Abner Simeon2019
Abner—known by many as “Abby” or “Eagle Eye”—was born in a village in northern Namibia and grew up in the country’s central region. He spent his childhood at a safari lodge where his parents worked, attending a small on-site school and joining his older brother, a ranger, on wildlife drives during school holidays. Though he once dreamed of becoming a pilot, his love for nature soon took flight instead.
After high school, Abner worked his way up at lodges across Namibia, starting as a handyman while learning all he could about wildlife and guiding. His dream became reality in 2014 when Amarula Eco-Training and FGASA in South Africa sponsored his professional guide training. He has since achieved advanced guiding qualifications and worked at wilderness camps throughout Namibia. These experiences deepened his knowledge of the country’s landscapes and his passion for conservation, and he became a Nat Hab Photo Expedition Leader in 2019.
Abner is especially committed to inspiring young Namibians to care for their natural heritage. He has volunteered with Children in the Wilderness, sharing his insight and enthusiasm with local youth during breaks from guiding. When he’s not leading safaris, Abner enjoys making music, spending time with family and friends, and photographing wildlife and landscapes. His goal with Nat Hab is to connect communities with conservation through exploration, believing that if people work together, they can help protect nature and wildlife for generations to come.
What's in My Camera Bag
I prefer to keep my camera bag simple and lightweight for travel. I ensure it can fit in the overhead compartment of most light aircraft we fly with, especially the Caravan 208. I always bring three cameras with varying lenses, so I am prepared for both landscape and wildlife shots. This way, I don’t risk my equipment getting dusty, which can happen when changing lenses.
Cameras
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Canon 7D
Lenses
OM System 12-100mm
Canon EF 70 - 200mm
Canon 50mm
Canon Extender EF 1.4x III
Other
4 X 64GB Sandisk memory cards
2 x Battery chargers
Camera straps
Bean bag
Cleaning equipment
1 TB hard drive
What Our Guests Say
Abner was a delight: organized, outgoing, friendly and concerned for the well being of everyone. He was a terrific driver and guide. He knew we had an interest in any birds we could find and went out of his way to locate them. Any time he couldn't identify one, he spent time consulting other people at camp and poring through his Southern African bird book to find out. He has a deep love of Namibia and a deep love of guiding—a winning combination!
Abner is one of the kindest, most good humored, emotionally intelligent people I’ve ever met. His attention to detail and the organization of every aspect of the trip was impressive.
Abner was very attentive to our needs and always seemed to have a smile for us. He was well prepared for each day's activities, and you could tell at each of the camps that the staff was very fond him.















