up our reservations team and is one of the longest standing members of the RPS family. Hailing from Livingstone, Zambia, he has been in the travel industry for over 20 years, and his knowledge and experience is unparalleled. He revels in the challenges thrown at him on a daily as he strongly believes that there is no such thing as a ‘problem without a solution’.

Munyama is ably assisted by: Mubu Simpson and Sakhile Mudaala.

With over a decade of experience in the safari industry, Sakhile is a seasoned expert in the landscapes of Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. Born in Lusaka and raised in Livingstone, her passion for tourism was ignited in Zambia’s adventure capital. Since joining Robin Pope Safaris in 2008, Sakhile has thrived in the dynamic challenges of the field, spending two transformative years in South Luangwa National Park before settling in Lilongwe, Malawi, for nine years. After that, she  relocated to Lusaka, where she continues to share her love for wildlife and safaris.

Mubu comes with 20 years’ experience in the industry, having worked across Zambia’s major parks and for some of the country’s key safari operators. She therefore has a well rounded knowledge of Zambia as well as Zambia and Malawi, having taken on the latter 2 on joining our team in the last 5 years. Despite her having worked across the many remote areas, she still says ‘I have both a fear and love for elephants’… Good thing she is mostly behind the desk in Lusaka with just the occasional refresher trip to the bush. She loves what she does, and she believes she couldn’t have chosen a better career path for herself.

Geno Chikwiri grew up in the small resort town of Kariba in Zimbabwe, and so her love for nature and safari was established at a young age. She started off in the Robin Pope Safaris’ reservations team, living and working in the Luangwa Valley back in 2004. Geno is at her happiest sharing her knowledge and passion for Southern Africa and most especially the Robin Pope Safaris circuit, from her home base in South Africa and at tradeshows.

Steph’s love for wildlife and the great outdoors started at an early age while growing up in Zimbabwe, where she was fortunate enough to experience a great deal of nature and wildlife. In 2008 after finishing her A Levels she moved to Malawi with her family, and landed a job in a travel agency by chance. Although she had never considered a career in travel, she soon realized that it is exactly where she wanted to be. In 2011 Steph joined the RPS team and the rest is history…

Ton and Margaux met each other in 2001 in Groningen, The Netherlands where both of them were studying. They were keen on setting something up together and to become entrepreneurs. Their African adventure started in 2006 with a move to Malawi. Robin Pope Safaris was taken over in the years after, whilst new lodges & camps were built and more properties were added to the RPS family. After 13 wonderful and rewarding years in Malawi, Ton and Margaux and their three children moved back to The Netherlands. Their work and love for RPS, the bush and the African people remains and they continue work on strenghtening the company.