Lorraine was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Her passion for the natural world was fostered as a teenager when she had opportunities to visit Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba and Great Zimbabwe. Weekends were spent abseiling and exploring the granite outcrops of the Matobo National Park.
Even while earning her honour’s degree in nursing in Bristol, England and afterwards during her career as an Intensive Care sister she continued to spend time discovering the great outdoors. From cycling the length of the UK, to hiking in the New Territories of Hong Kong, to swimming in the Tea-tree red waters of Lake Boomanjin, no opportunity for adventure was passed by!
After 10 years however, the pull of Africa grew too strong and she returned, taking up residence in South Africa. Deciding that it was time to turn her passion for nature and the outdoors into more than just a pastime she enrolled on a guide training course, qualifying as a Big 5 vehicle-based and walking guide. Lorraine went on to guide at Madikwe Game Reserve and then formed her own training company, Africa Nature Training in 2002. Since 2017 she has had her own column, The Wild Guide, in a South African travel magazine.
In 2018 she became a co-director in Thanda Safari’s Research and Volunteer programme, Ulwazi, and then in mid-2019 accepted a contract as the wildlife manager for Thanda Safari. Together these two posts have allowed her to pursue not only her passion for education but also for conservation. Lorraine also guides for the award-winning, WWF-partnered, American-based travel company Natural Habitat Adventures and is the only woman guide to work for them in Africa.