Our Guides
"Knowledgeable and enthusiastic" are the two words that quickly come to mind when thinking of Classic Escapes’ wonderful specialist guides. Proud to share their world with you, you'll be inspired by the breadth and scope of their knowledge, and delighted by their engaging personalities. Classic Escapes realizes the integral nature of the specialist guides to your entire travel experience. We hand-pick talented, interesting people with a passion for life that resonates in their time with you. Allow us to introduce you to just some of our talented team:
Australia:
Damon Ramsey works as a biologist guide leading general nature, wildlife and education trips. His broad aim in life has been to experience as many ecosystems and observe as much wildlife on our planet as he can, which has taken him to the Americas, Southern Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and all states in Australia. This love of travel and wildlife has come together to result in a career of Natural History interpretation. He has an Advanced Certificate in Outdoor Guiding and has completed his biology degree (majoring in Zoology) at Australia's only two tropical universities in Darwin and Cairns. Damon has been a volunteer as well as paid field assistant in various scientific projects, with subjects ranging from butterflies to bandicoots, cassowaries, rainforest tree ecology, sea turtles, goannas, finches, bats, frogs, wading birds and plant surveys. Damon has guided Aboriginal rock art tours, 4WD bush tours, hikes and bicycle trips, but specializes in biology-based tours. He currently lives in Cairns, North Queensland. Damon has recently completed a self-published field guide to the nature of the Daintree and is working on several more in the series
Costa Rica:
José Calvo Samayoa is better known as "Indio" and has been a member of the Costa Rican Birding association since 1998. Fluent in Spanish and English, Jose has been leading general, natural history and bird watching tours to every part of Costa Rica and most of Central America since 1987. His major interests include rainforest ecology, ornithology, nature photography, climate, and geology and has particular expertise in photographing all the wonderful fauna and flora found in his native land. Jose has actively participated in the preservation and protection of the Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica by helping in the implementation of the artificial nesting program in Carara Biological Reserve. He has vast knowledge of all of the different life zones and ecosystems, together with well-honed interpretation skills.
Conrad Weston's charm and expertise lies in his connection with groups that are strongly related to natural history, specifically ecological interpretation in different ecosystems. An amateur history buff (a trait he inherited from his father), Conrad is also an expert photographer who often presents his images for groups. His hobbies include plant identification, birding, mammal spotting, scuba diving and surfing. His education credits encompass a variety of fields from Humanities to Business Administration, followed by Tourism Marketing, botany, Natural History, Biology, Sustainable Ecotourism and various levels of diving certifications. Conrad has been a well-known Naturalist Guide since 1990 and works with various groups across the USA.
Rodolfo Zamora is considered to be one of the premier naturalist birder guides in Costa Rica, winning the award for best guide in 1994 by ICT-CANATUR (Costa Rica Tourist Board-Costa Rican National Chamber of Commerce). A member of the American Birding Association, he has participated in ABA sponsored conventions. Rudy was also a participant at the seminar on management of wildlife areas hosted at the Charles Darwin Institute in the Galapagos Islands. A true Renaissance man, Rudy is a farmer, has studied chemistry, has worked as a professional musician and has led numerous Zoo, Audubon and nature groups through his beloved homeland of Costa Rica since 1987. Rudy has also traveled the world, visiting the USA (where he attended the University of Arizona), Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, and throughout Europe.
Kenya:
Joseph Kimani has been a naturalist guide in Kenya for over 15 years and has performed with the utmost distinction. His enthusiasm, energy and dedication have consistently made travelers feel that they have been looked after in the best way possible. He has escorted all manner of tours and worked tirelessly to satisfy all of the needs of the most demanding of clients. Joe’s professional background also includes experience with the French Embassy in Kenya, sales and farm management and he is fluent in English, French and Kiswahili.
Francis Kitayi - One of the best known ornithologist naturalist guides in East Africa, Francis has shared his vast knowledge and passion of the region’s greatest assets with Audubon, Zoological and various other groups since 1980. Francis hails from the western province in Kakamega in Kenya and is of the Luhya tribe. He is very knowledgeable and a favorite of many of our clients, with a wealth of information on all aspects of Kenya, its people, geography, flora and fauna.
Antonio Marangabassa - Born in Mozambique, Antonio graduated in 1981 magnum cum laude from the United States International University with majors in Sociology and Anthropology. Antonio was a public school teacher for seven years and has worked as a tour guide in Kenya since 1981. Tony is especially appreciated by his clients for his quick sense of humor and undying energy. He has volunteered some of his time to the Bring-A-Book Foundation from its inception, helping coordinate the donations to the schools. Tony speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and Kiswahili, and his interests include conservation, traveling, soccer, reading, and philanthropic work.
Aaron Shaha - Aaron has led many individuals and groups since 1996 throughout Kenya and Tanzania, including various Zoological and Museum groups. Educated at the Utallii College in Nairobi, Aaron received a diploma in Tour Guiding and Office Administration. He has traveled throughout South Africa, United States and Canada sharing his knowledge on his beloved country. While in the U.S., Aaron has spoken to many groups and organizations on the culture, history and travel highlights of East Africa. Aaron selflessly shares his passion for travel with every group he meets with or has the joy to travel with. His insights will delight and educate you throughout your journey.
Tanzania:
Augustine Minja – A native Tanzanian, Augustine is a superb ambassador for Africa. His flexibility and knowledge of wildlife and native culture combine to create the ultimate safari experience. He attended the Mweka College of Wildlife where he earned a Certificate in Wildlife Management, Tour Guiding and Visitor Services. Other interests include ornithology, botany and range ecology. Augustine speaks Kiswahili, English, French, Chagga and Iraqw. He has led numerous zoological, museum and university groups through his beloved Tanzania since 1997.
Egypt:
Morad Nasr has earned many degrees from Cairo University, including a Ph.D. of Microbiology and Diploma of Egyptology faculty of Archeology. His diverse professional background includes working since the 1980s as an Egyptologist and tour manager/guide for many alumni, museum, environmental and other affinity groups. He has also served as a guest lecturer in and out of his homeland of Egypt. Morad speaks English, Italian and French and is an avid photographer and scuba diving enthusiast.
Mohamed A. Shata is an established Egyptologist and Guide, licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. His field of expertise includes an extensive background in the discovery, excavation and restoration of many of the tombs and antiquities in the Giza area. Educated at Cairo University with a degree in Archeology, he has worked with Dr. Zaki Hawes, Curator of the Giza pyramids. He has also been authorized to authenticate, identify, classify and appraise the value of ancient artifacts. He is in demand as a guest lecturer at many museums and universities in the United States and Canada.
Southern Africa:
Fausto Carbone - Born in North Africa to Italian parents, Fausto’s love for nature started at an early age as his father’s career took them through several African countries. The family finally settled in Zimbabwe in 1974 and it was here in this beautiful country, rich with wildlife, that his passion for the outdoors led him to pursue a life in the safari industry. His love for nature was not only limited to flora and fauna but also extended to the night skies and astronomy. In 1988 after studying Civil Engineering and while working in an office, Fausto looked out of the window at a large gathering of European Swallows preparing to migrate back to Europe and he knew that he was in the wrong place!! That same day he went for a job interview with a safari operator and a month later was training to become a canoe guide. At the end of 1988 he obtained his canoeing license and found himself leading some of the first canoe trails down the mighty Zambezi. In 1991 he managed Ruckomechi Camp in Mana Pools and in 1992 he obtained his full Professional Guide's license. Since then, Fausto has led many groups through Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Trevor Earl, an Australian, has been travelling and working in the wilds since he was 20 years old. His love of the bush and wilderness areas was sated during many years of working in the outback of Australia. After a season trek leading in Nepal and South East Asia, he visited Africa in 1990. Since that first safari to East Africa and Zimbabwe, he has returned to a different part of the African continent each year until deciding to settle in Cape Town in 1995. He is an avid hiker leading groups all over the Table Mountain range as well as in the mountains of the wine country of the Cape. He is involved in a Health and Lifestyle Investing presentation by a leading Cape Town doctor. This is combined with day walks amidst the spectacular scenery of the Western Cape or amongst the valleys and vineyards of the winelands, or even further afield to the beautiful and rugged Cederberg Wilderness Area. His passion for wine, which began when he lived in the oldest wine-growing region of Australia, Adelaide, has grown since living in the Cape. After completing the Cape Wine Academy certificate he has become very knowledgeable in the South African wine industry. He has travelled to other parts of the world where wine is produced and has a great love and interest in the old and new wine growing areas of the world. With his love for wine and great love of people he has befriended many of the Cape's winemakers giving guests an opportunity to interact with the wine fundi's of the Cape.
Graham Johansson has been leading private and specialist photographic tours and safaris since 1994 in Botswana – his first love and an area he knows intimately – Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Graham was born and raised on a farm in Zambia, educated in Zimbabwe, and moved to South Africa to further his studies, train and pursue a career in tourism. He is now based out of Cape Town where he lives with his wife and two sons. His passion is found in the intangible harmony and beauty of the wilds and outdoors. An avid naturalist with a well published portfolio of wildlife photographs that have appeared in a variety of publications, he is well suited to interpret natural history and what can capture that special moment by camera. His interests also include current and historic affairs, sports, good food and South African wine.
Tessa Redman - Born in South Africa, Tessa has been involved in the tourism industry in all her working life. She travelled extensively spending five years living in Australia where she worked on overland safaris in the North West of the country. Returning to the Cape with this experience, and her love of the outdoors and interest in natural history she completed a bush orientation course operated by the South African National Parks. She has been leading groups in the Cape for the past 8 years. She is an Honorary Ranger with the South African Parks Board enabling her to be involved with the Parks Board and preservation of the Cape's wilderness areas. She is a member of the Botanical Society of South Africa and has a great interest in the Cape Floral Kingdom with its diversity of indigenous plants. She has completed a number of botanical courses through Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens and has a wealth of knowledge of the Cape fynbos. She is also a keen birder having completed courses run by the Cape Bird Club and enjoys combining the floral kingdom of the Cape with the endemic bird specials found in the fynbos. As the Treasurer of the New Rest/Kanana Community Development Trust she is involved in promoting township tourism. This is a community-based project responsible for an in-situ upgrading of this area of the Cape Flats. She is working with the University of Cape Town and the city council on this project, which as a self-help community project will enable people of this area to build their own houses and learn skills enabling them to gain employment.
Patrick Boddam-Whetham was born in Johannesburg and raised on a farm. He attended school and university in Grahamstown, before pursuing a career in farm management, interspersed with time spent in the USA, Canada and UK. Most of this time abroad was involved in agriculture, working on farms and cattle ranches, providing him with good insight for how other people live and interact in their daily lives. Farming was not proving to be satisfactory to Patrick, and in 1987 decided upon a career change and became a cross-country safari guide based in Botswana. Since then, Patrick has successfully led safaris in all of Southern Africa. He has a great feel for the region and is a keen naturalist with varied interests in wildlife, especially birds, animals, photography, fishing and people. He is an enthusiastic and friendly guide who is always willing to share his knowledge with those around him.