Dr Chad Keates

Chad is currently employed at Hankuzi Explorations, a non-profit company dedicated to the exploration and documentation of Africa’s remote wild spaces. As General Manager, he oversees the research and operations of the NPC. Chad started his studies as a journalist at Rhodes University but quickly transitioned to Zoology in his honors, which was followed soon after by his PhD on the evolutionary structuring of african grass snakes. Since the completion of his PhD in 2021, Chad has completed two post-doctoral fellowships and has been appointed an Honorary Research Fellow at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. Chad is an accomplished herpetologist, having authored many high impact publications that have resulted in the discovery and description of several new taxa of both reptile and amphibian. He is a strong advocate for scientific engagement and regularly presents reptile and frog talks and demonstrations for audiences ranging from toddlers to academics. When not in the office or in the classroom, Chad is out in the field, photographing the amazing herpetological diversity that the sub-continent has to offer. In his short time as a herpetologist he has traversed much of Southern Africa, and more recently Angola and Zambia, with the likes of National Geographic, Okavango Wilderness Project and Hankuzi Explorations.