I asked Vusi Sibiya – our Londolozi “IT tech guy” – for some tips on better Internet connectivity in the African bush. He looked at me with a straight face and said:
“Find a relatively large termite mound, climb to the top, and hold your laptop up really high. If you’re lucky you’ll catch some bandwidth on the breeze.”
He was joking.
Vusi’s unique sense of humour: fortunately we no longer need to connect to the world via termite mounds.
The Londolozi Creative and IT Hub, from left: Kate Collins (blogger extraordinaire), Vusi Sibiya (IT whizz kid), Amanda Richie (photo genie) and Dobby Khumalo (design and print king).
Vusi is part of the reason that today Londolozi guests have access to the Internet in each of our suites and chalets.
How about this though: Vusi is from the greater Kruger Transfrontier area (a small, rural town about 45 minutes drive from Londolozi). Growing up, Vusi didn’t have access to computer literacy at school. In fact, his school didn’t have computers.
Yet, from his station at the Londolozi Creative Hub, the 27-year-old Vusi can check every Londolozi connection, and then – where there’s a problem –roll up his sleeves and “get on it”.
That includes the running and maintenance of the central Londolozi server.
Vusi in action: maintenance on the Londolozi server.
Vusi’s IT training took place at Londolozi’s not-for-profit partner, Good Work Foundation (GWF).
In the early “digital” days (2009), Vusi would assist ‘Gogo’ Mo Groch with teaching the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) at the Londolozi Digital Learning Centre.
Vusi then spent time as a facilitator and IT technician at GWF’s Madlala and Hazyview Digital Learning Centres (many of our guests may even have met Vusi at Hazyview Digital Learning Centre or seen him in the GWF video below – the one where he says he might just be the next Bill Gates).
By the way, Vusi taught himself the CompTIA A+ (technical support specialist). No mess. No fuss.
“In 2010, I asked Vusi if he would assist in teaching the International Computer Driving Licence in a village called Justicia,” says Kate Groch, GWF CEO. “We owned zero computers, had zero money in the bank and had not yet registered as an ICDL centre. Armed with a laptop, and operating out of a store-room in a local primary school, Vusi made it happen and started doing ICDL with his first class. Since then, he has taught more than a 1000 students.”
Left: Vusi the ICDL foot soldier in Justicia (2010). Right: Vusi teaching a CompTIA A+ class at Hazyview Digital Learning Centre.
This is a rural young man who is now managing technical support at our home in the bush, and we are extremely proud. In fact, we have an expression at Londolozi that can often be heard on the camp radio waves:
“Vusi IT is on it.”
Congratulations Vusi, and thanks for making it possible for our guests to connect with the world.
Written and Photographed by: Ryan James
Well done Vusi.
Thank you Marinda, I appreciate your comment.
Great Work Vus, wonderful to have you on the team!
Thank you Kate! 🙂
The role of termite mounds on a game drive, cannot be underestimated. Many a guest has had a frequent desire to inspect the other side of them
Yes, they have many amazing uses! Thank you Ian 🙂
Perhaps I can get some tutoring whilst at Londo in November :>)
Judy you are more than welcome! 🙂
During my visit last August, I had to leave before dinner ended to teleconference with my company. As audit committee chair, I could not miss an important one and a half hour call. From my cabin, I was able to participate by Skype thanks to the wonders of Vusi’s expertise.
Thank you Zsolt, I was very happy to help and pleased that you did not have to miss that important teleconference call!
Congratulations Vusi on all you’ve accomplished! Thanks to you, I was able to download my photographs from my camera to my computer to view each day while I was at Londolozi.
Thank you Jill. It was my pleasure to help.
Thank you for the laugh Vusi! We need termite mounds in JHB at times…… Anyone who visits Londos must visit this friendly team in their snazzy offices they have done an amazing job! Best wishes guys.
Thanks Trevor and Colleen – the good old termite mound can still work wonders! 🙂
It is wonderful to watch the GWF Team grow, learn and spread their wings. we are happy though that Vusi did not fly too far and that we can see him at our Londolozi Digital Learning Centre anytime. well done Vusi we are proud of what you are achieving and keep flying the GWF flag high!!! love Kate
Thank you Kate! I wouldn’t be where I am today if it was not for you and the opportunities you have given me. 🙂
Well done Vusi! Honour yourself! You have a great story, fly high!
Thank you Karen, the sky is the limit!
What an incredible young man! Such talent. We can all learn a thing or two from Vusi 😉
Thank you Penny, I keep learning everyday, Londolozi is a wonderful environment to live in with exciting new challenges.
Great story Vusi and wonderful to be able to work everyday with you.
Rich it is wonderful to work with you. Thank you for your guidance. You are a great mentor!
Hmmmmmm nice blog Vusi and thank you to be part of the team i will learn a lots from you.
Thank you Dobs! I think I can also learn a lot from you. We make a good team 🙂
Last September as guest at Londolozi, we had an issue with our internet connection. You solved it immediately. Perfecrt service.
Thanks Vusi.
Hi Jos, thank you for your kind words. I am pleased I could help solve the problem! 🙂
Well done Vusi! I wish you a wonderful future with Londo & IT
Thank you Wendy, I am looking forward to what the future holds!
Sounds like a smart guy!! Great job!
Thank you Kim! I like to think so 🙂