Being a guide is a bit like being a parent, strictly speaking you aren’t supposed to have favourites. Saying that one of the most frequent questions guides and trackers are asked is “what is your favourite animal?” and that is not an easy question to answer! For me, my answer will be heavily affected by whatever animal I am looking at, at the time. Every animal species is special in its own unique way and when you begin to appreciate how seamlessly each species fits in with each other in the great balancing act that nature pulls off you appreciate that each species is a strong contender for the title of Favourite!
Tag: Big 5 Safari
The Garonga Diaries: The Final Chapter
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
It has been great writing these diaries over the ‘lockdown months’. We hope you have enjoyed them.
Many thanks indeed to Sophie, the safari team, the personalities that took part, and of course to Anna at WildWeb for producing them.
It is now the end of the story with this, the final chapter. We reopen in five days time and will resume normal operations, albeit on a much smaller scale than we are used to.
We wish you, and your families all the very best.
Best Regards
Bernie and The Garonga Team.
Look back on previous Garonga Diaries entries here.
Cover photo by Sophie Barrett
The Garonga Diaries: Training, Acting and fresh lion kills with Kaizer!
Dear Diary,
My name is Kaizer and I am one of the guides here at Garonga. I live in a village called Share (you say it Sheerah) which is about 3 hours away from the lodge. I started working here at Garonga Safari Camp in October 2014. When I started I was a tracker. On my first day I was so very scared, but because I was so hungry to find myself working, I did manage the situation and after a couple of days I found myself really enjoying my job. As I was doing my job so well I got a promotion to become a guide in 2019. I have 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl. My daughter is called Sphesihle which means very special gift and she was born on 26 April this year. With the lockdown for Covid-19 I have missed having guests to guide but I have very much enjoyed spending time with my young daughter.
Continue reading “The Garonga Diaries: Training, Acting and fresh lion kills with Kaizer!”
The Other Big 5 at Garonga
These are the Big 5 safari experiences that are the icons of our special ‘safari for the soul’ ethos.
We are lucky enough to share our home in the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve with Africa’s magnificent Big 5 (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino) and all manner of wildlife beyond these more iconic beasts. A Big 5 safari is a classic South African adventure, which we decided to make extra-special with another, different type of Big 5 of our own. These are five of our signature Garonga experiences that make up a large part of the essence of our ‘safari for the soul’.
The Garonga Diaries: Mpho remembers the past and looks forward to the future!
Dear Diary,
My name is Mpho, I started to work here at Garonga Safari Camp last year, in August 2019, as a tracker. I started working together with Jaff who is head safari guide, and even now we are still going forward working as a team. I am staying at Sigagula next to the Orpen road, it is only one and half hours drive to the lodge from home. At home I’m staying with my family which is my wife and two boys, the first born is 11 years old, the second one is 4 years old. The first one’s name is Thswarelo he is in grade five at school and his favourite subject is English (and mathematics), so the second one is Dimpho, he is in grade R and his favourite game is playing soccer and he loves to watch movies! Enough of me now I will tell you about the last week.
Continue reading “The Garonga Diaries: Mpho remembers the past and looks forward to the future!”