David Chando
David is a member of the Bena tribe, from the southern highlands of Tanzania,
near the large town of Iringa. This is a sub-tribe of Hehe, one of the
largest tribes in Tanzania. David originally travelled to Arusha to complete
veterinary school. He specialized in domestic animals (goat, sheep and
cattle).
David worked as a government veterinarian performing artificial insemination
for cattle and breeding local cows with more exotic breeds for increased
milk production. Although the job sounds good, it was actually a poor
paying job at that time. He first had to work in the national service
to repay his debt for the government education as a veterinarian. David
was stationed near Arusha and it was here that he lived in the bush and
around the wildlife. He soon discovered how much he enjoyed watching and
learning about wild animals, as opposed to domestic animals.
David quit his job as a veterinarian and instead went to school full time
at the Mweka College of Wildlife in Moshi. David received his wildlife
certification in 1990 and started working as a driver guide specializing
in the Serengeti Ecosystem. David joined Africa Dream Safaris in 2004
and was been one of our top driver guides ever since.
“I have seen many things on safari, but one of the most amazing
things was watching a hyena hunt and kill a baby giraffe in the Serengeti.
The mother was trying to defend the baby even while it was being eaten
by the hyena. She stayed about one full day after the baby was killed
trying to get the baby to stand again. I actually thought this might have
been her first baby. She guarded the baby and wouldn’t let the hyena
eat for one day, but then she finally gave up. Sometimes what we see is
at first sad, but this is the great cycle of life.”
“I have also seen a kill right behind my vehicle when a lion successfully
hunted a wildebeest crossing a valley near Ndutu (in the Serengeti). People
like to say that lions kill when it is cool (mostly at night or in the
morning), but this was in the early afternoon. Lions are opportunistic
hunters and hunt anytime when they think they can be successful. The interesting
thing about going on a safari is that you never know when something amazing
might happen right in front of you.
Select a driver guide to view their biography:
REGGIE MATEMU
