John Mittan
John Mittan
Born in South Africa in 1979, John’s connection to the African wilderness began early. At five, his family relocated to Australia, but his passion for wildlife remained strong. Growing up in Perth, he embraced the outdoors—surfing, hiking, and exploring remote landscapes—while yearning for Africa’s wild spaces. Regular visits back only deepened his desire to return for good.
While studying biological sciences in Sydney, John discovered an ad for EcoTraining in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Seizing the chance with just three weeks’ notice, he enrolled in an intensive field guide course that set the trajectory for his career. He worked as a guide and instructor, eventually joining Wilderness Safaris, where he rose to senior guide, mentoring aspiring guides and leading training programs for underprivileged youth in partnership with NGOs and private donors.
Today, as a naturalist Expedition Leader, John blends deep ecological knowledge with an engaging, down-to-earth style. His greatest joy is sharing Africa’s wild beauty with Nat Hab guests, fostering connections to the landscapes and wildlife that first inspired him.
What's in My Camera Bag
Camera Bag
Manfrotto Manhattan Mover
Camera Equipment
Sony a7Rv body
Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter
Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM
Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G
Nikon D850 Body
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm F/5.6E
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm F/2.8ED
Olympus OM-1
Olympus M Zuiko MC-20 2x teleconveter
Olympus M Zuiko 60mm F/2.8 Macro
Olympus M Ziuko 12-40mm F/2.8 Pro
Olympus M zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro
Manfrotto MK055CXPRO tripod
Post-Processing Software
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Photoshop
Topaz Sharpen AI
Topaz DeNoise AI
Topaz Gigapixel
Final Cut Pro
What Our Guests Say
John is an extraordinary ambassador for Nat Hab and for the wonders of Madagascar. His encyclopedic knowledge of the wildlife, from the smallest tree frog to the largest lemur, is matched only by his delightful sense of humor and unflagging patience. He went above and beyond. He is an amazing photographer who is generous (and kind) in making sure we all got the best possible photos of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I've traveled with countless guides and John ranks right at the top!
John is the best guide I have ever had. He was most professional and made the trip interesting. He gave so much of his time and was helpful to each and every one of us on the trip. He knew so much about every living creature, both big and small, and also about the history of Uganda and Africa. He has a great sense of humor and is fun to have as a guide.
John was outstanding as a guide and leader. He was enthusiastic, the breadth and depth of his knowledge was unmatched, he was exceedingly friendly and he kept all of us working together as a team. He both met and exceeded all of my expectations. I can't rave about him enough, he was that good! John made our trip spectacular.
