Lazarus — "Lazi"— was born and raised in Bobonong village in Botswana. During weekends and school holidays he helped his parents on a farm along the Limpopo River, where his brother Moalosi, now a safari camp manager, always took him out on patrol. On many occasions they encountered elephant, eland, impala, kudu, hippo, and most of the small game animals. These outings inspired Lazi, who loved wildlife, and instilled in him a great love of the bush. Upon completing secondary school, Lazi was determined to pursue studies in the arena of nature and conservation. He graduated with a diploma in Tourism Management and Hospitality from Speciss College in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, then returned to Botswana to start work as a travel consultant in the safari capital of Maun. This was excellent experience, as it allowed him to learn in detail what guests are looking for on their travels, but it did not satisfy Lazi's urge to be in the bush. He continued with further studies as as a guide and shortly after became a trainee guide at Chitabe Camp. During the last nine years Lazi has also guided out of several other premier safari camps in Botswana including Little Vumbura, DumaTau and Vumbura Plains. He now holds a Level 2 guide certificate with walking safari qualification and enjoys pursuing particular interests in tracking, ecology and nature conservation.

Upcoming Adventures with Lazi:
Secluded Botswana Safari

Praise from Nat Hab travelers:

N. Bennett
"Lazarus is truly exceptional. The breadth and depth of his knowledge concerning wildlife and vegetation are amazing, and he's clearly passionate about his work. Respectful and patient in response to questions, Lazi goes the extra mile to ensure the best experience for the group. I cannot imagine a better guide than Lazarus, and am indebted to him for providing such an incredible experience."

P. Ivey
"Lazi was incredible. His knowledge, dedication and perseverance made an already wonderful trip, unbelievable. His abilities as a guide are unsurpassed in my book. I feel incredibly lucky to have had him as my guide."

N. Boylan
"The Expedition Leader is key to a great experience. Lazarus made the trip extraordinary! The depth of his knowledge and his willingness to educate us far exceeded any expectations I had. We all felt very lucky to have Lazarus as our guide."

P. Connelly
"I cannot give enough superlatives about Lazarus. He MADE the trip. His knowledge of the animals, the country, the politics and the history was top notch. His tracking skills were phenomenal, locating many animals so that our jeep was the first on the scene. He has a wonderful sense of humor?—we laughed heartily throughout the week. He really went the 'extra mile' to make sure all our questions were answered and that we felt safe at all times?—quite a trick when we were staying in tents with lions roaring 50 yards away."

A. Harrison
"Lazi is AWESOME. We are two college professors who know what great teaching looks like, and Lazi exceeded all of our expectations. We learned so much from him! We cannot imagine that there is a better guide in Botswana."

V. Vennell
"Lazi was a superb leader—in fact, it was like taking a college course in 'everything Botswana.' He was knowledgeable, engaging and taught us all about the animals and their habits. In addition, he taught us about the country's culture and commitment to protecting all living things."

C. Brenner
"Lazarus has a wonderful combination of skills that make him a superb Expedition Leader. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the fauna, flora, geology, culture and history of Botswana, and is a caring and attentive leader. It was a great pleasure to have him as our guide."

J. Montgomery
"Lazi had exceptional knowledge in all areas: animal behavior and anatomy, botany and astronomy. One of his best skills was making the animals seem far more than just four-legged mammals; they became beings with families, feelings and concerns. We had previously been on a safari with another company in Tanzania, and while the guides were good, they did not approach Lazi's level in any way."

B. Miller
"Lazarus is far and away the best guide and tracker I have ever had. His ability to simultaneously drive, spot game and find tracks from a moving vehicle was incredible. When he stopped and tracked slowly he was able to tell how many animals had passed and what direction they were going. His tracking skills allowed us to find many animals with no other sightings or audible cues. He was amazing. His knowledge of all mammals, birds and plant was also unsurpassed."