I am a nature guide in one of southern Africa's most prestigous game viewing areas, the Sabi Sands Wildtuin, which ajoins the world famous Kruger National Park. I have been guiding for four years and have been photographing and recording some of the spectacular sightings I have had the privilege to witness, which are now showcased on this blog.
I was born, raised and schooled in KwaZulu Natal where I was introduced to the wilds of Zululand at a young age through family holidays to the local national parks. From this grew a keen interest in nature conservation which lead me to study a Wildlife Science degree at Maritzburg Varsity. I then travelled to the States for a short time where I worked a ski season at a resort in Vermont. Upon returning to South Africa I returned to University to complete a Masters degree in Zoology where I investigated possible competition between nyala and bushbuck causing localised declines in bushbuck populations, the findings of which laid a platform for much needed further research. The study achieved four publications in two leading African Ecology journals.
I then took my first post as a field guide in the Sabi Sands in 2003 where I built on my skills and knowledge of the bush and developed a keen interest in wildlife photography (specifically the big cats). During this time I also managed to travel southern and east Africa visiting exotic places like Zanzibar and fishing the unchartered waters of the Rifiji and Kilombero Rivers. In 2005 I met my partner, Kelly, and in 2006 we decided to head for the UK for a couple of years mainly to travel. I worked in London on policy development for carbon reduction strategies and explored amazing places such as Iceland and Egypt before the call of the wild lured us both back to the Sabi Sands in 2010.