Meet the African Private Guides Network

The African Private Guides Network (APGN) was founded in 2023, championing climate and social justice through community-based safaris.

Prioritising local knowledge, cultural engagement, and sustainability, they empower African guides - who are deeply connected to their land - to access quality bookings, ensuring tourism benefits local communities.

By challenging industry biases, APGN promotes greater diversity in guiding while offering travellers immersive, expertly led safaris.

Their work fosters environmental stewardship, strengthens community-driven conservation and paves the way for a more inclusive future in African tourism. The network is home to guides located across the continent of Africa, from Kenya to Gabon, with a range of languages spoken and specialist skills including botany and geology.

They offer African safaris, hosted by African people to truly connect to the culture, land and history in a way that is hard to find but is increasingly sought by conscious travellers.

A new kind of Safari Experience

APGN champions a safari model that centres local knowledge, sustainability and inclusion. It’s not just about seeing wildlife – it’s about understanding the interconnectedness of people, landscapes and ecosystems.

Each guide in the network is carefully selected not only for their skills and qualifications but also for their personal connection to the region they operate in.

The result? Safaris that go beyond the expected. Whether you're exploring volcanic forests in Rwanda, birdwatching in Chad, or tracing ancient tribal routes in South Sudan, you’re guided by someone who sees these places not just as destinations – but as home.

Why the African Private Guides Network was created

In a world increasingly committed to diversity and inclusion, supporting indigenous guides and people of colour is essential to creating a strong future for African guides and the families and communities they support.

For many years, travellers looking for a private guide often ended up booking an international guide acting as a tour leader, but without the deep-rooted connection to the country, culture and wildlife that a homegrown guide can offer.

For guides, the network creates access to high-quality bookings as well as support on admin so they can focus on what they do best - hosting, guiding and sharing the magic of their destinations with their guests.

For travellers, the network makes it easy to find highly qualified guides with unique skills in language, expertise and/or destination, knowing they have been carefully vetted.

Who benefits from booking a private guide?

• Language-specific travellers: Travellers who need a guide who speaks Mandarin or Spanish (and not just “speaks a few words but then uses google translate” - the APGN guides have been put through their paces to ensure their fluency means they can explain the lifecycle of a butterfly in that language).
• Special interest travellers: Whether it’s primatology, ornithology, geology or you really want to understand more deeply what Maasai culture is all about, this is the place to find your guide.
• Groups or multi-generational families: Who want to make sure everyone can relax and enjoy their safari without leaving one (usually the super-organised one, who most needs a break) person to take the lead on departure times, communicating everyone’s needs to the properties, etc.
• Safari pro’s: People who have been on dozens of safaris, and know exactly how they like things to run, what time they want their wake-up call, do they want to be first vehicle out each day, do they prefer a full day drive every 3rd day, do they want to only look at birds and ignore the lions and bigger beasts. Having a private guide means you explain this only once and they’ll take care of it at every stop of your safari, making for a truly seamless experience.
• Nervous or first-time travellers: Travellers who want an extra pair of helping hands for just-in-case, someone to help them barter for souvenirs at the market, or who might be used to travelling on a group tour rather than independently.

These are just a few examples. First-time safari goers looking for a deeper connection to the country and culture they are visiting also benefit hugely from a private guide. And sometimes an international guide wants a local guide as their right-hand woman or man to complement their skills and knowledge.

Safari Nannies: For the littlest adventurers

Another part of the network is just for the tiniest travellers - safari nannies who can be booked individually or alongside a private guide, to accompany families on their African adventures.

Trained in paediatric first-aid and prepped with toys, books and games, these nannies keep babies, toddlers and children entertained and looked after at nap time or bedtime, allowing parents to enjoy a bit of much-needed downtime themselves.

Guide Spotlight: Meet the experts

To showcase the range of skills and guides you’ll find within the African Private Guides Network, here are just two of their super-guides.

Jeanette Rugero

A trailblazing female guide based in Rwanda, recognised as a trailblazer in the East Africa safari community, championing young women in conservation and tourism.

She has been awarded Best Guide in Rwanda and thrives on planning adventurous trips off the beaten path to destinations including the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

Zarek Cockar

Born in Kenya but guiding in untouched destinations that few have explored such as Chad and Gabon, Zarek brings his passion for wildlife and conservation to all of his adventures.

He has a deep respect for the ancient wisdom of indigenous people, acknowledging that he will never attain this fully.

He ensures all of his safaris include representatives of Africa’s diverse ethnicities and cultures to share the wealth of this knowledge with his travellers.

Conscious travel starts with local voices

In a world increasingly focused on ethical, inclusive and sustainable travel, the African Private Guides Network offers a way to connect deeper, travel better and make a lasting impact.

Whether you’re planning your first safari or your fiftieth, APGN helps ensure that your journey benefits the people and places that make Africa so extraordinary.

For more details, visit African Private Guides Network or contact the network’s team to help match your needs to the right guide.