i feel that more and more the safari experience is heading towards being more meaningful and esoteric rather than scientific and clinical. The african wilderness is a place that really touches people deep inside and influences their lives. More and more, guides need to recognize that and use it to enhance their guided experience above the norm.

Nice to find you on this site as well!
I couldn't agree more with you in what you say about 'bringing a feeling across to clients'. As I worked in Botswana there were a number of guides who had far more knowledge than me, but the fact that a Dutchman can be guiding and gets repeat clients says something about the way I did guide: Have fun, 'read your guests' and deliver a healthy doses of scientific stuff! After all making a safari is a holiday and not a wildlife school.