Keith hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he developed an interest in the outdoors, wildlife and Africa at a young age. At 21, he became the youngest person to have seen 850 birds in the Southern African sub region. His expertise has been gained through numerous field trips, where he has observed and studied birds and other wildlife and their behavior in depth. He holds a degree in financial management, but spends most of his time guiding tours throughout Africa, Asia and Madagascar. Keith has also developed a passion for nature photography and while not on tour spends much time in the field together with his fiancée photographing and experiencing the natural world to its fullest.

Praise from Natural Habitat travelers: 

K. Petersen
"Keith is a gem. Keep him for future trips! He is, of course, a superior birder, but he also knows the lemurs, reptiles, and amphibians extremely well, is pretty good with plants, too, and is a super photographer. He's also informed about what's going on in Madagascar and the rest of the world, and is a wonderful traveling companion. I thank him especially for his help when I needed a hand."

E. Jackson
"He was wonderful - you couldn't have chosen a better guide anywhere."

K. Stockwell
"Keith Valentine was a wonderful expedition leader. His knowledge of the birds of Madagascar was first rate. He was very patient with a group of "non bird watcher's" and dealt with us with a wonderful sense of humor. He was an enthusiastic leader and shared his knowledge of the birds, mammals, reptiles and trees. His trip report was delivered in a very timely fashion. Keith was very helpful with his knowledge of photography, offering tips for better pictures and the best angle for each shot. It was a pleasure to travel with Keith and I would not hesitate to travel with him again. He really made the trip enjoyable."

L. Gatchel
"Keith is a great fellow. It was a pleasure being with him. His expertise is the birds, but he is also very knowledgeable about animals, insects, etc. He was extremely concerned that each person saw the particular bird or animal."

S. Seliga
"Keith was a fantastic guide. He was very knowledgeable and an excellent communicator. He was very attentive to everyone in the group."