Mara grew up in New Zealand after moving from Germany when she was two years old. Her love for nature really deepened in her late teens when she moved to Botswana with her mum. During the years she lived there, she went on many incredible safaris, and spending so much time out in wild places gave her a lasting appreciation for wildlife and the natural world.
Mara has always enjoyed birds, but it wasn’t until I she her husband, Donavin — a fellow guide — that her interest in learning more about them really took off. What started as curiosity quickly grew into a genuine passion for the incredible diversity of birdlife and the ecosystems they are part of. The more time she spend in nature, the more she realised how much there still is to learn, and that is something she really enjoys.
I Mara is naturally a very curious person, and loves paying attention to the small details as much as the obvious highlights — whether that’s birds, insects, plants, landscapes, or local history. Mara especially enjoys sharing that curiosity with other people and connecting over a shared interest and sense of discovery.
For Mara, guiding is not just about finding birds, but about helping people feel engaged with the places we are exploring and hopefully leaving with a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
