About Letaka Safaris
Birdingsafaris.com is owned and operated by Letaka Safaris which is based in the Okavango Delta region of Botswana. The company was co-founded by Brent & Grant Reed who are known locally as the Letaka brothers. The word Letaka is derived from the Setswana word 'lethaka' which describes the tall reeds which grow througout the Okavango Delta, because both brothers are tall and slender and live in the delta the name stuck. Letaka Safaris was started with a view to fill the need for a safari company with dedicated birding guides who are not just guides who know about birds but people that are passionate about birding.
Today Letaka Safaris is the foremost birding safari company in Botswana and a leading birding safari operator in Southern Africa. Letaka is the only company in Botswana to offer regular scheduled birding departures within Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mocambique. Our guides are all passionate birders with many years experience, click on the tabs below for a brief bio of our guides.
Our Guides
Brent Reed was born in the Magaliesberg mountains in South Africa where he developed a deep and abiding love for the bush and all things wild but snakes in particular. Although he has been a birder all his life it wasn't until he was near-fatally bitten by a Black Mamba that he decided to focus more strongly on the avian fauna rather than the reptillian. Brent's guiding career started in 1997 when he moved to Botswana to join his brother. He has guided birding safaris in South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mocambique, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Madagascar. Brent lives in Maun at the southern tip of the Okavango Delta with his wife Ashleigh and his two sons, Jarryd and Troy.
Grant Reed was born near the Magaliesberg mountains of South Africa where he grew up exploring the surrounding wilderness. After completing high school he studied Nature Conservation at the Pretoria Technikon and later obtained his Honors Degree in Nature Conservation. After working in various South African parks for a number of years Grant moved to Botswana in 1996 and obtained his Botswana Professional Guide's license. Grant has been birding since he was a child and when he is not leading birding safaris he can normally be found birding with friends and family. He has led birding safaris throughout Southern Africa and has also given numerous talks in Europe and the USA on the birdlife of Botswana. Grant is author of the book 'Okavango - Spirit of Life', he lives in Maun with his wife Trudi and son, Merrick.
Joseph J. Ramsden was born in the village of Maun in August 1975 long before Maun became renowned as the gateway to the Okavango Delta. His first introduction to the wilderness was through his father Jack Ramsden who was one of Moremi Game Reserve's first Game Wardens. Stationed in the Khwai Village Jack would take his entire family on game drives in remote wilderness areas and Joe's early memories are of numerous elephant, lion and other wildlife encounters at his father's side. Througout his childhood and teenage years Joe continued to visit Moremi Game Reserve and other parts of the Okavango Delta with his older brothers. He developed a keen interest in the wildlife and birdlife in particular. Once he had finished his National Service with the Botswana Defence Force, Joe focused his energies on obtaining his Professional Guide's license and has been guiding full-time since 1997.