Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a Game Ranger in Africa?
The job certainly seems glamourous – getting paid to escort guests out on safari and being witness to some of the most unforgettable sightings nature has on offer – but have you ever wondered what rangers have to actually deal with on a day to day basis? They are up before first light to prepare the game vehicle, pack coffee and breakfast snacks and offer wakeup calls. They are at the beck and call of their guests through the day and then they are often last to bed, wining and dining their guests while sharing stories around the fire.
To give us some direct insight into their lives, here are some stories from three rangers whose homes are found in the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. Just a two-hour drive from Johannesburg this park is one of South Africa’s most accessible Big-5 game reserves. With a wide variety of accommodation available, including Bakubang, Kwa Maritane and Tshukudu Bush Lodges, this park offers a convenient escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The head guides of each of these lodges have shared some of their most interesting insights and stories to shed some light of what goes on while leading groups on safari in Africa. Without further ado, here is a Q&A to understand a little more about what it takes to be a ranger, how to manage guests and read about some incredible activity that rangers have seen on the plains of Africa…
Meeting Expectations
“One of the most important things that we as guides do before departing on a safari is a pre-briefing. During these pre-briefings, important information is shared with the guests with regards to safety, rules and regulations as well as talking about the history of the park and what they possibly might encounter during their safari” says Eugene Le Roux Head Ranger at Kwa Maritane.
Dyllan Smit, Head Ranger of Bakubung Bush Lodge says “I will always ask my guests before we go out on safari, what their specific interests and expectations are. This allows me to focus on them and go out of my way to try and meet them.”
Tshukudu’s General Manager and qualified ranger, Andre van Rensburg says that most guests do not really know what to expect and are happy to see and learn about anything and everything but every so often some guests request to see the something specific.
“To try and meet our guests’ expectations I take them to areas I know there will be a good chance of seeing the specific species they hope to see. Occasionally I use my tracking skills to try and track the species and then include the guest in the tracking process. Guests love this experience, sometime even more than the actual sighting.”
Crazy Expectations
“One of the most common and “crazy” guests’ expectations I have encountered is when guests have asked to climb out of the safari vehicle in order to approach an animal on foot for a close-up photo. We have had to explain that the animals we encounter are wild and do not have direct contact with humans on foot” says Eugene from Kwa Maritane.
Andre from Tshukudu Bush Lodge says, “Sometimes we have guests who request to see something exceptionally rare which can be rather challenging. I always try to remain calm, explain how unlikely the sighting would be but then go out of my way to try find it. Sometimes, just showing guests areas where they could potentially spot a rare animal, like a pangolin, or by including them in the hunt for tracks and signs keeps them interested and hopeful that they might one day see what they wish to see”.
Funny Stories
“One of the many amusing occasions I have had while on a game drive was together with a family who had young children. During this drive we stopped to watch a troop of baboons. Baboons are already funny to watch but during this particular sighting we had a female baboon standing a few meters from our vehicle. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a male baboon appeared, and as fate would have it, the male started mating with the female next to our game vehicle. I remember sitting there thinking to myself “Oh-no!! Not now with all the kids on the vehicle!”. Before I could turn everyone’s attention to something else, a little voice at the back of the vehicle asked the question…..what are they doing?” says Eugene from Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge.
Andrea from Tshukudu shares a similarly funny story about his encounter with a lion…
“On an afternoon drive through the park with guests, we came across two majestic male lions walking down the road towards us. The guests were excited but somewhat nervous as the two lions headed in our direction. I reassured them and advised them to sit still, be quiet and enjoy the sighting. I parked the vehicle to the side of the road to allow the two kings to walk past us. The guests were dead quiet. The only sound coming from the vehicle was the click of camera shutters. Suddenly, one of the two lions came to a halt at just an arm’s length away from me and looked me dead in the eye. In hushed tones I told him "It's alright boy, we are not a threat to you or your brother". Everyone in the vehicle held their breaths and the clicking cameras stopped. The lion's piercing eyes sent shivers down my spine when without any warning he let out a violent sneeze! I nearly jumped out of my skin! The lion shook himself off and continued walking on as if nothing had happened.”
Most memorable sighting
“My most memorable sighting would be of an interaction between a female honey badger protecting her cub against two curious sub-adult male lions. Honey badgers are extremely clever and tough, scared of nothing and will take on any animal, from the smallest to the largest. She did not once back down. Eventually the lions gave up and moved away. This made me think of the saying ‘that nothing is as powerful and determined as a mother protecting her young from getting hurt,” says Eugene from Kwa Maritane.
Dyllan from Bakubung shares his most memorable sighting while picnicking in the reserve.
“We found a Wild Olive tree under which to sit and enjoy our breakfast when our conversation was interrupted by a herd of impala alarm calling. We scanned the area which they were focused on and this is when I picked up the tip of a white tail. A leopard! His eyes were locked on an impala lamb and in a split second there was chaos. He gave chase and impala scattered in all different directions. The lamb was cut off from the rest of the herd and he chased the little impala straight towards where we were sitting. He didn’t manage to catch the lamb but wow, when he stopped, he stood about 40 meters away from us and looked up at us as if to say “What? Could you do better?”. He then shook his tail and slowly walked away vanishing into the thickets below. We all stood amazed. None of us could believe what a special encounter we had just witnessed right in front of us”.
Advice to tourists on safari
Dylann from Bakubung says to pack for all types of weather. “We have four seasons in a year, but sometimes it feels like we have four seasons in a day. When you go out on a Game Drive always take some warm clothing with you, I always say, it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Eugene from Kwa Maritane says that you should always allow yourself time to relax and unwind, “Let us take you on a journey of discovery……you deserve it!”
Andre from Tshukudu always tell his guests to expect the unexpected. “It is all about being in the right place at the right time and having patience.”
What makes your lodge unique?
“Bakubung is a family friendly resort where children of all ages are welcome to join us on an unforgettable safari experience in a malaria free reserve,” says Dyllan.
“Kwa Maritane is where 5-star service meets the big 5 experience. We reveal and expose our guests to the very best of nature paired with unforgettable hospitality,” says Eugene.
Andre from Tshukudu says that all their staff, from the maintenance workers to the chefs, treat every guest as a VIP and go far and beyond to ensure each guest is surprised and delighted. “I have never had a day that I was not proud to be part of the Tshukudu team”.
So, while the hours may be long and their guests’ expectations tough to meet, most of us can agree that game rangers have an incredible job in comparison to most stuffy corporate careers.
The next time you are on safari in Africa, be sure to visit the Pilanesberg National Park and remember to keep in mind the stories of Andre, Dyllan and Eugene and the incredible amount of effort and education that goes into being a great ranger.
