Growing up on a farm in central Botswana, the son of an avid exploration
geologist, Simon spent his childhood camping out and enjoying nature as his
playground. Numerous family holidays to the Okavango Delta and many other
wild places in Southern Africa engrained in him a passion for wild and remote
places. “I spent every free moment during my childhood and university holidays
in the bush, either exploring or guiding (to pay for my student life!); so after I
graduated from university it was the natural thing to do and I haven’t looked
back since!”
Simon has spent more than ten years working as a professional guide in the
safari industry. He started his career with Wilderness Safaris as a lodge based
guide and was associated with the majority of their Botswana properties.
“Lodge guiding was a blast, and I especially enjoyed spending long periods
of time in one area, getting to know it and its animals intimately.” Simon left
Wilderness Safaris in 2010 to start up Beagle Expeditions. This has given him
the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Africa, gaining knowledge of,
and experience in, the two related fields which he is most passionate about:
Conservation and Safari.
He spends his free time with his family, raising his daughter Dalia, travelling,
reading, walking and working on various conservation projects. Simon has a
wonderful in-depth knowledge of all things wild and historical, with a passion
for conservation and Africa that is contagious. Simon has gained a reputation
throughout Africa as an exceptional and top class safari guide, and was featured
as one of The 25 Best Safari Guides by Condé Nast Traveler at the end of 2013