About
So why did I decide to do this… well it’s something which sits close to my heart. I’ve been involved with the natural world in many spheres, and it’s culmination would be the development of this site. Something for everyone to share in and learn from, including myself. I don’t think you ever stop learning, you just learn to realise there’s more to learn. Hello, my name is Patrick O’Brien and this is a little story about me:
During my school years I joined the scout movement, and after that moved into the student program of the Wilderness Foundation (known as the Wilderness Leadership School then) and also worked in the local animal rescue centre. After finishing school I helped with the family arboriculture business, pruning or cutting down rotten or storm damaged trees in my home town of Cape Town, South Africa. Living in such a place gave me exposure at an early age to the wilderness experience, coupled with regular camping trips I was soon hooked on making this part of my life. So I put myself onto an introductory course of study to allow me to enter the industry.
Conservation tourism was the avenue I pursued, and my work took me to places all around South Africa, from the Waterberg in the North where I was fortunate to meet with Clive Walker, renowned environmental educator, writer and artist; to reserves near Kimberley, the Addo Elephant National Park, as well as a reserve in the Kalahari. I also did private guided walks along the south coast near Knysna. Working in these places offered me an opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with the natural world. One which would motivate me to learn everything I could about the geography, fauna and flora of Southern Africa, as well as its subtle ability to generate harmony within our body and mind.
Black Rhino walk
During my time working at these various places I had undertaken a number of specialised courses which focussed on every aspect of our scientific understanding of the natural world. This enabled me to carry pieces of this knowledge over to local and international tourists in a lighthearted educational manner. Guiding people into areas of potentially dangerous animals (on foot, horse-back and 4×4 vehicle), we would both enjoy exchanging ideas, information and perspectives on the natural world and its amazing qualities.
Using these skills I have attained a well-rounded knowledge of working in the ‘bush’, and learning to interpret the signs of the bush. It takes years of learning to really know any subject. As a fully qualified professional nature guide, I had learnt enough to work comfortably with seasoned travellers, conference groups and film crews alike, but the real enjoyment came with eager ‘newbies’. I savoured their enthusiasm and was further motivated to reveal to them the wonders of the natural world.
Black Rhino walk
Everyone’s input counts, every viewpoint has an angle someone else may not be aware of, and nowhere is this more evident than in interpreting animal behaviour. Only the Master Trackers really know animal behaviour, and believe me, there are only a handful of those people around, the rest of us are students. So a place like safarichatter.com is ideally suited to furthering our current knowledge and skills in not only animal behaviour, but in the many other related topics which compliment the safari experience.
Me on Horse back
Even today I still learn new things about the natural world and it’s relationships. Having spent three years working in the UK within Horticulture, I am better able to understand mankind’s great appreciation and need for being in nature. Whether we spend time in our gardens making them beautiful or spend time in the wilderness appreciating its beauty – the reasons are usually similar. I hope to convey and introduce this understanding to the many people I have yet to meet. If you wish to visit Southern Africa and experience its natural wonderment (and believe me it has alot to offer) perhaps I can be of some help. There are many places here in South Africa which offer excellent gateways into other adventures across our borders: such as Botanical Gardens, National Parks, the Lowveld, Namaqualand Flowers, Garden Route, Drakensberg, Kalahari or the Cape Point Nature Reserve. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
