Botswana | Namibia
Dux Mareja
&Beyond Private Guide & Guide Trainer
ABOUT ME • Q&A • VIDEOS • PODCASTS • MY SIGHTINGS • MY PHOTOGRAPHS • TRAVEL WITH ME
At a glance
CHARISMATIC. FRIENDLY. FLEXIBLE.
Fluent in Setswana & English
17 years of guiding experience, & counting…
Regional knowledge & expertise in Botswana & Namibia
Special interest in birding, wildlife biology & wetland ecosystems
Love accompanying special interest groups & photographers
HELLO, I’M DUX
My name is Galebotse Dux Mareja, affectionately known as Dux. I currently live in Maun in Botswana. I am a passionate nature conservationist, with a wealth of experience within the tourism industry. My career has spanned over 22 years where I have had the privilege of working in administration, as a guide and head guide, as a ranger trainer as well as a specialist guide across various fields (including birding and wildlife biology).
Always seeking new challenges, I am constantly looking for new opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally, within &Beyond. I am deeply passionate about &Beyond’s human development plan, and ultimately wish to play an integral role in driving these goals forward. Committed, honest, and reliable are just a few of the values I live by, and bring into the workplace. Adaptable, well-rounded and a team player, I enjoy meeting and working with people from all walks of life, and love learning from those around me.
With a strong organisational and administrative background, I take great pride in my capabilities to work effectively and efficiently. I am deadline orientated, and enjoy working under pressure. Highly knowledgeable within the tourism industry, with a great understanding of the needs and expectations, I believe I am an excellent ambassador not only for &Beyond, but also Botswana.
An &Beyond Private Guide is someone who has undergone rigorous training at one of our elite ranger training schools and who has been carefully handpicked for this role because of their extensive guiding experience. These individuals are recognised as the best in the industry offering exceptional professionalism, accomplished interpretative guiding and an extraordinary guest experience overall.
Questions and answers
GET TO KNOW ME
1. How many years of guiding experience do you have?
I have been a full-time safari guide since 2006. Over the past 17 years, I have had the priviledge of developing and growing through the ranks to reach my current role as guide trainer.
2. Regional knowledge and expertise?
Predominantly Botswana in southern Africa, as well as Namibia. I have also travelled enough to Kenya and Tanzania to have a good understanding of each country’s ecosystem and the seasonal dynamics.
3. What do you love to do in your spare time?
I enjoy relaxing in nature, listening to the natural sounds of the bush. I particularly love spending time near water. I also love watching soccer, reading, and going to the gym.
4. Do you have any special interests?
Wildlife biology and wetland ecosystem specialisation. I also enjoy birdwatching, and have joined online birding platforms such as Merlin Bird ID and eBird for tracking and documenting purposes. I have spotted and recorded numerous birds across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Kenya.
5. Where haven't you been that you want to travel to?
I would like to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda. I’m also a big fan of the tiger, and would love to travel to India, if the opportunity arises. India is on my bucket list.
6. Do you have a favourite animal or bird, and why?
African wild dog, cheetah, elephant and baboon – these are all animals with interesting dynamics and social structures. There is never a dull moment when observing them, and I am always entertained by their enthusiasm, behaviour and interactions.
Read More
With regard to birds; African skimmer, pelican, spoonbill, and owl. Their adapted hunting techniques, patience and success makes them interesting to watch. Owl, for example, are specialised flyers; absolutely no sound is produced when they are in flight – a truly elegant and interesting species to observe.
7. Do you have a favourite travel itinerary?
I enjoy both land and water environments.
Chobe National Park for its large elephant herds, Savuti for predator interactions, Okavango Delta for unique water excursions and adapted species, and Makgadikgadi Pans with its large flocks of bright-pink flamingo and other specially-adapted desert dwellers.
8. Who do you most enjoy accompanying?
I enjoy accompanying all guests; from solo travellers to families and groups. In particular, I love guiding photographers and special interest groups, and have over the years had various incredible opportunities to do so. I love helping to ensure their expectations are not only met, but well-exceeded, and that their African bush experience goes far beyond.
9. Do you have a favourite memory with guests?
I travelled with two guests through Chobe National Park, Savuti and Okavango Delta. We recorded a total of 278 bird species, as well as saw two African wild dog hunt and make a kill. Having never seen African wild dog before, witnessing a hunt on their first sighting was epic. I am still in touch with these guests today; a true testament to how incredibly special the trip was.
10. What is your most memorable sighting to date?
A one-on-one encounter between a lioness and hyena – the lioness aggressively attacked and killed the hyena over the remains of lechwe kill.
Elephant mating within close proximity. Elephant swimming across the Chobe River with only the tips of their trunks peeking out.
Crocodile mating, and making the most unusual sound.
I am a passionate, nature-loving person, who is determined and loves the outdoors.
Begin your adventure with Dux
Let Dux guide you on a journey-of-a-lifetime
My video reels
CAUGHT IN MOTION
My podcasts
ON THE GRAPEVINE
My favourite sightings
MAGICAL MOMENTS
My photography showcase
FROZEN IN TIME
Travel with me
A SELECTION OF MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE ITINERARIES
Care of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, its Wildlife and People
Chobe National Park | Okavango Delta
Immerse yourself in our transformative journey, which celebrates &BEYOND’s care for Botswana’s water wonderlands, its wildlife and people.
Choose your ideal privately guided adventure
Journey with Dux on one of these incredible itineraries
Keep connected
Follow @dmareja on Instagram
years