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Mike Karantonis, field guide, 30 years in the heart of the African savannah
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Behind every successful wildlife photograph lies a decisive encounter. In my career, that encounter has a name: Mike Karantonis.
For more than thirty years, Mike has been my guide on safaris in southern Africa, and it is thanks to him that I am able to present the various photo collections on this website. His eye, his experience in the field, and his instinctive understanding of the savannah are inseparable from the success of many of the images that have marked my work and my exhibitions.
A vocation born early on
Mike Karantonis has always felt a deep attraction to the wilderness. From the age of nine, his regular visits to a family friend’s hunting farm in the Thabazimbi region of South Africa shaped his intimate connection with the African savannah.
“After each visit, it became clearer and clearer to me where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.”
This certainty naturally led him to study tourism, with a specific goal in mind: to become a field guide. It was a vocation that emerged early on, nurtured by observation, patience, and a keen understanding of wildlife.
This childhood dream never remained static. It has been refined over the years, through encounters and time spent in the field. Today, Mike is an independent guide, free to travel wherever his expertise is needed. He works on an ad hoc basis with lodges, leads motivational workshops and awareness programs, accompanies private clients, some of whom he has been following for over twenty years, and advises travelers from all over the world as they prepare to discover Africa.
Whatever form his commitment takes, his intention remains the same: to be in the savannah, to pass on his knowledge and to represent the profession of guide with high standards and integrity. More than just a guide, Mike sees himself as an ambassador, both to visitors and to the community of guides, faithful to a vision of the field that is deeply rooted in his experience.
An internationally recognized guide
Mike Karantonis’ career has also been marked by major accolades:
- Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Field Guides Association of South Africa, recognizing his impact on the guiding profession
- Representative of the South African team at the first ever World Birding Rally Championships in Peru
- Founder of the international Safari Guide of the Year competition, now recognized worldwide
- Ten-year member of the advisory committee of an American philanthropic group committed to communities living around nature reserves
The guide, more than just a partner to the photographer
In the field, the relationship between a guide and a photographer goes far beyond simple logistics. Mike has a keen understanding of animal behavior, the rhythm of the savannah, and lighting conditions. This understanding of the terrain is essential for anticipating a scene, positioning oneself in the right place, and respecting the animal, as can be seen in the making of the photos.
His interest in photography is no coincidence: he was Nikon South Africa’s ambassador guide between 2011 and 2015, and has an impressive portfolio of wildlife images himself.
“Making people fall in love with Africa”
When we asked him what his greatest strength was, his answer was immediate:
“Making people fall in love with Africa.”
A phrase that perfectly sums up his approach: communicating, sharing, and creating a strong emotional bond between humans, nature, and wildlife.
Mike Karantonis is not just a safari guide. He is a storyteller, an interpreter of life, and an essential partner in creating authentic images. His career reminds us that wildlife photography is above all a human adventure, based on trust, experience, and respect for the wild world.
