Kwando Safaris

Intimate camps in private areas with personal service - vintage Africa

The Okavango Delta, the big game Kwando River concession and the Victoria Falls - the highlights of the region in one seamless adventure. From the beginning, the aim of Kwando Safaris was to build a regional Southern African circuit of the finest intimate, private and exclusive camps, to provide their guests with access to the very best that this remarkable region has to offer.

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People on the move

Harry and Monique took over the management of Lebala camp in January 2005. They joined Kwando as a team and bring both their combined experience and abilities to what is already considered one of the best game viewing camps in Africa. In traditional safari camp style they have moved into Lebala properly to make it their home. They will quickly develop their own reputations as camp managers on top of Lebala's already considerable reputation for game viewing and wilderness. They already know the Lebala staff and area well.

Harry Steyn also known as "Kalahari Harry" was born in Mafikeng, South Africa in 1966. Mafikeng was then the capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate. The town of Mafikeng is close to the Botswana border with a history of being a frontier town and a jumping off point into the unmapped areas of Africa in the 1800's. 1966 is same year as the formation of the Republic of Botswana and the capital city of Gaborone was born then too. So it is fair to say that Harry is as old as Botswana!!

The nickname "Kalahari Harry" was, assigned by his friends, due to his love of Botswana and the Kalahari Desert. Harry spent many years driving massive cement trucks through the desert sands to the frontier town of Ghanzi - a journey normally considered impossible in those lorries. In true African adventurer style he gave this up when better roads were built make the trip too tame for Harry.

This change led to Harry joining the tourism industry as a professional guide working for overland safari companies based out of Maun. After several years he started Oasis Safaris and developed this into a successful business. During this time Harry also did freelance management and guiding work for Kwando Safaris, African Horseback Safaris and other well known safari camp operators. This exposure to Lebala made it one of his favourite camps in the bush and hence joining Kwando Safaris in January 2004 with his wife Monique to manage the camp.

Harry has developed a loyal following and is considered one of Botswana's great guides in the true African safari tradition. This means:

• Having a deep knowledge of the bush born of experience.
• Being a character with real stories of his own experiences (not recycling bush lore heard from others)
• Understanding that the best guide is the one that gives his guests the best possible experience for them.
• Having that natural confidence around Africa's big game that only years of experience can bring.

Monique was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Her family relocated to Mafikeng soon after her birth. After her schooling Monique started an early career studying Photography then later specialising in Studio Photography.

Harry met Monique at school in Mafikeng where they became high school sweethearts. After school they went their separate ways only to meet again in Botswana many years later. Harry introduced her to the Okavango Delta. Monique fell in love with Harry and the Delta. They were married in Maun after which she became his (best ever!) assistant on his safari expeditions into the wilderness of Northern Botswana.

Their safari business grew quickly leading to Monique having to manage the base office in Maun, full time. For the past 7 years Monique has been managing Oasis Safaris operations, accounts and reservations and consequently she has been missing out on all the excitement of being on safari. She decided that Harry cannot have all the fun without her.

Monique, like Harry, spent time at Lebala helping out and also developed a love of Lebala and the surrounding area. After 10 years in the tourism industry and their own business Harry and Monique decided to join Kwando Safaris as Camp Managers for Lebala and start a new chapter in their lives in Botswana. Monique brings with her than unique brand of hospitality that is derived from Afrikaans traditions - where Western and African cultures intersect.

Harry and Monique will be leaving Lebala to become "city slickers" when they move to Maun to replace outgoing Operations Manager team Simon & Cheryl Blackburn. Watch this space for news on where Simon, Cheryl and family are headed.