26 Big 5 Encounters in 9 Days

Q: How long have you been a guide?

I’ve been in guiding 25 years now.

Q: What made you want to become a guide? 

Many, many moons ago I watched John Varty’s movie, ‘The Silent Hunter’ about leopards. After that I always wanted to get into nature conservation. I couldn’t get into university so I went overseas for a while, then came back and did a guide course at what was EcoLogics on the Sabi Sands property.

Q: How many trails do you do on average a year? (COVID aside!) 

I reckon I probably do about 15-20 trails a year. They vary in length though with some up to 20 days! I’m lucky, I get to pick and choose the trails I do all over Africa.

I also do a lot of training and assessing with my company, Dhumukwa Guide Training.

Q: Which is your favourite trail in SA/in the world? 

In my mind, the Wilderness Leadership 5 night trail really stands out. We had good sightings, but it was also the most environmentally conscious trail I’ve ever been on. The entire experience was just pure untouched wilderness – absolutely nothing and no-one else around.

That said, I would love to do more walking in Mana Pools – specifically Chitake springs.

And I have always loved the North Luangwa park walks – the elephants either want to kill you or run away from you!

Q. What has been your most scary/exciting encounter with an animal on trail? 

Not too long ago I was on a trail in Manyoni. We were unpacking, planning to bed down for the night, when one of the trailists looked up and noticed a whole herd of elephant. They had come up the trail, completely silently and were just standing there waiting for us to get off the path.  There were 33 elephants in the herd! They could have gone around but didn’t, they just stood there waiting. So we all moved off the trail, the elephants walked past us, and carried on their way.

That entire trail was phenomenal – we had 26 big 5 encounters in total – lions, black rhino, buffalo, elephant obviously. Three cheetah and 2 leopard encounters – it was a truly rewarding 9 days of trail.

Q: Tell us how you eat on trail

My trail food started off with 2 min noodles mixed with instant soup and more recently future life. And then I carried snacks to get me through the day.
Then I saw the Trail Food Co products on instagram – and I’ve been recommending them ever since!

They are light-weight and tasty, and they sustain you.

Q: Which is your favourite trail food meal? 

The Mushroom Risotto is definitely my favourite Trail Food meal. But a nice Thai chicken curry would be a great next addition to your menu!