From Italy to the African Bush: Claudia Bevilacqua’s Wild Journey of Conservation and Courage

 

From rescuing injured animals on the streets of Italy to guiding safaris across Africa, Claudia Bevilacqua has built a life defined by courage, passion, and purpose. Her story is one of following instinct — leaving behind comfort and familiarity to live among the wildlife she has loved since childhood. As a wildlife technician, safari guide, and conservation advocate, Claudia’s journey bridges continents and cultures, uniting her Italian roots with her deep, soulful connection to Africa. In this interview, she shares her incredible experiences in the field, from unforgettable encounters with lions and rhinos to her mission of inspiring future generations to protect the natural world.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what first inspired your journey into working with wildlife?

 

Looking back, I see that I've always had a great passion for wildlife, which grew stronger as I got older. My love for animals started early; I remember filling my bed with stuffed tigers, lions, kangaroos, dogs, and horses. I grew up with my family in Italy and, at just six years old, I began recovering injured animals from the streets. As I got older, I joined an animal protection association before beginning my university studies and becoming a Wildlife Technician. I've always made choices independently, driven only by my passions and instincts.

My studies have given me the tools to observe animals and analyse their behaviour in their natural environment, opening the door to the world of research and scientific communication. Today, my objective is to promote wildlife conservation projects, disseminate information, and bring people closer to nature to encourage coexistence between humans and animals.

Another thing that has certainly guided me on my path is where I come from. Let me explain better: I was born and raised in Italy, but I have always felt a strong appeal and a strong sense of belonging to Africa. Humanity is known to have its roots in this wonderful land; there are probably those like me who have a primordial memory that resonates within us, and we can only respond to this call.

Even when I was little, I dressed in African clothes and accessories, talked to the Africans I met on the street as if they were my friends, and my biggest dream was always to go to Africa and go on safari. After university, I continued to follow my passions and finally managed to fly to that distant land that I already felt was home.

It was my first time in Africa, and I decided to attend an academy in South Africa to become a Safari Field Guide. After landing at Johannesburg airport, I took a transfer directly to a nature reserve where I was about to begin another chapter of my life. The training was truly intense: I was completely immersed in African nature, surrounded by wild animals.

After the training, I obtained the FGASA Field Guide certification. During these months, I lived in a very small tent without light. We were often without electricity, and the roars of lions were the soundtrack to my sleep. I had few things and few comforts, yet I felt that I lacked nothing. Going there proved to be one of the best choices of my life, and the sounds, colours, and smells are still vividly imprinted in my memory.

Since then, Africa has been my home — where I feel I belong. Now I work as a safari guide for tour operators and collaborate as a Wildlife Technician on projects for the conservation and protection of animals at risk of extinction. When I return to Italy, I work in schools as a guide in outdoor education to bring children closer to nature, collaborate with museums, and organise events and photographic exhibitions to raise awareness about the natural world and the issue of poaching, both in Africa and in Italy.

To date, I use social media to reach those who cannot join my travels and to share, through photos and videos captured during my journeys, conservation projects and local initiatives. I think my life has always been connected to the energy that Africa exudes, a special place where I can express myself and where wild animals represent a priceless heritage that I wish to cherish.

 

 

What does a typical day in your life look like when you’re out in the wild?

In nature, every day is always different from the last; there’s always the possibility that something unexpected and incredible will happen. When you work here, you need to know the natural rhythms to maximize your chances of spotting certain animals. My day usually starts before dawn. We wake up early, and after a cup of hot tea, we head out in our vehicle. In the cool of the African mornings, we try to spot wildlife, hoping to catch a glimpse of a predator still engaged on a hunt. One thing I particularly love is stopping to admire the sunrise and listen to the sounds of the savannah awakening. Nature is dynamic, constantly offering new perspectives for a slow but profound discovery alongside my guests. We stop for major sightings, but also for little things like the macro world of insects; we read the stories the animals' footprints tell, or we learn about the fascinating way plants communicate. As a guide, I become the link between people and nature, and my ultimate goal is to bring people closer to the natural world so they truly feel part of it.

My typical day changes when I'm focused on conservation work for wildlife protection and monitoring. In this case, my day is spent alongside anti-poaching rangers and veterinarians. This might involve carrying out patrolling activities with anti-poaching units, applying radio collars to animals to monitor the species, making catches for relocations, or, in other cases, working with rhinos to perform dehorning. During these activities, coordinating procedures with other experts is essential; one must be precise, quick, and scrupulous to act safely and promptly, guaranteeing the animal's welfare. In those moments, we feel a strong sense of responsibility, and a powerful bond of collaboration is formed among us.

At the end of the day, after some chatting in front of the fire, a stargazing session is mandatory, dedicated to the infinity of the universe. We share legends about the ancient Greeks and tell tales about planets and constellations, leaving captivated guests with their noses up, gazing at the expanse of stars. With a greater awareness of how small and interconnected we are, we then head to sleep, ready for the next day.

What has been one of the most memorable or transformative moments you’ve experienced in your work?

 

It's difficult to pinpoint just one, because nature offers infinite memorable moments, but certainly one of the most transformative I experienced was participating in a rhino dehorning for the first time. I knew the procedure was meant to conserve and protect animals from poachers, but having to sedate and cut a rhino's horn is truly a difficult compromise to digest.In those moments, I questioned the power of science. I wondered how justified our actions were, and the sound of the chainsaw rang in my head as splinters of the horn flew and hit my leg. But then, when the rhino awoke from anesthesia and the mother was reunited with her baby, I understood that what we were doing made sense. Recent studies show a decline in poaching in South Africa precisely because of these dehorning operations.

I kept repeating to myself that the little calf could still have its mother by its side—at least for a while, she wouldn't end up in the sights of poachers, or so I always hope. After this experience, I felt an even deeper responsibility toward those animals. I promised myself once again to dedicate my life to conservation, and I sincerely hope that in the future, dehorning won't be the only solution to safeguard these magnificent animals. I realize that there is a need, at a global level, to make people understand nature's importance, and this is where dissemination and education play a fundamental role.

 

What challenges have you faced along the way, and how have they shaped your perspective?

 

My experience with wildlife was strengthened when I started university, but I remember that being a woman in my field was initially a disadvantage because it was uncommon. It was not well regarded in society, and I was often looked down upon by hunters, professors, or men in the sector who always had the final say in meetings and conferences. I was fortunate enough to meet other female colleagues older than me who shared their experience, and it was encouraging to see them successfully following the path I was studying for. Today, young girls often write to me, telling me they would like to do my job and asking for advice. This makes me incredibly happy, because now I am the woman who can encourage them to follow their passions and challenge difficulties to one day achieve the job they dream of.

Another challenge I have faced, and am still facing, is obtaining a work visa. The conservation sector is very difficult to break into because they often request unpaid volunteer work or only offer short-term jobs with a minimum salary. Added to this is my desire to work on a continent different from my own, and employers often require citizenship in job offers. I have had my degree recognized by the SAQA in South Africa, which I hope will help, but securing a work visa in a National Park, Reserve, or company remains difficult. For this reason, I am looking for other organizations in different African states, hoping to build something useful that aligns with my ethical principles and allows me to do what I love. At times, this unstable situation has made me lose hope, but the engine that pushes me to continue is stronger than any difficulty. Today, I collaborate with different entities and continue to knock on new doors. Combining conservation, tourism, and dissemination certainly helps me create more opportunities, and I am sure that my passion and determination will guide my path.

 

If you could share one message with the world about the importance of wildlife and conservation, what would it be?

 

When we look at wildlife in the eye, we must learn to see deeper. Imagine that the animals, the woods, the rivers, the oceans, and the air we breathe are all bound by an invisible thread that weaves and passes from north to south and from east to west, and that this thread supports our planet. We must maintain this balance, we must strengthen this thin, increasingly fragile thread. We are primarily responsible for challenging fate and putting a perfect balance in crisis with deforestation, fires, illegal hunting, pollution, wars, and destruction. Mother nature observes us, changes, dies, and is reborn according to her needs, but cannot plug the holes we dig ourselves. Observing wild animals and studying them in nature gives me a sense of wonder. There are large and small living beings who unknowingly carry out fundamental actions to safeguard this natural balance. 

They don't have technology, but they follow their instinct and the genetic information that is transmitted, and they do incredible things, confirming themselves as perfect models to follow. Unfortunately, the human being has taken the concept of “intelligence” and appropriated it, and has started to consider himself the only being with abilities, putting himself on top of a pyramid, but this is not the case. It is no coincidence that physics was inspired by animals and nature to build helicopters, submarines, or other incredible inventions. Each animal has its own abilities and intelligence. I hope people are curious to discover the great feats they accomplish, to immerse yourself in the beauty and complexity of nature, and to respect it. This will help us conserve our planet, live in a more united world, and save ourselves, too.

 

 

Do you have a favourite species or place in the wild that holds special meaning for you and why?

 

I have never had an absolute favorite color, song, or animal, but if I have to choose one, even if it is obvious, I would say that the lion has always been the animal I carry in my heart for several reasons. My first encounter with lions was at the age of 23, when I decided to carry out my thesis in a wildlife recovery center in Italy that housed lions recovered from illicit detentions and forced to live in captivity. Those lions were the closest thing to Africa I could find in Italy at the time, and looking them in the eye while feeding them, I promised myself I would do everything I could to make these animals live free in the wild. I have a strong bond with lionesses in particular, perhaps because whenI look at them they give me courage, they give me strength in the most difficult moments. I admire their bond of sisterhood, the cunning in their hunting strategies, and the care and protection they have towards their cubs. Another thing that binds me to this species is the fact that they are strictly social felines that live in packs, and this reminds me of the emotional bond I have with my family. At home, we are numerous, there is a strong bond between siblings, and the family is also made up of many women.

If I have to think of a place in nature that has a special meaning for me, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania comes to mind. The first time I entered that Park, I fell in love with Africa again. I felt something truly wild; there is a very high density of animals, and the infinite horizons make this place unique. An unforgettable sighting I had was that of a pack of 5 lionesses with 9 cubs who paraded in front of us in all their beauty.

 

 

How can people best support or get involved with the work you’re doing?

 

Travelling with me is definitely a great way to get involved in my work and experience the wild. Moreover, these trips help promote wildlife conservation projects and provide support to local communities. If you’d like to follow my adventures and get more information about upcoming trips, you’re more than welcome to join me online through my Instagram @claudia.wild.africa and my Facebook page Claudia Bevilacqua. 

Social media is more than just a platform and I’ve realized it’s a space to raise awareness, inspire curiosity, and connect people who share the same love for our planet. I’m also working on my own website, where I’ll soon share more stories, experiences, and details about my nature trips.

Looking ahead, I have many dreams and projects I would like to develop personally —from conservation and education to media storytelling and humanitarian initiatives. So if someone is interested in creating something together, they are very welcome to contact me. And even though my home is Africa, I believe in thinking beyond borders, building bridges between continents, and creating something meaningful together.

 

 

Claudia’s story is a vivid reminder that when passion meets purpose, extraordinary things happen. Her unwavering dedication to wildlife, education, and conservation continues to inspire those who dream of living closer to nature. Through her safaris, conservation projects, and photography, she connects people across the world to Africa’s wild heart — encouraging each of us to play our part in protecting it.

 

Follow Claudia’s journey on Instagram @claudia.wild.africa or get in touch via email at claudia.bevilacqua@gmail.com to learn more about her upcoming adventures and projects.