Who We Are - Bold & Free Spirited People
Our Vision
WildFootSteps are dedicated to creating authentic, unforgettable experiences for visitors to East Africa. Offering excellent guiding services, promoting socioeconomic development of local communities and conservation efforts.
WildFootSteps-ea
Our Passion lies in providing distinguished guide services in many areas across East Africa, facilitating growth and enriched safari experiences.
Our Services
We listen to your inquiries, particular interests, and expectations before suggesting the ultimate safari best suited to you. We suspect you may well visit us again.
Meet Our Team
Colleen Hogg ~ Founder
Kenya born, Colleen was schooled in Kenya and Europe, trained in Photography at Croydon Collage of Art & Design and Napier Collage in Scotland. Work experience included darkroom technician, photographer and Assistant Editor of The Hawick Express Newspaper. Returning home to Kenya she accepted a position as Assistant Manager for two sister lodges in Amboseli. Free time was spent exploring, photographing and meeting remarkable conservationists. 'Ambo' with its gigantic elephants sauntering across the plains with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop truly was a haven. Colleen then joined Nile Safaris in Sudan, accompanying safari groups exploring the heights of The Red Sea Mountains' home to Hadandawa pastoral nomads. Off season she lived in the Imatong Mountains and walked its length fringing southeastern Sudan into Northern Uganda. Afterwards joined Cottars Camp in the Masai Mara and helped rehabilitate Kenya's largest recorded black maned lion supported by the Honorary Game Warden Ken Smith. Later, after completing her Private Pilots License, Colleen joined Abercrombie & Kent as a coordinator and host for their luxury tented camps. Passionate about sharing her bush sense and insight into nature Colleen subsequently became a guide for Park East Tours Zoological Safaris. Following that Colleen was Operations Manager at Somak Holidays & Safaris. This included accompanying international film crew on safaris. Next Colleen took the opportunity to work as a photojournalist for Big Life Foundation Tanzania. She was the first woman to work in the field with anti-poaching rangers, during which they developed lasting mutual respect.
Elisa Bettoni ~ Co-Founder
Elisa Bettoni is a certified safari guide with the Kenyan Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA). Born in Italy, Elisa is driven by a strong desire to explore Africa, its hidden gems, traditions, and cultures, which led her to discover “Magical Kenya,” as she fondly describes her newly adopted home. Over the past fifteen years she has dedicated her time to exploring and learning a huge spectrum of knowledge and skills encapsulating wildlife, ornithology, culture, and traditions as well as designing safaris to Kenya less trodden areas, giving visitors truly unique bush experiences.
After exploring Kenya extensively Elisa began sharing her passion through tailor-made adventure safaris largely in areas of Kenya involved in conservation initiatives closely associated with responsible tourism involving local communities. Twenty years’ experience as a travel consultant and guide in Italy provided her with a solid foundation for creating personalised safari itineraries in Kenya. Further enhanced by successfully completing The Safari Field EcoTraining Guides & Guardians course in the Masai Mara enriched her knowledge of Kenya’s natural and historical heritage. Elisa has fostered a solid bond with Kenya’s indigenous population.
In addition to a professional status most guides have a field they are particularly passionate about and in Elisa’s case its birdwatching, accumulating excellent knowledge of East Africa’s extensive avifauna.
Full of energy and spontaneous Elisa is a delightful guide to have on any safari making her a perfect addition to WildFootSteps East Africa.
Elisa is based just outside Nanyuki close to Mt. Kenya close to several renowned conservation ranches securing (amongst other wildlife) the rare Northern White Rhino and elusive Bongo antelope.
TEAM ASSOCIATES
Our Tanzania Safaris Partner
As a young man straight from college Simon ventured into the Tourism Industry. Energetic and raring to go, bush life bekoned. His career quickly fell into place quickly - beginning as a Safari Guide, exploring Tanzania's wilderness as well as the countries pristine coastline. With his all-encompassing knowledge Simon accepted a new challenge managing Mobile Tented Camps shaping him into a 'hardy bush manager' enhancing skills in equipment, logistics and human resource management.
During 'off seasons' Simon's flare in communications, sales and marketing bloomed. Simon
values precision in communication as the foundation of running a professional and successful service. Understanding every client’s expectations became his trait - hence his nickname being 'Mr. Details.' Constant refresher courses for the Safari Guides, Simon works strictly with expert certified providers in accommodation and domestic flights.
Simon and Colleen first met when he commissioned her as a photographer and digital designer to showcase his safari services in Tanzania. Sharing a mindset for professionalism, knowledge of the wilderness, and striving to meetpeople's expectations Simon invariably became our ideal Tanzanian partner in this new safari and holiday venture.
Quoting Simon, "nothing gives me more joy, than the sight of thrilled clients. It is what I strive for, ensuring every task is executed perfectly to meet the larger objective. It is my modus operandi."
