Three-ton plus game viewers, .458 calibre rifles that kick like a mule, leather boots and walking amongst lions. These might not be sugar and spice but for myself and my female colleagues - these are all things nice.

To be a field guide is a dream job and there’s no doubt about that. Being fully immersed in the wild every single day is an incredible experience. Sunrises and sunsets, the beautiful medley of bird songs and of course the wide variety of wildlife! The animal sightings are amazing - sharing this and other small miracles of the bush with people is a true privilege.

Gone are the days when it was rare to see a woman taking on the role of a field guide. As we near 2018, Sabi Sabi has a group of 7 female rangers who take absolute pride in exposing people from all over the globe to the wonders of nature.

I’d like to introduce you to these lovely ladies to find out where they are from and why they absolutely love their job:

Chanyn-Lee Zeelie – Pretoria

I love my job as I get to share my passion for nature with people from all over the world! It is surreal to wake up in Mother Nature’s playground every morning. What a privilege!

Kerry-Lee Roberg – Cape Town

I have spent a few years trying to figure out my path in life. I've tried the 'ordinary ' but decided I needed to live out my passion... So that is what I'm doing in the African Bush. Why do I love what I do? I get to spend every day appreciating wildlife and nature in general and sharing my passion with people from every corner of the globe. I have witnessed some incredible sightings, met special people and the first summer rains mean I've had the privilege of watching Mother Nature transform into a colourful haven buzzing with life... right before my eyes.

Charlotte Krag – Denmark

Being from Denmark, I didn't have the opportunity to go to national parks and game reserves on family holidays when I was younger. I had to make do with watching African wildlife on Animal Planet and National Geographic. Fortunately enough, after taking a leap of faith and moving to South Africa at 19 years old, Sabi Sabi saw passion and eagerness to learn and chose to take me on. I couldn't be happier with my decision to get into the guiding industry! Not only is my office the African savannah filled with animals I used to only see on TV, but I get to meet and know people from all over the world and teach and share with them my passion for not only the “Big 5” but all the small and interesting things in nature.

Louise Murray & Lee Swart

Louise Murray - Krugersdorp

I became a guide because I was always interested in wildlife and animals. Being out in the bush was my happy place. It’s only once I started guiding that I realized how rewarding this job actually is, not only because you get to see amazing things and have unreal experiences but also because you get to share those experiences with people who have come here for that exact reason. You are creating a holiday and in turn, memories for your guests and for me that moment is so special! You always get joy out of seeing how excited your guests are when they see something and then being able to enhance that excitement by giving them an interesting and fun adventure. Making people smile and bringing joy! It’s a no brainer, it makes life good.

Lee Swart – Bethlehem (Free State)

For me personally it is one of the best places to be working as a female for the biggest reason that we are seen equally good as males. We don’t need to prove ourselves. What is expected of males is expected of females and our management has no doubt in our capabilities. The best feeling is to go out on safari and see the complete surprise on our guests’ faces when they see a female holding a .458 calibre bolt action rifle. I love being a female in this industry because we can give guests something to think about and it is a story they can take back to encourage their daughter, granddaughter, nieces and cousins to go into the world and take it by storm, just like we do in this industry.

Angelique Borlinghaus – Wesselsbron (Free State)

Why do I love my job?! What a question ... I would say that I am one of the lucky ones that get to actively seek out the beauty and adventure of a moment with people from all over that also share my passion for the natural world! One of the many perks of my job is that for a moment in time my story gets to interact with the stories of my guests and together memories of a lifetime are created!!

Sabi Sabi supports all those who have a drive and passion for the job regardless of gender, race, etc. which is why I believe we have a strong, diverse and positive team. This makes the world’s difference in creating the ultimate bush experience for our guests - our philosophy.