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Meet your Executive Committee

John Laing

Z.P.G.A. Chairman

John has been in the Safari Industry for the last 25 years, has run his own Safari business in South Africa, and has travelled all through Africa. John is settled in Zimbabwe with Partner Nadine and has two children eager to follow in his footsteps, Keira aged 10 and Cassia 4 and has recently embarked on a new venture with Batoka Safari Lodges.

John’s drive comes from the desire “To make a difference” not only in peoples lives through tourism and community but also through wildlife, without this trinity the pyramid would tumble.

John’s strengths are bringing people together, showing them there is another way and getting people to work towards a common cause in this case Conservation and the Management thereof. It would be fair to say that John visualises all Conservation entities in Zimbabwe working together for the betterment and protection of our Natural Heritage.

John says – “The Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association community is a significant family, a force to be reckoned with and a group of dedicated individuals who’s focus is undeniably conservation orientated”

Pete’s commitment to conservation can be traced back to his great grandparents whom used to own land that today is part of Hwange National Park. Born in Harare, grew up on a farm in eastern Zimbabwe has always been a very passionate about animals and the outdoors. The more remote the better.

As a child growing up in Zimbabwe Pete marvelled at the countries Department of National Parks and wanted to from an early age, to become a game ranger. True to his dreams Peter worked for National Parks for seven years, and went on to obtain a full professional licence in 1986.

Pete has been an active member of our association forever. By far Pete’s biggest strength is to strive to do his best for meaningful and lasting conservation on an ethical, legal and sustainable basis. Pete’s focus with the Z.P.G.A.  is to direct all members of the Association to do the right thing, all work carried out should be both legal and ethical, Members cannot sit on both sides of the fence and firmly believes we all need to remain “united as divided we will fall” and fail with our conservation efforts.

Pete says “Do not be afraid to stand up for what is just no matter what obstacles are in our way”.

Pete Fick

Z.P.G.A. Vice Chairman

Nadine Laing

Z.P.G.A. Secretary

Nadine, or Nades as she’s fondly know as, was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. With a back-ground in procurement, human-resource recruitment and Safari Camp Management, Nades brings both an insider’s knowledge of the industry, as well as seamless and effortless office organisational skills essential to Managing a fast passed and demanding executive committee, a true asset to the Association.

Nades has worked for 14 years in the tourism industry and now pulls together not only the Z.P.G.A. but several of our partners too, namely SATIB and Dirt Road. With a warm personality and love of all things natural, Nades has the ability to adapt and change, certainly a pre-requirement for this important and demanding role.

David Carson is chief examiner for ZPGA. In this role he has developed a great partnership with the chief examiner from National Parks, with whom he works closely to uphold the high standards of the industry, ensuring that the Zimbabwean Pro’s, remain among the best in Africa.

David stumbled into a career as a professional guide, by being fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. His career kicked off quite unexpectedly when he had planned to get some experience farming in the Gwaai, but instead found himself building a safari camp after he met Ron White. It was during this time in Gwaai, that he was so inspired by the fireside stories and captivated by the adventures relived in the Gwaai pub, that he promptly forgot about farming and embraced the life of an apprentice. David was mentored by Gavin Best, whose patient training has helped steer him in his career and formed the foundation of his passion for the bush.

During the course of his 30 year career, he has gained most of his experience in the national parks and wildlife areas of Zimbabwe but, has also guided all over the African continent. During his travels he has had the privilege to meet guides from many countries, which has enabled him to share ideas and gain valuable experience. David now dedicates much of his time to passing on his knowledge and sharing his experience with our up and coming guides.

In the last ten years David has built and managed Camp Hwange and Hwange Bush Camp. The two sister camps pride themselves on offering a true safari experience where their outstanding attribute is the exceptional quality of the guiding. Like many professional guides, David has been committed to giving back to our industry by mentoring the next generation. Both Camp Hwange and Hwange Bush Camp are dedicated to providing one of the most thorough apprenticeships in the country and has produced some exceptional guides throughout the years.

David Carson

Z.P.G.A. Chief Examiner

Rob Lurie

Z.P.G.A. US & ZIM Hunting Liaison

Rob has been in the Safari industry for 26 years, owns and runs Rob Lurie Safaris with his wife and  partner of 20 years Michelle.

Rob is indeed motivated to be a conservationist more recently by his children – Josh, now 15 and Abbi 12, as he wants them to grow up enjoying the beautiful wild places and the animals in them as much as he has.

Robs strengths are in his ability to make the best of any situation, a problem solver, and is able to bring people together. Over and above this Rob’s passion is to show visitors to Africa the true beauty and meaning of ‘Safari’ with memories that last forever.

Rob’s goals are to work together with all Stakeholders in the industry forging relationships that are vital to the success and indeed survival of the tourism and conservation industry.

Rob’s conservation message is this – “We as ‘Custodians’ of the wildlife and wild places need to work together – as only by doing this will we truly succeed in conserving the natural beauty of this planet for future generations to enjoy”.

David was born and bred in the famed Zambezi Valley in the far north of Zimbabwe. From an early age his Father imbued in him a deep respect and love for the outdoors. His childhood involved keeping a myriad of fish, reptiles and wild animals which his Father encouraged he studied rather than keep as pets. As a result of his early training, it was only natural that Dave would go on to study further and he attained a Bachelor of Science degree from Rhodes University where he majored in Environmental sciences. With his formal education complete, Dave took to the wilds of his native Zimbabwe and neighbouring Mozambique and qualified as a professional hunter and guide.

Dave has been guiding in Zimbabwe for 11 years now. He has always had an enquiring mind about the outdoor world, something which he enjoys sharing with clients from all walks of life. He loves to teach visitors about the fauna and flora in his homeland and considers Zimbabwe one of the friendliest and best safari destinations the discerning traveller can visit. Dave has served on the education committee for the last two years and considers the work he does with up and coming apprentices as very rewarding and beneficial to the health of the association. He is married and lives with his wife and two daughters in Harare.

Dave Langerman

Z.P.G.A. Committee

Allan Van Rensburg

Allan was born in Zimbabwe but moved to South Africa at a very young age where he completed his high school and thereafter attended agricultural college. His regular visits to Zimbabwe and his uncles’ farm ignited an appreciation and passion for the bush and wildlife.

Allan returned fulltime to Zimbabwe in 1995 and began his journey farming, however the safari industry was where his true passion lay and in 2000 Allan moved to Botswana and took up the role of Lodge manager and guide in the Kasane Forest reserve. In 2001 Allan made the decision to move to the UK, however the draw and love of Africa was too great, and he returned to Zimbabwe in 2003, where he joined Rosslyn Safaris (Cawston Block Ranch). Owner Peter Johnstone’s knowledge and mentorship further developed his skills in the safari industry. 

In 2006 Allan started his own company, however remained on a contracted basis with Rosslyn Safaris until 2013. In 2015 Allan took up a role with an organization called African Bush camps, which operates within 4 countries in Southern Africa. He remains with ABC as the General manager of the Zimbabwe division operating 9 properties within Hwange National Park, Matopos, Mana Pools National Park and Kariba. 

Being involved with such a big and influential organization is fulfilling, as you get to make an impact within the safari industry and ultimately in conservation circles. “Sharing and Conserving Africa together” is a strong drive for our organization and our partnership within the Zimbabwe Professional Guides association is key to this success. Employing over 30 guides comes with a responsibility to get our Zimbabwean conservation message out to the world and fellow Zimbabweans at a grass roots level. 

There is an African Proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” and the only way we can conserve our natural resources is by working together. 

KAZ DUBE

Z.P.G.A. Committee

Kazimai Dube, well known as Kaz is a full-time Wildlife & Birding Guide in Zimbabwe, born and raised in Hwange.

Kaz says, “A Guide in Zimbabwe is a prestigious status and an honor. I enjoy people and wildlife hence the reason why I am a Wildlife & Birding Guide. Guiding integrates people on safari with wild animals in their natural environment.”

Kaz has walked quite a long road to be where he is today in the safari industry. It took Kaz 5 years of eagerly looking for an opportunity to be apprenticed and trained as a safari guide after he had obtained his Learner Professional Guide License in October 2000. Kaz’s break came in 2006, this was then followed by 4 years of practical training in Mana Pools National Park, subsequently qualifying with the honor of “Best Guide at Proficiency” during the 2010 exam.

The founder and Owner of Observe Wildlife Kaz is a conservationist at heart and works with nearby communities to develop their livelihoods by using proceeds from the tourism dollar to help fund farming projects for the locals.

Kaz Dube is married with three beautiful children, lives in Harare with his family as well as has a rural homestead in Jambezi on the outskirts of Victoria Falls. Kaz loves to travel to the United States, Germany, UK, Australia and New Zealand to pitch safaris and tell exciting wildlife stories in Zimbabwe.

Ant started his guiding career in early 1998 and qualified in record time as a fully licensed Zimbabwean professional guide in early 2000.

Since this time, he has experience in curating customized, privately guided African Safari itineraries to over twenty different African countries.

With broad-ranging interests and an inquiring mind he is also an ecologist, former safari camp owner and a fixed-wing pilot, and his ecology degree alone puts Ant in a unique position to offer a depth of experience like few other safari guides in Africa.

One of his greatest passions is spending time with elephants on foot and his understanding of their behaviour gained from countless hours spent with them in their natural habitat, allows him to provide a truly intimate perspective into their lives.

In addition to sitting on Z.P.G.A’s ExCo, Ant also sits on the Z.P.G.A education committee and over the course of the last few years is giving increasing amounts of his time to mentoring and training the next generation of professional guides.

Anthony Kaschula

Z.P.G.A. Committee

Z.P.G.A. is a non-profit Association governed by its members through an agreed constitution.

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