Raunchy rangers
Text: Andrea de Wit Photos: Murray Anderson-Ogle
Source: Lowveld Living Issue 29
A friend of mine thinks a man in (game ranging) uniform is the sexiest thing on Earth. The mere sight of a tanned, capable ranger sticking his fingers deep into a pile of animal excrement and inhaling the stench to identify where to find the wily critter is enough to send her into cardiac arrhythmia.
There always has been a certain allure about the lone men of the bushveld who can start a fire using MacGuyver-like resources and fend off raging bull elephants with a mere stare. The reality, however, is that these game-ranging pioneers have all reached retirement and written their epic autobiographies from their comfy armchairs.
But don’t be disappointed. The new face of rangers in the lowveld is still sexy, except these guys (and girls) have university degrees, take their snapshots with smart phones and have an informed vision for the future of conservation in the lowveld.
Rex Miller, a widely travelled formed financial recruiter who is working as a ranger at Londolozi, says the private reserve had five chartered accountants on staff in 2010 – doing the ranging, not the bookkeeping.
The high pace of modern technology has made it easier for city slickers to adapt to living in the bush. “The internet and everything that goes with it means we are no longer cut off from the outside world,” says James Hobson, also a ranger at Londolozi.
Blonde, blue-eyed Candace Richardson is the perfect example of the changing face of conservation staff. At the age of 20, she is a trained field guide and works as an assistant in the Nelspruit offices of EcoTraining.
“I wanted to go into this field to educate people about conservation,” she says. “Many people are oblivious to the fact that they are destroying something that could potentially never be restored again. By teaching and educating people we can change the world. Well, at least try.”
Despite their optimistic convictions, the life of a ranger, even in the 21st century, is challenging. Isolation, danger, low salaries and plain old hard work are the order of the day in an industry that is as much about hospitality, customer service and being a handyman as it is about the wild bushveld plains.
“People think that a guide’s life is just about taking guests on game drives, seeing the big five and looking cool in a safari hat. Behind the scenes, we have to wait for the last guest to go to bed and wake up first thing in the morning to set up the tea and coffee station.
“Rangers also do the behind-the-scenes work such as fixing roads, building fences and bushclearance,” says Candace.
The lowveld is a popular station for rangers because, explains a ranger based in Kwa-Zulu Natal, “it has the most developed conservation industry in the country. The money and the overall experience are much better. Would you rather be working on a reserve in the central district where all you have are a few antelope, or be right in the heart of the action with the big five?”
Philip Daniel, a manager and guide at Likweti reserve near Nelspruit, says another drawcard is the money involved in conservation in the lowveld.
“As long we have people who want to experience our natural heritage, we will have special places. Once this demand disappears, we are in trouble.
“The lowveld is fortunate to have a large variety of conservation areas that can cater for the requirements of both the well-off, as well as the general public,” Philip says.
Get more online at www.lowveldlivingmagazine.com. Lowveld Living is available on Zinio