The guides who lead our safaris come from all walks of life, which make them just as colorful, interesting, and enjoyable as Africa itself. We've interviewed a few of our popular senior wildlife guides and asked them the questions we all want to know: What is the best wildlife experience you've ever had? What did you do before guiding? What's your favorite wildlife spot in Africa? Please meet: Allen Bechky - or "Mr. Migration" as Outside magazine called him Onesmo G. Ole Kishapuy - the self-proclaimed "Masai Cowboy" who has his own website Iain Allan - noted mountaineer and author of the Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro climbing guide Allen Bechky What is the most amazing wildlife encounter you have ever had? This is a tough one because there have been so many ... how about this one with a leopardess and her battle with a troupe of baboons? "It started as a good day for this leopard, asleep in the well-shaded crotch of an umbrella-shaped thorn tree. She saw trouble coming before we did, when she suddenly got up and climbed high into the thorny canopy and finally emerged atop the crown of the tree. A big male baboon then jumped out of the high grass to occupy the leopard's former perch. He was followed by more baboons, which together went up and attacked the leopard. She snarled and swatted as the barking baboons mobbing her from below…one even pulled her tail. After a while, the baboons relented. They backed off and began feeding nonchalantly in the tree, mothers holding infants on their laps, and juveniles playing carelessly as ever—with the leopard right above them. Every now and then, the baboons would gang up and have another go at the cat. Eventually the baboons came out of the tree, whereupon the leopard moved to a more defensible spot, climbing to the very crown of the tree. The baboons came up again for one last assault, and then finally went on their way. This incredible confrontation lasted more than 2 hours. What did you do before becoming a safari guide? I fell in love with wildlife on my post-college travels in India but had to return to the US. I came out to California from New York and did all kinds of odd jobs – worked at an oyster farm, the post office, house painting, taxi driving in San Francisco (oh yes, now that was scary). In the post office, I found the Mountain Travel brochure, and went to visit to offer my services running wildlife trips in India or Africa. They heard me out, but didn't hire me. But I kept coming back and eventually got hired as office "go-fer." I worked in the mailroom, was the general handyman, expeditions equipment manager, and ran a printing press in the basement. I never stopped talking about Africa, and eventually they asked me what I thought of a proposal they had received about a trip in Serengeti. I was a consultant I guess – and my fee was to ask to lead the safari. I did, it was great, and I've never looked back. What is your favorite wildlife spot in Africa and why? That's another hard question, but if I have to choose, I say the Serengeti. There is just something special about the place -- the scale of the place, the vast plains, the mountains in the distance, the big 360-degree skies -- especially when thunderheads and storms are scattered around the horizon, and of course the wildlife. It is the vision of Africa we all carry in our hearts -- a vision of Pleistocene abundance. Animals as far as the eye can see, where else can you get that? About Allen Bechky As director of Africa Operations for over 20 years, Allen Bechky designed most of Mountain Travel Sobek's outstanding safaris, and led many of them. Now, Allen devotes his expertise to developing and guiding MTS safaris throughout the world . Allen literally wrote the book on Africa—his popular volumes, Adventuring in East Africa and Adventuring in Southern Africa, are standard references for safari travelers and tour operators everywhere. Allen's safaris are geared for serious natural history enthusiasts who are passionate about wildlife observation and seek an intensive field experience. These safaris are intensive learning experiences (and also lots of fun!). back to top Onesmo G. Ole Kishapuy What is the most amazing wildlife encounter you have ever had? One of my favorite moments has to be the night we camped close to three adorable lion cubs. It was in 1999. I was scouting an area in the southern part of the Serengeti together with another safari guide. We set up camp in a beautiful spot next to a large rock - turned out that our camp was placed right in the lion territory. It was so much fun to watch the three very young lion cubs trying to walk, run and play. They still hadn't learned to control their legs, but that didn't keep them from playing around. The night in camp was a little long, though. It was clear that the adult lions didn't appreciate our presence and there was a lot of growling around camp all night. Needless to say, we were out of there as early as we could leave the next morning. What did you do before becoming a safari guide? After school, I got a job as a stone cutter, but I soon got very bored with it. I was sitting there day after day in the same spot - not moving around, seeing places and meeting people. It was such a big change for me - I was used to always being on the move when I grew up in our Maasai Village. So, I had to find a way that I could be out in the field, be around people, and at the same time make a living. For this, guiding is perfect. When I'm out in the field with people it's like being home. I enjoy being the link between the "traditional" world and the new world - and I love bringing people together to exchange experiences and ideas. When I take people to visit Maasai villages, both parties are really interested in learning about each other's culture, values, and backgrounds. So, I'll be translating Maasai to English and English to Maasai. Our world is becoming more and more open, and I really believe that traveling is the best education one can get. By traveling and experiencing other cultures we learn a lot about each other and ourselves, and many misunderstandings can be avoided. It's more important now than ever. What is your favorite wildlife spot in Africa and why? Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. The abundance of wildlife in and around the crater makes it so easy to see great wildlife. But it's also a favorite place because it's one of the few wildlife parks in Africa where people and animals live side by side. Animals and humans here have to understand each other and find a way to live in harmony and make it work. And finally, the Ngorongoro landscape and scenery is just spectacular. I do some landscaping sketching, and this is definitely my favorite place for this. About Onesmo G. Ole Kishapuy Onesmo was born into the rich Maasai culture, and lived in Maasai land until the age of 13. Because of his natural love of nature, the courses Onesmo chose in his education dealt largely with environment. He has a keen interest in conservation issues and feels that seeing Africa on foot is unparalleled in understanding the African ecosystem. Onesmo is a graduate of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) and has completed courses in Wilderness First Responder and adventure guiding. He has worked with American students as a project manger in Maasai lands as well as a camp counselor in Vermont. Onesmo led MTS climbs up Kilimanjaro for many years (he's been up the mountain more than 60 times!) and today is leading MTS walking safaris in Tanzania. back to top Iain Allan What is the most amazing wildlife encounter you have ever had? "It was at Samburu in northern Kenya. Two lions brought down a baby giraffe, which was eating about 50 yards from its mother. Before the lions were able to commence eating it, the mother bounded over, and sent the lions scattering in every direction. She then stood over the baby for about three hours, not letting the lions near. Every time they approached, she would charge them, and actually succeeded in kicking one of them on one occasion. Eventually, when she'd established her dominance, she loped away, finally allowing the lions in to feed. It was a very sad, but ultimately heartening experience." What did you do before becoming a safari guide? I was a journalist. What is your favorite wildlife spot in Africa and why? Tsavo, Tsavo, Tsavo...I love its vastness, its pristine harshness, and the fact that it doesn't tolerate mistakes. It will never be tamed. About Iain Allan Iain Allan, field director of Mountain Travel Sobek Kenya, was born in Scotland and educated in Kenya, where he has lived since the age of nine. He is incredibly knowledgeable about African wildlife, speaks fluent Swahili, and is deeply involved in Kenya's wildlife conservation issues (he is an honorary warden of Tsavo National Park). A mountaineer of note (Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro were his playgrounds as a youth), he pioneered new routes on both mountains and is the author of two books, Guide to Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro and Snowcaps on the Equator. Iain is also a central figure in Rick Ridgeway's book The Shadow of Kilimanjaro and was featured in the May 2000 National Geographic Adventure article "Among the Man-Eaters." back to top For more information and reservations, please contact: Mountain Travel Sobek 1266 66th Street, Suite 4 Emeryville, CA 94608 1-510-594-6000 or Toll Free 1-888-831-7526 (USA & Canada) Additional International Toll Free Numbers Fax: 1-510-594-6001 Email: info@mtsobek.com