Beyond the Game Drive

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 7 minNew

The Power of A.L.T.s: Why You Should Never Be Afraid to Spot an Animal on Safari

What happens when a rock looks like a lion, a log resembles a leopard, and a guest becomes too embarrassed to point out the next suspicious shape? In this episode of Beyond the Game Drive, safari guide Kiarie Mathaga explores A.L.T.s—Animal-Like Things—and explains why these false alarms are more than amusing safari moments. Drawing on a real encounter in Tsavo West National Park, Kiarie shares how one guest’s persistence led to a brief encounter with a shy leopard that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Discover why guests should speak up even when uncertain, how experienced guides can…

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Earlier episodes 5 most recent

1. 

   5 Oct 2026 · 11 min

   Don’t Become the Photographer’s Problem

   A great wildlife photograph can depend on seconds, positioning, light, animal behaviour—and sometimes the decisions made from the driver’s seat. But what does a photographer actually need from a safari guide? And what does a guide need from a photographer? In this episode of Beyond the Game Drive , Kiarie explores the relationship between safari guides and wildlife photographers from both sides. We look at vehicle positioning, composition, light, anticipation, communication, shared game drives, safety, and the importance of giving wildlife enough space to behave naturally. Through real…

2. 

   28 Sep 2026 · 15 min

   What Makes a Great Safari Guide?

   What actually makes a professional safari guide? Is it knowing every animal in the park? Knowing every road? Finding the Big Five? Or is great guiding about something much deeper? In this first episode of Beyond the Game Drive , Kiarie explores the three levels of professional safari guiding: Foundation — Can you guide safely and professionally? Excellence — Can you create an exceptional safari? Mastery — Can you transform how someone experiences Africa? We look beyond wildlife identification and explore observation, interpretation, storytelling, guest care, safety, ethical decision-making,…

3. 

   21 Sep 2026 · 7 min

   When the Hill Says No: A Safari Guide’s Lesson in 4x4 Driving

   A steep climb, a Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Series, a guest on board, and a lesson from more than 14 years ago that suddenly became very relevant. In this short field episode of Beyond the Game Drive , Kiarie shares what happened while driving towards Lentorre after taking a detour around Lake Magadi in Kenya. The detour delivered beautiful views of smaller soda lakes and an unexpected flamingo sighting. But the route also presented a seriously degraded, steep climb. Driving in low-range second gear, the Land Cruiser began losing momentum halfway up the hill and needed first gear. That created…

4. 

   16 Sep 2026 · 14 min

   When Safari Becomes a Race

   A river crossing begins. A predator makes a kill. Suddenly, vehicles start moving, and what should be a wildlife observation can become a race for position. In this episode of Beyond the Game Drive , we look at the growing pressure around wildlife sightings in the Maasai Mara, particularly during wildebeest river crossings and predator kills. Why do experienced guides sometimes rush towards sightings? How does fear of missing out influence decisions in the field? And where is the line between good positioning, giving guests a memorable experience, and becoming part of the disturbance? As a…

5. 

   14 Sep 2026 · 13 min

   When a Sighting Becomes a Disturbance

   It should have been one of those unforgettable Amboseli National Park wildlife encounters. Instead, it became an uncomfortable lesson about wildlife disturbance, safari vehicle behaviour, photography, and professional safari guiding . In this episode of Beyond the Game Drive , I take you into a real encounter from Amboseli, Kenya, where a lioness appeared to be trying to move her cubs and an aardvark kill towards the bushes near the swamp. As safari vehicles gathered and competed for position, the animals appeared increasingly unsettled. The cubs moved away, the lioness repeatedly left the…

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