What is your role at Samara, and what does a typical day look like for you?
I started off as a Tracker on Samara and have worked my way up to being a Field Guide. Life as a guide begins with early morning wake-ups around 4 or 5am. I head to the lodge to meet guests for coffee before setting out on a morning game drive or bush walk, ready to see what nature has in store for the day.
After returning from the drive, I spend some downtime fixing tyres, cleaning vehicles, or reading. I’m currently reading Plains of Camdeboo by Eve Palmer – a book about the area in which Samara sits.
In the afternoon, I meet guests again for tea before heading out on the afternoon game drive, usually returning to the lodge around 8 or 9pm.
What first brought you to Samara?
I began my guiding career by completing a 1-year course at the Tracker Academy at Samara in 2019. I had always wanted to become a guide. My father was a farmer, and although I grew up in the veld, I knew farming was not the path for me.
After growing up and going to school in Cradock, about 2 hours from Samara, I began researching my next steps, which led me to the Tracker Academy – which was close enough to home. When my father and I arrived at the start of my course, the views of the Samara mountains as we drove in immediately drew me in. I remember thinking to myself, “One day I will work at Samara!”
Shortly after completing my tracking course, I saw an open tracker position at Samara, but the Covid lockdown began before I could apply. I went on to work at Kwandwe Game Reserve for four years, yet my heart remained with Samara. The landscape is so similar to where I grew up that it feels like home to me.
What do you love most about working here?
Being out on game drive is what I love most about working at Samara. Even when I am on leave, I find myself thinking about how much I would rather be out on the reserve.
Is there a guest moment that has stayed with you?
One particular moment has stayed with me and will for a very long time. Last year, I guided a group of first-time safari-goers who were excited about every little thing they encountered.
I found one of the female cheetahs, Naledi, with her cubs. The group jumped off the vehicle and we tracked her on foot for a short while. Seeing the pure joy and excitement on their faces was incredibly special.
While we were standing and watching her with her cubs, a common duiker suddenly jumped out of the bush. Naledi ran straight past me and my guests and caught the duiker. We then watched as she and her cubs fed right in front of us. Some of the guests were even brought to tears by how special this sighting was. Experiencing cheetah on foot with guests is always something extraordinary for me.
Is there a particular experience you especially enjoy sharing with guests?
Driving up the Wolwekloof mountain pass is one of my favourite experiences to share with guests. From the very first time I arrived at Samara, I have been drawn to the mountains. Exploring the Samara Mara grasslands on top of the mountain is something I really enjoy doing with guests. Eagle’s Rock is my favourite lookout point on Samara, and it is a place I love introducing to guests.
What is your expertise or specialty at Samara?
Birding and tracking are my specialities. My love for birding stems from my childhood, when I spent time in the veld with my father learning the local names of birds.
When I arrived at the Tracker Academy, I began matching the familiar sounds I already knew with their scientific names. It felt like putting together pieces of a puzzle. This foundation has made it easier for me to understand bird behaviour, their calls, and the origins of many of their names.
Tracking plays a significant role in my life. I feel that it teaches you to think like the animals. While walking through the bush and studying tracks, I become more alert and focused. Everything else fades into the background as I imagine the animal’s movements and piece together its story. That deep concentration and connection to the bush is why I enjoy tracking so much.
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Samara Karoo Reserve is a leading conservation journey to restore 67,000 acres of South Africa’s Great Karoo landscape and beyond through rewilding and responsible tourism. Staying at one of Samara’s lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision.