About Us

MORE THAN 80 YEARS OF SAFARI EXPERIENCE

With a combined total in excess of 80 years professional hunting experience between us we understand the vital ingredients for a successful and memorable African hunting safari. With Zimbabwe as our home, we are in the trenches and on the ground where the action happens.

Things work very differently in Africa and you need someone with local knowledge and expertise as to how things work. Everything from attaining hunting licenses, best times to hunt, accessing hunting areas, suggested rifle calibers and the best location to secure the trophy you desire.

The Johnson's are an old Zimbabwean family , their ancestors arriving on the original pioneer column of 1893 and amongst them were ranchers, tradesmen and hunters .

They have been hunting professionally in the north western part of Zimbabwe since the early 1980's . PH Johnnie Johnson , our father, took us along on safaris during the school holidays.

Johnnie went on to a hunting career that spanned 4 decades in Zimbabwe and Mozambique and there was never a doubt about what Guav's profession would be. He qualified with a full Zimbabwean license in 1997.

Guav's childhood dream became a reality in 2024 , to manage and have exclusivity to all of these incredible , carefully selected Classic Safari areas.

OUR GOAL

To ensure a memorable Classic African safari experience in Zimbabwe's remaining, premier big game areas offering wild, fair chase, free range hunting.

Our TEAM

PH - Guav Johnson

Guav's passion for hunting was fueled by being fortunate enough to grow up in a hunting camp on the banks of the Nuanetsi River in south eastern Zimbabwe.

Attending Plumtree School, which strongly encouraged the passion for out door activities ,his holidays were spent doing Falconry , hunting plains game and accompanying his father (Johnnie) and his clients on hunting safaris throughout Zimbabwe.

From a very early age Guav knew that he was going to be a professional hunter. He has now been hunting professionally for 28 years.

Guav has also hunted in Bolivia, France , Cameroon, Zambia and the United States.

PH - Darren Ellerman

Darren was born in Zimbabwe and grew up on a farm in southern Matebeland. As with so many children growing up on farms , from a very early age , fishing and hunting became a passion.

After completing his education at Plumtree School, he followed his instincts and started a hunting apprenticeship with an operator who had camps in the Zambezi Valley as well as in Matebeleland.

Darren obtained his Zimbabwean Professional Hunters License in 1999 and since then has been hunting mostly in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and recently some time in Uganda.

Johnnie Johnson

Hunting has been in Johnnies blood since early childhood. At boarding school ( Plumtree School ) he hid a rifle under his beds mattress and any free opportunities he had he got out into the bush where he hunted birds , small antelope and once even a Kudu bull .

During Johnnies years with the BSAP he was appointed an Honorary Officer for the department of National Parks where he assisted with PAC (Problem Animal Control) involving the hunting of Elephant , Lion and Buffalo.

He turned his passion into his profession in 1983. Over the last 42 years he has conducted hunting safaris throughout Zimbabwe and adventured into Mozambique.

Whilst Johnnie no longer hunts professionally he is still part of the team and is actively involved with development in the concessions. He still likes to sit around the fire chatting about hunting.

Courteney Johnson

AKA - " Guav's Brother "

Having grown up in the bush with a passion for wild places Courteney took a slightly different path to Guav and on leaving Plumtree School he entered the aviation industry. After qualification here he return to his true passion , actually attending the same practical proficiency test with Guav , but passing rather as a Professional Zimbabwean Walking Safari Guide.

For 26 years Courteney worked in the high end photographic industry , initially as a guide and then top management where he oversaw both safari and aviation operations as well as development of concessions and construction of safari camps . His extensive operational experience was gained in Botswana , Namibia , Zambia and Kenya.

He '' retired '' to join the family business in 2022 and is kept busy with operations and development at Matetsi Unit 2 , Kazuma Forest and Wilberforce Ranch .

Dawna Johnson

Dawna was born in San Diego ,CA but spent most of her childhood in Denver, CO. Her passion for the outdoors , hiking , snow boarding , mountain biking and traveling, a safari to Zimbabwe in September of 1998, changed the direction of her life .

With an MBA from Northwestern University and having worked in corporate America at the height of the dotcom era she felt burnt out and needed a change from the rat race . She made the leap , packed up and move to Zimbabwe. ( Married to Courteney ...... not Guav ! )

Dawna's project management , focus and organizational skills keeps all the boys in line and ensures all works smoothly in the operation . Dawna deals with all hunting administration, sales and marketing.