A Lifetime in the African Bush
an interview with Micato Safaris Director, Kitonyi "George" Kamonde
With a voice as steady as the savannah horizon and a heart deeply rooted in the rhythms of the wild, Kitonyi “George” Kamonde has spent decades guiding travelers through Kenya’s most breathtaking landscapes. As a Safari Director for Micato Safaris, he transforms our clients’ game drives into stories, sightings into lifelong memories, and journeys into something far greater than a vacation. In this conversation, George shares his path to becoming a guide, the magic behind a day on safari, and the deeper meaning of conservation, community, and connection in the African bush.
What inspired you to become a safari director?
Growing up in Kenya’s upcountry (rural landscape) on my father’s farm, I was lucky to live next to a national park. Local wildlife, such as baboons, monkeys, buffaloes, and warthogs, would come onto our property to eat whatever crops they could find, and it was my duty to keep them at bay during the evenings and weekends when I wasn’t at school. These interactions caused me to develop a passion and interest in the animals—I wanted to learn more about them, share what I knew with others, and maybe stir a new interest in wildlife within people who didn’t know much about it.
Can you share your journey and training process for becoming a certified safari director?
My journey started in primary school when I joined the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya and met other students with the same passion. It was here that we began learning about wildlife and conservation. When I started high school, I enrolled in the club again, which organized visits to national parks, museums, animal orphanages, and other places where I saw guides and tour leaders in action. That’s when I realized this is my calling. I became the Deputy Chairman and then Chairman of the school club, and then studied wildlife in college to gain intensive, comprehensive training and preparation. Afterwards, I was accepted to internships at different institutions. I joined the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association, our national body that tests and certifies guides into different levels while also ensuring that standards and principles are maintained.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked my way up from a driver guide to a tour guide and a lead tour guide, eventually becoming a safari director with Micato Safaris. Like every Micato Safari Director in Kenya, I received the Silver Level guiding certification from the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association, and I’m currently working on my Gold Level certification. It is a journey that has taken time, effort, dedication, and patience. Guiding is a continuous learning, with research and discoveries along the way.
What’s a typical day like for you during safari season?
I wake up before sunrise, as that’s often when a typical day begins for our guests. I make sure the guest’s wake-up-call—which is not a call so much as a gentle “Good morning” and the delivery of their first wonderful cup of African coffee or tea of the day!—is all set. After the guests have their coffee, they meet me and our driver for their sunrise game drive, after which we’re usually back at camp by 9 am for breakfast. So it’s very true that you can get more done on safari before 9 am than most people do all day!
During breakfast, I check with the guests to get their feelings about how they want to spend the rest of their day: That can include an additional game drive in the morning—always a popular option—but it’s equally popular is for the guests to spend the remainder of their morning to lounge in their room, go for a swim, get a massage, etc.
At midday, when lunch is served, I check in with the guests again to arrange their afternoon game drive—if they’ve skipped the mid-morning game run, the guests typically will want to be out looking for animals in the bush all afternoon, but again, there is no shame for wanting to take a day back at camp to relax! On my side, I will make sure arrangements for sundowners and dinner and certain “Micato surprises” are in place.
By dinnertime, I am already confirming with the lodging staff and the rest of the Micato Team that all the guests’ plans are set for the following day. I am always nearby our guests to observe what’s happening or can be reached immediately. Ultimately, my typical day is to ensure every day for the guest is seamless.
Of course, everything is variable depending on guests’ preferences and activities, such as a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over the golden Maasai Mara savannah.
How do you prepare for the unexpected while out in the wild?
I always make sure we have extras of everything. For the safari vehicle, for example, that means enough fuel, two spare wheels in working order, a functional high-lift jack, a wheel spanner, toiletries, a well-stocked first aid kit, and a functional radio. We’ll provide blankets, too, for chilly mornings and evenings.
It’s important to be organized. Before each game drive, I ensure the driver guide takes enough drinks (water, soda, and where possible, beer and wine) and snacks, always checking for any food allergies. We request that guests wear comfortable and closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, sunglasses, and fully charged phones and cameras.
As for myself, I make sure my phone is charged and has enough airtime and that I have everything from my WiFi modem to a good flashlight. If we are in transit, such as going through immigrations between different countries, I make sure to have packed lunches available for the guests, just in case we encounter slow customs procedures or flight delays.
Are there any myths or misconceptions about safaris you’d like to debunk?
Oh yes! One myth is that ostriches stick their heads into the soil or sand to confuse would-be predators—ostriches never do that at all, for any reason. Another misconception is that hyenas are purely scavengers, never making their own kills but being dependent on lions for their food. This is untrue—on average, active hunting makes up 70 percent of hyenas’ diet, and scavenging makes up about 30 percent.
How do you balance the excitement of safaris with the responsibility of wildlife conservation?
Try not to overindulge or overuse anything, and always take responsibility for yourself and others. It’s important to talk to the guests comprehensively about the fine line between conservation and tourism, explaining the benefits of responsible travel and the potential harm of overtourism. These conversations often create a shared sense of connection among the guests and the Micato Safari Directors, as they understand our approach and want to become part of the mindful solution.
We do not allow off-road game drives in national parks and game reserves, and there are also restrictions in place on the number of vehicles and visitors coming in. When we do go off-road, which is only possibly in private conservancies and game ranches, these excursions are limited to sightings of big cats and rhinos. We must be mindful of the fragile ecosystem on the ground, which can have birds’ nests, fledgling birds, small mammals and their burrows, snakes, insects, native trees, and more.
What role do local communities play in the safari experience and conservation efforts?
Local communities are the backbone of the Micato Safaris experience, from conservation to hospitality. That’s why for more than 37 years, Micato has honored its birth continent through its work with its nonprofit foundation, AmericaShare, and its affiliate, Huru International.
While visiting the AmericaShare Harambee Community Centre in the heart of the Mukuru Slum, outside Nairobi, our guests visit the libraries and computer labs—funded largely by Micato travelers—and meet the student beneficiaries of our education programs, which include a School Scholarship Programme and The Micato One for One Commitment.
Huru International keeps girls in school during their periods by supplying them with reusable sanitary pads—and to date, more than 400,000 girls have been the recipients of over 2,700,000 reusable sanitary pads. Our guests can see the Huru Global headquarters in Nairobi, which employs over 100 Kenyans. There, guests meet young women from Mukuru who are trained to sew sanitary pads and school uniforms. The Huru Skills Development Programme has also trained 300 impoverished young women to use industrial sewing machines, making them highly valuable skilled employees for Kenya’s burgeoning textile industry.
Out in the bush, local communities have a connection to the land and the animals who live there is stronger than that of anyone else. These communities act as “bumper walls” around the conservation areas, aiding in conservation efforts as rangers, security forces, wildlife experts, repair and maintenance personnel, drivers, administration at animal orphanages, and many other roles. In addition to working in hotels, lodges, and camps, community members often farm produce that feeds guests at the accommodations. Local people also showcase their traditions and regional values to guests through cultural talks, village visits, entertainment, and the sale of handcrafts, beading, and artwork. All these elements create a positive and conducive environment for all these parties to co-exist.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a Safari Director?
Time: If I’m working with some guests who tend to run late and others who like to be punctual, it can be a challenge to mitigate those differences. The key is communicating with the group to suggest collaborative solutions. Of course, booking one of Micato’s Private Classic Safaris or Custom Safaris, which move at guests’ own pace with a private vehicle, driver, and Safari Director all to themselves, is helpful.
Airline Logistics: Scheduled flights always have a standard flight route. Chances are, for example, during a regional flight to the Maasai Mara, there will often be two quick stops before arriving to the final destination. Delays can also accumulate during connecting flights. For guests who prefer to skip unnecessary connections or perhaps don’t enjoy flying, the best solution is to charter a private plane.
Politics: If politics comes up in conversation amongst guests with different opinions, it can complicate the rest of the entire safari. Thankfully, a thrilling game sighting in the bush—whether the awesome sight of an elephant herd, or a breathtaking spectacle of lions and hyenas fighting over a kill—is one of those rare, powerful experiences that unites people in lasting memories.
Varied Interests: Some guests on safari might be avid birders, while others are eager for general information. If that happens, I will sometimes set up different times for special interest outings beyond the standard game drives to accommodate everyone.
What should every traveler bring on safari that they might not think of?
Travelers often don’t think about dehydration, but it can sneak up on you. Every traveler should bring electrolytes tablets or oral rehydration salts, plus pain killers. (We also always have these at the ready in our vehicles’ first aid kits.)
If you could guide a nature-oriented trip anywhere in the world, outside of your usual area, where would it be and why?
Yellowstone National Park. This is because it’s considered the world’s oldest national park—and probably the birthplace of my profession.
What do you hope visitors take away from their safari experience?
Our guests come away with incredible experiences, knowledge, information, new friends, and internal fulfillment.