Meet the Rangers

Judas’s story is one of courage and determination.

He grew up in Mozambique during a time of political instability and civil war. In 1982, Judas walked as a refugee through the thick and wild bushveld into the Kruger Park and South Africa – a promising land.

The journey required the jumping of fences, walking by the light of the moon at night, and sleeping during the day so as not to be seen by police officials. Over the years, Judas was to do this trip on a number of occasions guiding groups of 12 – 30 other Mozambicans from their war torn land, into South Africa.

Judas became an expect tracker from these excursions through the bushveld. He studied the tracks of different animals both for protection and hunting purposes and learnt how to disguise his own tracks. Judas has these tracking skills on a daily basis since joining the Londolozi team in the early ninties. 

Over the years his favourite sightings of animals have been watching a python catch a small leopard, and witness numerous leopard fights.

While one would think a tracker has a particular interest in one or two animals, Judas maintains that “in my heart, there is no difference – all animals are the same”.

After growing up in Johannesburg, Graeme, otherwise known as Stompi due to his diminutive stature, moved to the winelands of the Western Cape, to study accountancy at Stellenbosch University.  Here his professional sporting career picked up and he was fortunate enough to play first class cricket for 2 years.

After a further two years at the University of Cape Town, he completed his Postgraduate in Accountancy before returning to Johannesburg to complete his Auditing articles at KPMG.  On successfully completing these articles as well as passing the necessary examinations to qualify as a registered Chartered Accountant, Stompi handed in his laptop, jacket and tie in exchange for khakis and a camera.  Whilst doing his articles, Stompi was also one of the Founding Trustees of a charity education trust called Bokamoso Education Trust which finances the education of underprivileged children.

Stompi is a passionate birder, which he picked up from his father, and is also fascinated with the leopards of Londolozi.  In between his primary hobby of wildlife photography, he also enjoys playing sports and coaching cricket.

“My best moment in the bush was when I found 2 week old leopard cubs at their den site.”

Stompi wishes to guide for the indefinite future but would eventually like to be involved in Private Equity Investments in the developing economies of Africa and perhaps one day to be just a little bit taller.

Adam’s love affair with Londolozi began at the age of 5 when he played a lead role in the hit children’s series “Bush School” with John Varty. Adam grew up in Johannesburg as a soccer and drama loving child and in his adolescence had to make a decision on which of his talents to pursue for his career. After working and travelling extensively through North and South America and volunteering in the Amazon Jungle in Ecuador, Adam chose to study Conservation Ecology (Hons) at the University of Stellenbosch. After this, and at the end of a successful paddling trip around the remote parts of Lake Malawi, Adam once more returned to Londolozi to complete his rangers course.

Adam’s success as a ranger has come in to fruit as he has put into practice the theoretical components of his degree. He thrives in the bushveld, admiring in particular female waterbuck and ground hornbills. Amongst Adam’s fond memories of the bushveld was the interaction of three leopards battling over a kill. Adam envisions his future as being involved in environmental volunteer programs in remote areas and knows he will continue to work closely with and for the planet.

Mike grew up playing touch rugby on the sandy beaches of Durban. A high school career of more sport, including rugby, golf and cricket, saw Mike playing provincial rugby before heading to Cape Town University to complete an honours degree in Financial Management & Accounting.

Before embarking on his accounting articles in Johannesburg, Mike lectured tax at the University. It was after three years of working for Delloite in the city that Mike decided to trade in his suit and tie for a set of Khaki’s and a rifle. Mike joined Londolozi with his girlfriend Jill at the start of 2009, and has not looked back since.

Mike’s passion in the bush lies with big cats, and the strategy behind their hunting methods. “Nothing is more rewarding than following a pride of lions, anticipating their every move and watching them follow through with a kill”. Mike dreams of one day owning his own business where Khaki is the accepted dress code.

‘Jerry’ as he is affectionately known, has been tracking at Londolozi for ten years. Before hand, Jerry was a member of the habitat team and worked on the land, where he became familiar with the animals and geology of the South African bushveld. Jerry is one of Richard Siwela’s protégé, and so having learnt from the best, Jerry is one of Londolozi’s finest trackers. His most memorable sighting in the bush is of the Pel’s Fishing owl which he saw in 2004 – a sighting that makes other rangers and trackers green with envy.

Jerry has a large and traditional Shangane family of three wives and eleven children. Half of Jerry’s children have emerged themselves in agriculture, while others aspire to be doctors and vets. Jerry has taught his own children to track as he believes the education he can give his children is that of the bushveld, which they can share with guests.

David Dampier, known to everyone as 'Doyle' is a child of the Eastern Cape.  Growing up in East London, going to school at Selborne College and then completely his Bachelor of Accounting Degree at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Doyle eventually moved to Johannesburg to complete his accounting articles at KPMG.

Throughout his life, Doyle has spent alot of time in the bush at various game farms in the Eastern Cape as well as throughout Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.  He is a very keen and experienced fly fisherman who can often be found tossing a line in the Sand River.  Doyle can also claim to be the only Ranger who has got provincial colours in Roller Hockey, playing as the striker for the 'Border Jaws'.

Doyle's favourite place is Winterberry, in the Eastern Cape, and recalls his best moment in the bush was when he spotted a leopard before his tracker.  This was not easy with Simon's 32 years of tracking experience.  Doyle's plans for the future involved pursuing his photographic hobby as well as learning to play the guitar as well as James Hendry. 

Byron has been actively involved and interested in the guiding industry for the last 5 years.  After studying a business degree in Johannesburg, his home town, he worked for the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA) before following his dream of being a game ranger.

Byron’s good sense of humour mixes well with his knowledge of the bush and easy going interpretive style.  He is passionate about passing on his knowledge, particularly on his two favourite animals - the honey badger and the elephant.  His most memorable sighting involved two honey badgers fighting off a pack of wild dogs.

Looking forward, Byron has future plans of continuing to work for Londolozi as a guide, but also putting his business skills to use in the marketing and commerce side of things.  Until that time, he continues to make people laugh with his jokes and storytelling.

Life has been at Londolozi for the last 8 years.  Having lived in the surrounding Justicia community, Life began working in maintenance and habitat for 4 years before he was trained by Richard Siwela to become a tracker.  Life’s progress as a tracker is evident in his desire to continuously learn more about birds and trees and his future ambitions of becoming a senior tracker and guide with friend and colleague, Freddy Ngobeni.

When not working, Life spends his time with his wife, daughter and friends in the Londolozi village.  He also has a keen passion for soccer and in particular Manchester United.  Occasionally you can find him on the Londolozi soccer pitch.

Life recounts his most memorable moment in the bush as the occassion when his ranger, Brett Wallington, and him were charged by the Campan male leopard on foot.  Unknowingly stumbling across him on a fresh kill he had just made.

Solly Mhlongo joined the Londolozi habitat team in 1987.  Having grown up in the surrounding Justicia community, Solly spent many years ensuring that the Londolozi land was properly cared for.  He then graduated into a tracker and later on a ranger.

Solly enjoys birds in the summer as well as wild flowers.  Having had many years of experience tracking, he is also an excellent individual to go walking through the bush with.

Together with his wife, Sophie, Solly has two children who live with him at Londolozi.  If you spend enough time with Solly he will more than likely take you to his favourite place on the reserve which is Ximpalapala Koppies.

In all his years here, one of the most astounding things that Solly has seen was a male leopard mating with two females.

Elmon Mhlongo is one of Londolozi’s most experienced and renowned trackers.  Having completed his Master Tracker Qualification many years ago, Elmon has experienced Londolozi and the African bushveld like very few other people.

Elmon worked closely with John Varty for many years, assisting in the filming and tracking with many of JV’s most famous films.  This close working relationship culminated in Elmon travelling around both Africa and the world with JV.  “One of the most interesting places I have been outside of Africa is Brazil where we tracked the jaguar.”

Londolozi has and always will be the place Elmon calls home.  Working closely with the rangers and developing many of the newer trackers, Elmon’s experience and wisdom is priceless. 

Jess intially left Johannesburg 3 years ago to run the Cubs Den at Londolozi.  Since then she has gone from strength to strength ultimately becoming a guide earlier this year.  Jess has an incredible sense of adventure as well as a huge enjoyment for children and this is evident in how much she enjoys taking kids out into the bush and interpreting nature for them.  As she says, "There is no better classroom than nature."

Jess truly loves the outdoors and doesn’t have one favourite place in particular, but rather enjoys anywhere in the bush or on the beach.  Her future plans are centered around staying at Londolozi to impact and grow different people’s lives.  

Jess can’t decide which is her favourite sighting in the bush, saying that “Anytime spent with cats is always great.”

Growing up in Johannesburg, Kate’s big passion has always been showjumping.  Whilst running a riding school, she taught beginners and children how to ride as well as furthering her dream of becoming a world class showjumper.

She moved to Londolozi in 2004 to begin guiding with her husband, Tom Imrie.  Kate’s favourite place in the world is anywhere in the bush with Tom and their two children and given her new found passion for surfing, the beach is a close second.

Kate is particularly fond of watching the Tsalala Pride and continuing to guide well into the future, wishing she had begun doing her job many years ago.

Richard Siwela is the head tracker at Londolozi and the most experienced tracker in the Sabi Sands.  Originally from the Dixie community, Richard has been tracking at Londolozi for the past 33 years and has trained the majority of the Master Trackers in the area.

Richard's favourite animal is the leopard and having seen the many generations of leopards that have been at Londolozi over the past 33 years, he still believes his most memorable sighting to be of the Mother Leopard denning with the 3:4 cub.

With all his experience in the bush, Richard says that his father taught him the best lesson: "If you want to live to a good age, don't drink, don't smoke and don't talk too much."

Rex grew up in Kokstad on a dairy farm, spending his youth following his dad around and enjoying the most of the outdoors learning about animals.  Before completing his Environmental Science degree at Rhodes University, Rex went to school at Maritzburg College.

Rex has travelled to the USA, London and then Mediterranean and then spent time in Cape Town working as Fund Accountant in Investment Banking.  He was drawn to the bush from a young age, going on many holidays to the Kruger Park with his family. 

Rex completed the Londolozi ranger training course in 2010 and has been guiding ever since.  His passions at Londolozi are big cats as he loves spending time with both the leopards and lions which move through the reserve.

James Hobson comes from the heart of South Africa, Beaufort West. Known to his university friends as ‘Boss’, James has done a diverse array of jobs over the last decade. James started of his working career as a model for Hugo Boss, before pursuing a career in botany & gardening.  He then used his talented sporting abilities to bowl spin professionally.

Ultimately it was his love for the African bush which drew James back to Africa and Londolozi. James’ quietly confident and endearing nature makes him a great asset to the ranging team and a fantastic guide. James has unique interests in the bush as his big passions include traditional Shangaan dancing, smaller mammals and tracking.

John hails from an estate in Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu Natal. He grew up going on many family holidays to the Kruger Park, and this is perhaps where his love and passion for wildlife began.

John completed his schooling at Michaelhouse before heading to the winelands to complete a BCom at Stellenbosch University. After a further two years at the University of Cape Town, he completed his Postgraduate in Accountancy and moved to Johannesburg where he finished his articles with KPMG and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (one of 4 in the ranging team!).

John then travelled South America for a year and on his return he decided to let the suits and tie of the corporate world gather dust in exchange for a set of khaki’s and life in the bush.

In addition to John being an avid birder, a keen photographer and a lover of all things natural, he’s also an eager touch rugby player and is outstanding off the bench for the Londo’s touch team.

John’s enthusiasm and excitement are infectious and he’s a great asset to the ranging team.

Alfred’s childhood began amongst the land of the white lions, Timbavati. He continued to work in the reserve, as he grew up - the same area in which his father and grandfather had worked. Over the years Alfie took his inherent skill and expertise from one reserve to the next before joining Londolozi as a tracker in 2003.

Alfred remembers accompanying his father to turn a pump on in the reserve. Fresh lion tracks surrounded them and they knew the pride was nearby. Before anyone in the group had time to react, 4 lionesses were charging at them from the river bank. It was each man for himself and Alfie’s only exit point was to jump down into the 7 meter ditch below. He watched as his father and friend ran away with the Lions following behind them. It was not until much later in the day that Alfred was able to find his father and friend safely back at their home. He had spent the entire walk back contemplating their deaths.

This experience instilled within Alfie a newfound respect for big cats!

Chris hails from the bright lights of Benoni. He studied a BSC (hons) in Marine and Freshwater Biology in London before returning to South Africa in 2005 to embark on a ranger training course with FGASA.

Before joining Londolozi in 2007 Chris worked at Simbambile in the North for two years. He brought with him his fiancé Emma, and a fantastic sense of humor. Apart from being a highly accomplished Photographer (many of his photos are in the Londolozi gift shop), Chris spends his spare time in his garden growing herbs that keep our chef’s happy, and flowers to meet Emma’s approval.

Chris recalls his best time in the bush when he went out with guests at 3:30 in the morning to watch Lions on a buffalo kill. When travelling, its about all things African, particularly Mozambique and the Zambezi Valley, his favourite destinations.

Chris knows that in the future he will always work with animals in the bush and wants to live a happy life doing what he loves. 

Foster remembers growing up as a child of the 'lodge and service' industry. Both of his parents worked at Exeter Game Reserve where he was born, and so after gaining a grade 9 qualification, he began his career there.

Foster’s well rounded and experienced approach to lodge life comes from having worked in security, maintenance, transport and tracking before finally building his way up to his current position as a ranger. His bush skills have been developed from a young age when he spent time hunting animals to feed his family.

Foster also has a phenomenal grasp of the medicinal uses of trees and plants and hopes to pass this knowledge on to his children.

Freddy is our local international man of mystery. He is a phenomenally well travelled young man who has spent much time in Europe visiting guests who come back to Londolozi on an annual basis.

Freddy boasts 14 years of experience in the bush and specialises in leopard tracking. His favourite animal is the Nyala “its the most beautiful antelope”, while his best bush memory was watching a pride of lion hunting and taking down an adult buffalo.

Despite his love for the African bush, after travelling through Europe, his best place in the world is hands down, Belgium. Freddy loves his job and hopes that in the future, his children will gain education and become leaders in our country.

Helen is our Joburg chick turned bush girl.

At a young age when on holiday in her favourite place, the Zambezi Valley, Helen realised that she wanted to spend the rest of her life in the bush. It was there that she experienced her first conversation with an elephant - an animal with which she has great affinity.

Helen’s passions lie in honey badgers, canoeing and climbing. The fact that she is a ballet dancing ranger puts her a step ahead of all the boys.

Helen studied an Honors degree in Environmental Science and after working in the Madikwe Game Reserve joined Londolozi at the beginning of 2008.

She adds spunk and energy to the team, and contributes immensely behind the scenes on the rugby field.

James’ career in the bush began at Chitwa Chitwa Game Reserve. He is a self taught tracker after having herded cattle as a child. James learnt a lot in his early days from his father, a hunter who would climb over the game fences into the reserves to hunt animals.

James’ first sighting of a leopard was spell-bounding. She was found with her cubs while he was tracking on foot and allowed James and his ranger to follow her.  It was love at first sight. He has since followed leopards with deep intent and learns more about them and their behaviour from the front of the landrover as each day passes.

James recalls his most terrifying and yet thrilling moment in the bush when he was charged on foot by a black rhino in the Kruger National park.

He was tracking with a ranger, and warned him of the danger of getting too close to the animal. James' suggestions were ignored by the ranger, and a group of guests was led towards the rhino with the wind behind them. The rhino scented the group of people and charged. While James escaped unscathed, one of the tourists took a horn to the knee, but survived.

James has deep respect for these animals!

As a young boy Julius, one of 27 children from four mothers, spent his life outdoors with his three dogs. Julius trained them impeccably. These dogs were able to scent and find an animal within seconds. They complimented one another while one the hunt, “Doctor” had a sense of smell as good as any hyena and was excellent with warthogs, “Tata” never let go, and “Oki” would always kill the prey.

Julius remembers one particular hunt with his brother in law in the northern parts of what is now Londolozi land. He was trespassing at the time, and if caught would have faced huge repercussions with the police.

To confuse the anti poaching units, the two of them walked backwards into the reserve, giving the impression that they were walking in the opposite direction. Dusk was falling and they had already covered 25km from home. Julius’s dogs sniffed out a warthog in its burrow and they frightened it out. As the animal tried to escape, Julius stabbed it with a spear.

The animal soon stopped fighting and the two men were able to gut and halve it, so each had equal weight to carry home. The blood and intestines obviously sent out a smell of death to various predators in the area, and so the young men had to operate with haste to avoid danger.

As they were walking swiftly down a game path in the moonlight, Julius could feel the hairs on his neck standing up and could sense that something was amiss. “Lions are very clever” he says. A lioness was following him silently through the thicket and although he couldn’t see her, Julius could feel her presence. The lioness suddenly grabbed the warthog from off of Julius' back, which sent the two young men running. Terrified and tired, Julius returned home covered in blood and without 'dinner', only to be repremanded by his hungry father.

Julius has worked as one of Londolozi's most skilled guides since 1994.

Like’s destiny as a tracker became clear to him as a young boy after listening to his mother recall a story that occurred years before he was born.

His parents were not yet married and lived 3 kms apart in different villages. Like’s mothered borrowed a bicycle one night to go and visit her lover. The little light that she had came from a pedal-powered flashlight which only worked when the bike was moving.

As Like's mother rode the dusty route from one village to the next, she encountered an enormous male lion blocking her path. Her flashlight went dark as she came to a sudden halt before of the enormous creature. She sat, thought and decided what to do. He growled at her but let her pass in peace.

In Like’s mind, nature let love be – God had allowed animals and people to respect one another.

Like came to Londolozi after being inspired to learn about nature from his mother’s story. When he tracks lion, he does not fear but rather respects them.

It’s hard not to love the outdoors when you’ve grown up running barefoot on dusty farm roads and surfing in your spare time.

Lucien, born one New Years eve on a wine farm, is our Chef come Ranger, and suntanned surfer who cooks guests a bush breakfast that is difficult to forget. His passions lie in good food, wonderful wine and all things natural.

Lucien spent the better part of his early twenties travelling Fiji, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand while undertaking various jobs to support his voyaging habit that stems from his youth. “Goose” as he is affectionately known, spent childhood trips in wild game reserves in remote areas of Southern Africa - these adventures ignited within him a passion for wildlife and subconsciously led him to his current position as a guide.

“If I was to choose one animal as my favourite, I would be letting down the rest”.

Milton has been a tracker at Londolozi for 13 years.

As a student of the great Richard Siwela, Milton not only draws on the tracking knowledge gained as a child herding goats and cattle, but also on the  ancient hunter gatherer skills that have been passed down from one Shangaan generation to the next.

Milton remembers tracking two big male lions one morning, unaware that they were feeding on an impala carcass. Before he was ten meters away from the lions and unaware of their presence, they charged at him, growling loudly. Milton did just what one should do it that circumstance and stood his ground. The lions broke their charge only one meter away. He could smell their breath as he looked them both in the eye.

They backed off and returned to the impala that they had been protecting, leaving Milton shaken and thankful that they had spared him his life.

Milton’s most memorable sighting over the years was watching a herd of over 300 buffalo chase down and a male lion and take him to within an inch of his life by repeatedly throwing him up into the air and trampling him.

Milton is married with three sons and one more on the way.

Before joining Londolozi in 1997, Richard worked underground in a number of different mines. It was dark when work begun and the sun would set just as the working day was ending.

Richard seldom saw daylight - he now loves his job in the wilderness. Richard exemplifies the working one’s way up in life. He begun at Londolozi working for the habitat team, moved into maintenance, became the air-marshal on the runway and then a tracker by default one day when no one else was available – a day when the elders on the tracking team decided they could not let go of this newfound talent.

Richard excels in this position and practices the tracking skills he learnt while working on the habitat team. He remembers a close encounter of being chased around a tree by a hippo while fishing. He loves leopard and wild dog and knows that his is a wonderful father to his seven children.

Richie grew up in Johannesburg and developed his passion for the bush from his parents who took him to the Kruger National Park countless times.

After studying a degree in Conservation Ecology at Saasveld College, Richie spent some time doing wildlife research before coming to Londolozi to do his ranger training.  He then went to Phinda for two years before once more returning to Londolozi.

Richie’s favourite places in the world are tracking leopards in the Mxabene River and taking his retrievers for a walk on the farm with his wife Sarah.

“The best times in the bush are when you find a new born cub and during the heavy thunderstorms.”  When Richie grows up, he wants to be a wildlife vet.

Sandros grew up in Somerset, a small village on the outskirts of the Sabi Sands Reserve.

After completing Junior School, Sandros became a tracker at Sabi Sabi Game Reserve before arriving at Londolozi in 1988.

After two years here, Sandros became a ranger, a position which he has held for the past 18 years.  He is an exceptional leopard tracker and is always fascinated to watch the ritual of lions mating.

Sandros loves living in the bush and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

His mantra for life is to have a good time with guests and ensure that his children gain a good education in order to secure their future.

Simon is a child of the Sabi Sands.

Before fences were erected and ownership enforced, Simon’s family lived on and fed off the land in this area. He grew up raising cattle, while his father, a professional tracker, worked for one of the Boer hunters in the area. As a young boy, Simon's destiny was to follow in these footsteps.

He remembers being terrified after witnessing a lion charge and almost kill his father, but none the less, Simon grew to learn the rules of the wild. The 1970’s brought with it a paradigm shift as emphasis is the area moved from hunting to eco-tourism.

Simon settled at Londolozi where he has worked as a tracker for the past 17 years.

Among his most remarkable memories in the bush – Simon remembers tumbling off the trackers seat at the viewing of a leopard and colliding with the creature. Both he and the leopard got the fright of their lives and returned to where they came from.

Simon watched the famous male lion "Big Black" over the years, loves leopards & turacos and harbours a fierce superstition – both of his grandparents were witchdoctors after all!

As the younger brother of Winnis Matebula, Simon knows a thing or two about the bush.

Tom followed his life dream four years ago when he and his Katie decided to move out of the city and begin their life in the bush.

In 2004 this fantastic couple began their training course together at Phinda before permanently settling at Londolozi where they now have two small children.

Tom’s passion in the bush is invested in Lions, Wild Flowers, Trees, Stars, and Fishing.

His true talent however comes out on the Golf course where his scratch ability puts others to shame.

Apart from being fantastically knowledgeable on all things wild, Tom’s quick witted sense of humour and ability to laugh at himself makes him a wonderful asset to the team.