Have you always wanted to become a ranger? This is one of the most frequently asked questions directed at any guide. The answer is probably different for everyone, but one thing is similar, you have to catch the bush bug some way or another. The diversity and background stories of the rangers here at Sabi Sabi differ immensely, but we have one thing in common, the love for the African bush.

My love of the bush started to develop a long time ago when I was still young. Not saying that I’m old now, mind you, because I am still young it just reiterates the fact that I started spending time in the bush when I was still a child. Like most South Africans, we visited many game reserves in the winter holiday, one of which was the Kruger National Park. Seeing the animals and experiencing the vastness of a place like this just left a mark and ignited a small spark and over the years as we visited other reserves and returned to Kruger again developed into a big fire. This is also why I studied Game Ranch Management after school, which is similar to Nature Conservation, as I needed to satisfy my curiosity when it came to nature and wildlife. Afterwards doing my ranger training and becoming a safari guide was an easy choice as I knew I wanted to be closer to the wildlife, experience the nature and teach people about the African bush.

I couldn’t have ended up in a world renowned game reserve like Sabi Sabi if it wasn’t for the support of my family and that is also where the seed got planted as they are all bush babies and love nature just as much as me. My girlfriend was also converted into a bush lover and a keen photographer just like me. That is actually why we are guides, to educate people about the bush and everything living inside so the word can be spread and nature conservation may become a top priority. I am privileged to work for a company like this as that enables my family to come and visit me and experience the bush as well as excellent five star services that a lot of people never get the chance to do. Showing them the animals and the quality of sightings that you really have to be lucky to see in a national park was a big highlight for me.

So I don’t think there is a straight yes or no answer to the question as it all depends on where life takes you and which doors open for you. Luckily for me the bush has always been in my blood and the opportunity beckoned and that was something I couldn’t let pass.