John Henry Knighton Chase
John Chase has lived in Botswana all of his life. He was born the only son of Jack and
Doreen Chase, themselves colourful and well-known Botswana characters of yesteryear.
John was born in Francistown in 1951, then a bush town, and has never really left the bush
for any length of time since then. He is one of a handful of men alive, of whom it can be
said, that is completely at one with the Botswana bush. He is constantly in tune with his
environment, and the knowledge and experience he will pass on to you, is the result of an
intense and prolonged osmotic process, rather than the book-learned and exam-passed
Africana that some other Professional Guides & Hunters will have to offer you.
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His encyclopedic knowledge of birds and trees, animals and insects, firearms and guns is
well known. He is a guide and hunter of great experience, having learned this trade since
he began his non-stop pre-pubertal forays into the veld (bush), in an impossible attempt to
stem the unquenchable desire he was born with, to walk and drive through the country he
loves so deeply, from then until today. Inevitably, he has had a few close shaves with some
of Botswana's inhabitants. And if you are worth it, he will have a story or 2 to tell you
while the campfire licks at your boots, and the whisky warms your gut. The Chase family's
bountiful hospitality is legendary, by the way. You will not be losing any weight this
trip, no matter how far you walk!
John's knowledge of his country is probably unsurpassed in Botswana today. He is held in
great esteem by his colleagues. In his lifetime John has traveled practically every path
and road, sniffed every wind, and has drunk a beer in every liquor rest in the land at one
time or another. He speaks Setswana better than the Batswana, and his popularity with his
rural brothers and sisters is a joy to witness and share. He is regarded with a great love
and trust by the people living wherever he has traveled, and that you will find, is in most
places in that beautiful country.
Tina Chase
Tina Chase is one of those lucky individuals who has been “on safari” for all of her life.
She was born in Arusha, Tanzania just the other day. She is the oldest child of John and
Tina Bekker, who brought her and her two brothers to live in Botswana when she was still
a teenager. Tina and her new and old families have made their homes in the bush in more
places than most of us have had hot breakfasts. Her knowledge of Botswana is phenomenal and
there are not many places inside her borders that she has not seen. Tina has many years
experience in setting up super comfortable camps, and her natural flair and attention to
detail ensures that your stay in one of her camps will be luxurious and memorable.
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As far as hostesses go, this woman is indeed in a class of her own. Unlike most people who
entertain professionally, Tina LOVES catering and she LOVES people, and it shows. She
loves showing people a good time while they marvel at the wonders of the African bush, and
why she and her tried and trusted team are so good at it. To do it well out in the “sticks”
is no task for the faint hearted, and her special talents will be much appreciated by all
who are lucky enough to sit at her dinner table.
Tina is no slouch out of base camp either, and you are in for another treat once you join
her while she is in her most favourite persona. This is when she has a pair of binoculars
in one hand, and a Toyota Land Cruiser in the other. She has a special love of Africa's
impressive array of birds and trees, and is a Professional Guide with a huge wealth of
knowledge and experience.
