Who’s behind About Nature
Hi, I’m Toby, an Australian nature guide and the founder of About Nature. I personally guide and host most of the safaris we run, occasionally working alongside a small group of trusted friends and fellow guides.
I’ve been guiding small, privately designed safaris across southern Africa since 2008 and am a registered national nature guide in South Africa, drawing on nearly two decades of experience in wildlife tourism, much of it spent living and working in South Africa.
About Nature is built around a simple idea: a safari should be about experiencing nature as a whole, not just ticking animals off a list.
I believe nature isn’t something to be consumed, but something to be experienced with care and respect. Trips are designed with a focus on quality over quantity and time in the field, rather than rushing between sightings. Groups are kept small and every safari is fully personalised, creating a relaxed and highly individual experience while maintaining a light footprint in the places we visit.
In practice, that might mean choosing quieter roads, sitting a little longer at a sighting, or adjusting plans to avoid busier situations so we can better connect with the environment around us.
Rather than chasing a checklist, I focus on the broader picture: the relationships between species, habitats, and behaviours, from the smallest insects to the largest mammals. My aim is for you to leave with a deeper understanding of how everything fits together, not just a list of what you’ve seen.
What it’s like to travel with me…
Days on safari are long, but they don’t need to feel rushed. My guiding style is calm, patient, and unhurried. I’m as comfortable sharing quiet time watching a waterhole as I am talking through questions about birds, mammals, or the smaller details many people miss.
I pay close attention to energy levels and interests, and I’m happy to adjust the pace, timing, and focus of each day to suit the people I’m travelling with. Some guests like more conversation, others prefer more quiet observation; both are welcome.
My aim is for you to feel looked after, never hurried, and free to be yourself. We share time, stories, and experiences in a grounded and natural way, without pressure to perform or pretend.
Wherever possible, these journeys support conservation and local communities and leave nothing behind but footprints. My role is to guide you through these environments in a way that is thoughtful, respectful, and deeply connected to the natural world.”
