Have You Ever Wondered What Being Charged by a Rhino Is Like?

Q: How long have you been a guide?

I’ve been a guide since 2003.

Q: What made you want to become a guide? 

I wanted to be a guide since I was 6. I loved animals and always wanted to be in the bush. I got my lead walking qualification at 21.

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

I operate over the whole year, wherever the trails are happening – mainly between KwaZulu-Natal and Kruger, plus a camp in Botswana.

Through the African Bush Company, I also run 28 day trail guides courses, private safaris and primitive trails.

In 2020, I did 10 back to back trails and am proud to be part of a core group of guides and companies who operate according to the highest guiding, legal and ethical standards.

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

-Wild Coast Trail, Eastern Cape
-Letaba Wilderness Trail, Kruger Park
-Okavango Wilderness Trail, Botswana
– Akagera Wilderness Trail, Rwanda

Trails I’d like to do-
-Kruger National Park North to South
-Zambezi River Trail, West to East
-Indian Himalayas, India

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

On Trail Somewhere in Southern Africa…

With the mountains in view and open bush ahead, we continued to follow fresh lion tracks towards a wide dry river bed made up of river sand and occasional bedrock boulders.

We heard the lions in the morning as we departed for our trail. Coming across the tracks in open country, we eagerly followed to try catch a glimpse of the cats.

As we left the tree line and headed into the open, the tracks seemed to be heading for a lonely tree in the middle of an open plain. We broke from the tree line and walked towards the tree expecting some signs or even a view of the animals behind it.

As we got to the tree, a student from the back of the line suddenly yelled, “Massi, Rhino!” I promptly turned around to look at the student, when a dark shape appeared from behind us. It was indeed a black rhino, bouncing towards us making its short sharp snorting sounds.

I immediately told the trail group to get up the tree, which was a single stemmed Weeping Boer Bean, with just enough bumps in the stem to allow for climbing and just enough room in the branches to fit the group.

Muscle memory kicked in and I raised the rifle and started yelling, “HEY HEY HEY” to try and convince the rhino to turn around. It didn’t work, in fact , the rhino was closer and coming in fast. My back-up guide was right there with me yelling and rifle at the ready for a dire situation.

At twenty meters, then ten, the rhino kept running straight at us. I remember seeing the eyes, they were so clear and sharp. At the last moment, the rhino slightly shifted its weight to our left, and I thought, “It’s turning,” which it did, thankfully in another direction.

Once the animal was a good distance away, I looked at my back-up. I don’t know if he was whiter than me or more wide-eyed! We both agreed, that was too close!

Our trail group was still in the tree and exclaiming about the dramatic event they had witnessed.

After letting my heart rate get back to somewhere more manageable, we discussed the situation and how it could have happened. Black Rhino in certain areas have been known to follow people walking or follow dung on their shoes from another territory. Unfortunately they are aggressively curious and investigate disturbances rather urgently.

Deciding we had enough excitement for the long morning, we headed back to our camp for some much deserved coffee and exciting chat among everyone.

This story is also a reminder that the absolute last thing we want to do is have to use a weapon for self-defence, especially with an endangered animal, which we are passionate about protecting.

We gave the animal the respect and benefit of the doubt it deserved. We are in its territory and it is up to us to follow the bush rules, guiding standards and remain ethical and respectful of all life.

Q: Tell us about food on trail

Pre-Trail Food Co, I ate a lot of smash and pilchards, so the Trail Food Co meals are a nice change.

Q: Which is your favourite trail food meal? 

By far and away the Mushroom risotto.