Dan Chaknova

Co-Owner & Private Guide

Dan has always been fascinated by the natural world and the intricacies of animal behavior. While pursuing his degree in Animal Science at the University of California Davis, he completed an internship in Namibia at an animal rehabilitation center. From the moment his foot hit African soil, Dan knew that his life had changed forever. Since then, he has released troops of baboons back into the wild, traveled extensively throughout sub-Saharan Africa, guided international guests on safari, and managed five-star lodges in the heart of the Okavango Delta. He is an avid birder, photographer, and conservationist, and is passionate about sharing his love for this diverse and captivating continent with others.

Mandy Chaknova

Co-Owner

Mandy first traveled to Africa to pursue her passion for wildlife conservation. At a wildlife rehabilitation and release center in South Africa, she served as a surrogate mother for orphaned baboons and helped form cohesive troops by fostering and modeling important social skills. She also spent her time in Africa achieving her Field Guide qualifications, hosting guests as a manager at a lodge in the Okavango Delta, and traveling whenever possible!

From a young age, a seed was sowed by her grandparents on summer road trips through the U.S.’s National Parks, where Mandy gained an immense respect and appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. Later in life, her travels helped her realize her passion for helping others experience the soul-soothing beauty of our earth’s wild spaces, where time slows, everyday distractions take a back seat, and nature reveals itself in the most magical ways. She feels lucky to be able to our clients build and plan their custom journeys and connect them with our cherished partners who create unique and unforgettable experiences throughout Africa! She is passionate about getting to know each client, looking after of all of the little details and logistics, and taking care of them throughout their journey.

Amanda Harwood

Safari Specialist and Team Primatologist

Amanda grew up loving primates from a young age, the reasons still unknown, but she never could shake this passion. After her first year at Tufts University, she volunteered at a baboon rehabilitation center in South Africa (where she would later meet Dan and Mandy), and immediately knew she had found her place in the world. After college, Amanda took a number of positions all around the world exploring the field of primatology, but she kept coming back to Africa.

After receiving her Master’s in Primate Conservation, she took a job in Malawi releasing captive primates back into the wild. She lived in Malawi for five years, working as the research manager for a conservation NGO. Amanda found herself living in the bush, running research projects on primates, elephants, and carnivores, and leading student, citizen scientist, and tourist trips. At Safari True, Amanda looks forward to sharing her love for Africa with so many others.