Our Family
At Monument Valley Safari, we work hard to make sure that you have the most memorable experience exploring the breathtaking views and sights in Monument Valley. This is made possible by our five-star tour guides who are passionate about not only the area they are showing you, but their motivation to make your trip as interesting, impactful, and enjoyable as possible. Our team is made up of 20 seasonal guides who bring their unique backgrounds and personalities to each tour we offer. Whether you are only spending two hours with us to take some photos or spending 18 to 20 hours with us to have the full Monument Valley experience, our tour guides will always treat you like family.
Toney Begay
Clan: Notah Dine Tachinii (tabaco), Salt, Red House (clizzah), bitaani (folded arm).
“My favorite place in Monument Valley is Hunts Mesa. The air smells of pinion pine and is clean. There’s no people on Hunts Mesa. It’s quiet and the view… the view!”
Toney was born in Narrow Canyon, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. Toney’s parents are both traditional healers; his mother a herbalist and his father a medicine man. He is bilingual, fluent in Navajo and English. Toney has 40 years of guiding experience in Monument Valley, and he is a Union Carpenter.
Don Mose
A respected elder, educator and ambassador of the Navajo Tribe, Don Mose has made significant contributions in fostering the Navajo culture through his involvement in developing the Rosetta Stone Diné Bizaad course and the Navajo Language Curriculum for the San Juan School District.
He considers Mother Nature the master artist of Monument Valley. The Diné (Navajo People) have an old saying, “Beauty before me, beauty behind me, beauty above me, and beauty below me.” This is called the “Beauty Way,” or Hózhó – a Navajo concept of striving to live in balance and harmony; spiritually, physically and mentally.
Through his knowledge and understanding of Navajo lore and ceremonies, Don shares a deep and important message with his visitors. His passionate storytelling leaves his guests inspired and asking for more.
Bobby Atene
Bobby was raised in Monument Valley. He enjoys giving tours and sharing his Navajo culture with visitors. He often plays the Native American flute for guests in one of the many natural sandstone arches in Monument Valley. His pastimes are basketball and watching sports.
Bobby is always reading and learning new things, whether it is a book on the ancient Pueblo people or electrical engineering. He is currently a part-time student in Flagstaff, Arizona, and comes home to the Navajo Nation to give tours as often as possible.
Jean Greyeyes
Clans: I am born for Todich’ii’nii and ‘Ashiihi. My maternal grandparents are Ye’ii dine’e Tachii’nii and my paternal grandparents are Tl’izi lani.
Jean is a senior tour director with Monument Valley Safari. Also, she teaches 4th grade at Kayenta Elementary School. Her love for children and education show on her tours. Her vast knowledge of the Anasazi comes from years of working with archaeologists as they excavated ancient sites across the Navajo Nation.
Duffy Holiday
Duffy was born in Portland, Oregon, and his family moved a lot while he was growing up. He spent time in Phoenix, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City… But he spent most of his life around Monument Valley.
He grew up riding horses, herding sheep and helping his grandma sell jewelry at the Tribal Park. This is where he feels at home. He likes going to rodeos and traditional dances, and he plays Native American flute.
He started guiding when Monument Valley Safari started, and was one of our very first guides. He is bilingual, fluent in Navajo and English.
Comasheena Benally
Clan: My clans are Folding Arm, born to Mescalero Apache, Many Goats clan and White river Apache clan.
“My family is a traditional Navajo. We practice our heritage, medicine, grow crops, along with traditional gatherings, ceremonies, farm sheep and cattle. I enjoy farming and being with my family and children. I mostly work with photography in the Valley and shooting portraits. Monument Valley is an amazing place to be. My home. I love working here as a guide with Monument Valley Safari!”
Comasheena was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her family’s roots are in a place called Moonlight Ridge, south east of Copper Canyon, on the Navajo Reservation. She is bilingual and speaks Navajo and English. Comasheena has been guiding tours in Monument Valley since 2013, and her expertise is working with photographers.
Peter MacDonald
Navajo Code Talker and Former Leader of the Navajo Nation.
At the age of 15, Peter MacDonald, a Navajo from Teecnospos, AZ, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where, along with other Navajo Marines, was secluded from other Marines for top secret Navajo Code School. During the final phase of World War II (1944-46) MacDonald served in South Pacific as Navajo Code Talker and North China with the Sixth Marine Division.
MacDonald went on to University of Oklahoma and graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree (BSEE). He pursued graduate studies at UCLA while working as a Project Engineer on the Polaris Missile project for (Howard) Hughes Aircraft Company.
Prominent among his work experience is his service as Chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1971 to 1983 and 1987-91. MacDonald was re-elected to the Office of the Chairman four times—unprecedented in Navajo history.
MacDonald is presently President of the Navajo Code Talkers Association – raising funds to build National Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veteran Center to honor War Heroes; whose unique legacy, from 1942 through 1945, helped win the war; transmitting top secret messages in every major battle in the pacific theatre. Navajo Code was the only military code, in modern history, never broken by an enemy.