Save a Rhino With Mike – And Walk 96KM in 24 Hours

Mike Job from Siyafunda, picture by Emma Jenkins.

“To Learn and To Teach” (“Siyafunda” in Zulu) – our aim is to obtain a greater understanding of wildlife and the environment in which it thrives and to teach our knowledge to all who assist us at our Siyafunda projects.

You can view more about Siyafunda on their website or Facebook page.

If I never make it to paradise, at least I have been here!

Edith Blum - Johannesburg

Q: How long have you been a guide?

I’ve been a guide since 2003 – almost 18 years!

Q: What made you want to become a guide?

As kids our family holidays revolved around going to the Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi – the guys in khaki were my heroes. That’s what started it, and that’s why I’m here today.

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

I walk every day with the volunteers on Siyafunda.

The 3-day Threatened Wildlife Patrol trails are an exciting new offering by Siyafunda. Join their team of field rangers on their walking patrols through the Greater Makalali Nature Reserve.

Part of our job at Siyafunda is to monitor wildlife at Makalali. Our aim is to get eyes and ears on the rhino. The more eyes and ears on the ground, the better.

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

The Olifants Backpack trail in Kruger is definitely my favourite trail.

And the one I’d love to do is Pafuri.

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

A group of volunteers and I were out walking one clear winter morning. We were tracking and photographing Eland for Makalali’s game identification and count.

About 2 km from any permanent water we came across a dry river bed and at the bottom was a hippo, fast asleep…or so we thought. I quietly asked all the volunteers to start moving slowly towards a tree nearby.

As we were all moving to our left, the hippo got up and started ambling away before disappearing behind a bush. Still shepherding all the volunteers towards the tree I was also swivelling my head to keep track of it. Suddenly it just appeared out of seemingly nowhere and started running toward us roaring. It honestly sounded like a lion!

I started shouting at people to get away. I was shouting at the hippo. I don’t even recall bringing my rifle up to my shoulder. Suddenly the hippo just stopped – which isn’t supposed to happen. Everyone says that once they charge hippos don’t stop! I screamed at the hippo, “I’ll kill you. Move and you’re dead.” And then the hippo just turned and walked away.

I honestly thought either it was going to die, or I was going to die.

Q: Tell us about food on trail

Pre-Trail Food Co, my meals on trail consisted of 2 min noodles, tuna, kiri cheese, biltong, some sweets and energy bars.

Weight to a large extent has always been a deciding factor. And then following that it’s not about not being hungry per se, it’s about getting enough calories in.

Q: Which is your favourite trail food meal?

The Mushroom risotto definitely – but I really want to try the Beef Potjie.