THE RANGERS & TRACKERS

The most notable trait of the staff at Arathusa Safari lodge is that they love what they do. The rangers and trackers proudly shepherd visitors into another world where the language is in the sound and rhythm of the bush. They are full of entertaining anecdotes, interesting bits of information and an infectious enthusiasm. They are experts out in the field, and are the finishing touch which bestows the finest quality to the Arathusa safari.

Jason Bagg (ranger) & Roy Mkamsi (tracker)

Jason was born in the friendly city of Port Elizabeth in the Southern Eastern Cape. His family moved to Johannesburg when he was a youngster, where he completed his scholastic years.

Most school holidays were spent in bush surrounds, and any opportunity to go to the Kruger National Park was jumped at.

Jason was & remains very focused and knew the direction he wanted to pursue from a very young age. After school he completed his studies and qualified. After taking a bit of time out to travel extensively, Jason moved permanently to the bushveld and began his working career.

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is where Jason completed a lot of his practical training. His career has taken him to other reserves and he now returns to the place where he began, more experienced, more knowledgeable!

Jason works with zeal, pride & sensitivity to nature & guests alike.

Roy was born in the Sabi Sands and grew up in the bush. Always interested in his surroundings, his awareness grew and he gained knowledge with every passing year through reading books and also under the close guidance of his older brother. Roy has a gift of imitating bird calls!

Following in his brothers footsteps, he began working in the bush to gain more experience – the bush is his love and his life and this is evident by his enthusiasm and respect for all wildlife.

In his own words he says ….”I know how to survive in the bush, wherever you leave me – I will survive!”

Andre de Kock (ranger) & Rifos Mnisi (tracker)

Andre has a diploma in Wildlife Conservation from the Cape Technicon and is a very keen photographer. Guests are guaranteed an excellent opportunity to capture superb images under his expert guidance in the bush. He has lived in and around the Kruger National Park his whole life and has encyclopedic knowledge of bush flora and fauna - large and small. Andre also has special interest in Anthropology and Archaeology.

Rifos was born in the southern Sabi Sands Game Reserve where his mother & father both worked. His Chef father’s love of food & cooking did not rub off on Rifos, instead Rifos was given another gift . . .

Growing up Rifos attended school in Utah while he boarded during the week with his grandfather & grandmother where he would help out like so many other boys his age tending goats & cattle. This is where his gift first surfaced as he would recognize spoor (footprints) of each individual cattle! Weekends & holidays Rifos would return to his parents and spend his time as a child should, playing in the open air, in the water, in the sand & fishing.

During his formative years, his stepfather guided him & helped develop his natural talent, starting with the smallest & simplest of animals and today Rifos is one of our most experienced & fervent trackers.

Rifos completed his schooling at Utah and landed a position in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve where he worked for about 9 years. He has been at Arathusa Safari Lodge since 2006. Over the years Rifos has completed many courses to aid his profession and needless to say : is absolutely passionate about the bush, animals, & spoor & tracking.

Ryan Johnston (ranger) & Maurice Mgiba (tracker)

Ryan grew up in the city of Johannesburg but always knew he wanted to get into the bush and be a Game Ranger. So after he finished school, he completed his studies, and made a permanent move to the bush.

Ryan has an extensive and growing knowledge of birds and has a keen interest in photography. Ryan is also a master fisherman!

De Beer was born North West of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. He grew up many of his peers did, as a child herder - looking after his family’s cattle. After finishing all of his schooling, his interest grew in the field of the bush, game ranging & tracking. To put his interest to the test, De Beer went to neighbouring farms where he began learning the art of tracking, starting at the bottom with whatever the bush had to offer & slowly began mastering the art of scouting for tracks & learning spoor. This gave him the confirmation that he wanted to pursue tracking further & De Beer completed various forms of formal training successfully. Since 1996 he has worked formally in game ranging & tracking & De Beer still loves the bush & sharing his Art form with those who cross his path.

Andre Froneman (ranger) & Chris Khoza (tracker)

Andre was born & grew up in the big city of Johannesburg. His family instilled in him a love of the bush, spending many holidays roughing it & camping in and around Kruger National Park. Having a keen interest in wildlife photography & birding, Andre always knew what career path his life would take and he earned a Diploma in Professional Field Guiding & Lodge Management. Andre has gained much work experience working in various game reserves around South Africa.

Chris was born in a town about 1 hour from the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and grew up looking after goats & cattle while going to school. After finishing school, Chris realized he was more interested in animals and wanted to move away from the town he was in and into the bush. He took an opportunity to work in a lodge as a waiter & used the opportunity of being in the bush and around other trackers & rangers to gain knowledge of the bush, animals & spoor. Chris took opportunities of formal tracking courses where he could and any opportunity to practice his tracking skills was grabbed with both hands by him! Added to his determination to grow, with a wonderful sense of humour & also a quick ear for different languages, Chris is a true example of someone who knows what he wants, being willing to put in the time, hard work & patience to attain it!