Lauren Noakes

Lauren’s Bio

Lauren’s world has always revolved around the great outdoors. She spent many of her childhood weekends with her family exploring her native UK, either from the back of a horse or by bike. Later, Lauren continued to fuel her love of the natural world by undertaking a Zoology degree at Exeter University. At the same time, she pursued every wildlife-related opportunity possible, from helping as a wildlife rehabilitator to working as a zoo-based animal behaviourist. Her first Africa trip to Namibia in 2018 cemented her passion for conservation. Here she worked on human–wildlife conflict mitigation between hyena and local pastoralists in the remote Namib desert.

After being confined to the UK by the coronavirus pandemic, Lauren decided it was time to get back into the field and she undertook her FGASA guiding qualifications in South Africa. Her first job was working as a guide and ranger at a private game reserve just outside the Kruger National Park. Here, she not only enjoyed exceptional game encounters from vehicles and on foot, but she also led relocation operations and veterinary procedures for cheetah, wild dog, lions, and white rhino, resulting in some unforgettable up-close and intimate experiences. Unlike your typical safari, the drives she guided were goal orientated to aid with reserve management, for example finding a specific elephant reported to be limping or recording the gender of newly born lion cubs. As locating individuals was fundamental during these drives, Lauren refined her trailing skills and was awarded her tracker qualifications.

Lauren lived and breathed safari even during her time off from guiding, taking the opportunity to explore South Africa as much as possible, and she has impressively driven every road in the Kruger National Park! She has also travelled down to the Cape region and has explored many reserves of the Greater Kruger.

Lauren’s next adventure took her to Kenya, where she became manager at Sosian Lodge in Laikipia. Here, Lauren was responsible for keeping the back of house running smoothly and also hosting the guests and tailoring their daily activities to their preferences each day. From waterfall jumping to camel trekking, there certainly was no dull moment! Additionally, she trained as a back-up rider for the riding safaris, spending hours galloping across the Laikipian plains and viewing incredible game (this included some slightly adrenaline-pumping elephant encounters!).

Despite loving the bush life, Lauren has now moved back to the UK in order to be closer to her friends and family, and she joins Yellow Zebra to spread her contagious love of Africa to others.