Mark C Ross has been guiding safaris in Kenya and East Africa for over 30 years.
An educator, adventurer and an explorer, he was raised in North America on a wildlife refuge in a family of teachers and highly trained musicians. Academics and the Arts were the primary focus and from a very early age Mark began earnestly studying wildlife, photography, and East Africa. His early jobs of roughnecking on oil rigs, working as a ranch hand and as a fire fighting helicopter rappeller all gave him a strong taste for incorporating the outdoors and adventure into his learning. While still in High School he began teaching wildlife and ornithology and planning his education so that it led him ultimately to Kenya. Marlin Perkins, Director of the St. Louis Zoo and Host of Wild Kingdom, was an early mentor of Mark’s and encouraged his learning.
After completing two Bachelors degrees in wildlife and doing research in zoology in Kenya’s Masai Mara for a doctoral thesis, Mark earned yet another degree in Secondary education and followed his natural abilities into the world of teaching. It was during school vacations, while he taught in Kenya, that Mark started guiding safari’s for guests and his side business/hobby blossomed so quickly and so widely, just by word of mouth, that Mark eventually chose to focus his teaching skills into teaching “in the field” (which is how Mark still looks at his occupation). Mark loves his work and it shows in his gracious approach to his guests and his reverence and great knowledge of the field. For 30 years Mark Ross’ safari business has thrived almost entirely by word of mouth.
The New York Times, Time Magazine, and National Geographic have hired Mark in various capacities and his photographs and writings have appeared in numerous publications worldwide. He has also written two books (Dangerous Beauty, True Stories from a Safari guide, published by Hyperion Press, and Predator, Life and Death in the African Bush, published by Abrams books) and is working on a third. Both of his books have achieved critical acclaim and Predator is used by several International safari companies as their definitive predator guide that they recommend to guests for safari pre-reading.
Selection courtesy of Mark Ross' Official Site.