
I'm Mike Nunan
Mike Nunan has lived most of his life out in the wild. Born in the Marico Bushveld and raised on a smallholding on the outskirts of Francistown in Botswana, he spent much of his free time in the bush, either alone with his faithful dog or with family and friends on weekend trips around Botswana.
His love, passion and affinity for all that is wildlife, nature, flora and fauna was rooted in these early exposures as a child.
He has worked in many parts of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania and has travelled extensively to Europe, United States, Russia and the beautiful islands of Mauritius and Maldives.
Out of necessity there were periods of work in the big cities, but during these times he always made every effort to get out into the wilds, where he always felt comfortable and at home.
His selection of careers covered periods in teaching (mathematics), banking – to branch management level, and sport administration- he is a former Director of Natal Athlectics. He only became directly involved in the hospitality and tourism industry relatively late in his life, as a Human Resource Manager for a big game lodge after finally succumbing to the call of the wild.
Along the way, he also completed 11 Comrades Marathons, and has his permanent Green number.
When he moved to the bush, he qualified as a Field Guide, performing those duties over and above his normal daily duties at the lodge.
He was soon selected for senior lodge management, and studied and gained qualifications in Game Lodge Management, and so began his time as a Lodge General Manager and late Operations Manager. He has done management stints at more than 25 Game Lodges over the past 20 years in four African countries, and has gained a reputation as a Lodge fixer, going in to develop systems and protocols to bring ailing lodges back on line.
Early in this journey, he met the founder, editor and publisher of Africa Wild magazine, who encouraged him to put into words the experiences of his life. Many of the stories in this collection were first published in that magazine, and in the subsequent online version of the magazine, Africa Wild Experience, which he published himself.
He is a keen and accomplished amateur photographer and a fireside raconteur of note. His work and travels have given him a lifestyle only a few could even imagine.