Our Guide

I’ve been guiding for around five years. Originally, I planned to study animal sciences and genetics, but a few months before enrolling, I realised I’d be working with animals from a laboratory perspective, internally, not in the wild. That wasn’t what I envisioned. After some research, I discovered field guiding, and it felt like the perfect path, allowing me to observe and understand animals in their natural environment, exactly where they belong.

I trained through Impala Game Ranger Training and hold an NQF Level 2 Field Guide qualification (Apprentice Field Guide).

One of the animals I’m most passionate about sharing with guests is the hippo. While often underestimated, hippos are incredibly strong and fiercely protective when they need to be. They also produce their own natural sunscreen, an oily substance known as hipposudoric acid, which gives the impression that they’re sweating blood. In reality, it protects their skin by absorbing UV rays and offering antibacterial benefits.

A moment that stands out for me was during a sundowner stop at a quiet waterhole. There was no movement in sight, and the guests had stepped off the vehicle to relax. Within minutes, the silence was broken by the sound of snapping branches, a herd of more than 30 buffalo emerged, seemingly keen to crash our sundowner and join the gathering!

Conservation is vital to me. Nature supports all forms of life, animals, humans, and plants, and without it, future generations won’t be able to witness what we see every day. With habitat loss and poaching on the rise, the threat of a future where rhinos exist only in zoos or reserves vanish completely is very real. Conservation ensures these species remain part of our living world, not just our history.

Languages spoken: Afrikaans and English.