RANGER'S PROFILE

I have been a professional field guide since 1997.

After my studies I worked in the world famous Kruger National Park and have a full South African National Parks Board guiding qualification. I have also worked at a couple of private game reserves around the Limpopo and North West Province including the well known Pilanesberg.

I have 10 years experience of guiding in different environments which lead me to the beautiful Shumbalala Game Lodge in the Thornybush Game Reserve which is predominantly Bushveld savannah. I have been privileged to extend my experience at Shumbalala since June 2008.

I am a FGASA level 3 SKS (dangerous game) guide and have been one of the first rangers to obtain this highly commended qualification. This means that I am highly qualified and experienced to take guests on game drives and walks in a big 5 environment.  It is my pleasure to share my knowledge of the bush to those keen to learn.

I also have an advanced snake handling qualification and am highly experienced in demonstrating snake behavior and snakebites. Snakes are an integral part of the ecosystem and are vitally important that people understand the ecological role that snakes fulfill.

There is more to a game lodge and game drives than just seeing the sought after “big five” and therefore it is my goal to make people understand the necessity of the smaller, so often overlooked creatures such as smaller invertebrates and how they fit into the very important ecosystem.

I also have a keen interest in stargazing and one of the best things that you can experience on a game drive is to stop at night, switch off the lights and experience the beautiful African sky with its sights and sounds while realizing the greatness of God’s creation and the insignificance of man.

It is my experience that working in the bush is always new and interesting and one can never stop learning from it.

Since I was a child I have always wanted to be a tracker just like my father. I have since been a tracker for about 10 years and gained a lot of experience in this field.

I have had the privilege of working in a few different game reserves in Mpumalanga, South Africa before coming to Shumbalala Game Lodge. I am a Level 2 tracker and I am currently trying to get my FGASA qualification to become a ranger.

I enjoy being in the bush and it is always a challenge to track an animal by its spoor (footprint) and finding it is very satisfying. Sometimes it is dangerous but I work closely with my ranger and am always very careful.

My goal is to try to become the best and knowledgeable ranger and to share my love of the bush with the visitors at Shumbalala Game Lodge.

I was fortunate enough to grow up on a game farm/holiday resort on the banks of the Vaal River in the Freestate. From a very young age I was exposed to different aspects of the outdoors.

At age 12 I went on my first river rafting trip and from that moment I was hooked and in the year 2000 I qualified as a professional river guide.

Through my experience as a river guide, I became involved with various other outdoor adventure activities. 

Being exposed to such beautiful areas and natural wonders my passion for the outdoors grew even stronger. In 2006 I enrolled for a one year professional field guide and lodge management course through the Bush Academy. After qualifying I began my field guiding career in the Pilanesberg National Park, where I spent just under two years.

During this period I completed my PGASA level II and trails guide qualifications

After Pilanesberg I was offered a wonderful opportunity to work in the bushveld and joined the team at Shumbalala.

I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of the outdoors whether it is wildlife or adventure, and I am continuously striving to better my knowledge and gain the highest possible qualifications.

I grew up in Mozambique in a village called Magood. I spent my childhood in the wild learning the ways of the bush and tending the family flocks. I came to South Africa in search of work during the civil war and was fortunate enough to find work on a coi farm. I was then offered a position at a game lodge in the Limpopo province which offered me the opportunity to return to the bush as a tracker.

When I learned that the prestigious 5 * Shumbalala game lodge was looking for a tracker, I jumped at the chance to join the team and was fortunate enough to be employed.

I thoroughly enjoy every facet of the wildlife, but my passion is birds. I am fascinated by them.

I would like the opportunity to become a successful ranger, sharing my knowledge of the environment with guests from far and wide. When an animal is tracked down it gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

Giving my guests an opportunity to view and photograph that elusive animal or bird is ultimately rewarding.