Hero Image

Our Story

Brooks Kamanakao

Brooks grew up in the village of Motopi on the banks of the Boteti River, one of the primary channels of Botswana's Okavango Delta. A member of the Bayei tribe, whose ancestors introduced the traditional mokoro to the Delta, he developed a deep connection to Botswana's wild places from an early age.

Determined to pursue a career in tourism, Brooks began as a safari camp assistant before advancing to waiter and later tracker. After completing his professional guide training in 2000, he honed his skills at some of Botswana's most renowned safari camps, including Kings Pool and Mombo. Decades in the field have given him an exceptional understanding of wildlife behavior, animal movements and the ecosystems that support them.

Brooks has led wildlife and photographic safaris throughout Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe. He is known for his ability to interpret animal behavior and help guests experience meaningful wildlife encounters while gaining a deeper appreciation for the natural world. He also enjoys sharing his knowledge of astronomy, birding and the history and traditions of Botswana's diverse cultures.

An accomplished wildlife photographer, Brooks photographs everything from tiny insects to Africa's largest mammals. His images have appeared in Africa Geographic, publications in Germany and through Barcroft Media in the United Kingdom.

Brooks has visited the United States numerous times to speak with schoolchildren about conservation and is a regular visitor to Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks. When not guiding, he enjoys wildlife photography and spending time beneath Botswana's night skies.

What's in My Camera Bag

Camera Bag
Lowepro

Camera Equipment
Canon 80D body
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-56 IS STM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6

Post-Processing Software Expertise
Adobe Lightroom

What Our Guests Say

Collectively, my family took over 3,000 photographs. While there are wonderful memories in those photos, there are two things that photos cannot capture: Brook's passion and persistence. Passion for Botswana and its culture; passion for his job and maintenance of high standards; passion for the bush and its preservation for future generations; and persistence in his relentless pursuit of wildlife. His skills as a tracker and his acute sight and hearing continually amazed us and resulted in encounters with wildlife that exceed expectations every day.
S. Morro
There cannot possibly be a better guide anywhere than Brooks. He always put our safety first. His knowledge of everything was superior and beyond our expectations. His language skills and ability to communicate were superb. He showed us photos from books to be sure we knew what animals or birds looked like and as we saw things, we all knew them on sight! He was always extremely helpful and had a good sense of humor.
T. Hall
I rarely, if ever, write personal reviews for businesses or individuals but after returning from a Nat Hab African safari trip, I feel compelled to do so regarding Brooks. He provided that rare combination of attentiveness, expertise and genuine enthusiasm for his work that is so hard to find in service businesses these days. His bush knowledge never ceased to amaze us whether he was talking about the 'Big 5,' the 'Little 5' or something as subtle as the marks left by the spines of a porcupine in the sand. His enthusiastic personality could be seen in everything he did.
G. Block

Upcoming Adventures with Brooks Kamanakao

Our Story

Our Trips

Try Our New Search
Filter by region, country, wildlife and more.
Go to Search
Polar bears in Churchill by P. Endres

Polar Bear Tours

African Safaris

Galapagos Tours

Alaska Adventures

North Rim of the Grand Canyon Cape Royal

U.S. National Parks Tours

Canada & the North

Europe Adventures

Mexico & Central America Tours

South America Adventures

Asia Adventures

Australia & New Zealand Adventures

Penguins One After Another Jump Into The Blue Water From A Snow-white Iceberg, Antarctica

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Photo Expeditions

Terra & Tu Cultural Journeys

Expedition Cruises

Women's Journeys

New Adventures

Earthwatch Expeditions

Questions? Call 800-543-8917

Instagram logo An icon representing Instagram, a social media platform. Youtube logo An icon representing Youtube, a social media video platform. X logo An icon representing X, a social media platform. Facebook logo An icon representing Facebook, a social media platform.
Contact Us

Have a question or comment?
Click any of the buttons below to get in touch with us.

Hours
Mountain Time

  • 8 am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday

  • 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday

  • Closed on Sunday

Call 800-543-8917
Questions? Click to Chat