About the Author

Alistair Smith

Guest contributor

Alistair guided at Londolozi from late 2016 to late 2017. Despite only a short stint here, he made a great impression on the guests he drove and formed a great bond with tracker Euce Madonsela. His photography is excellent, and is a passion ...

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14 Comments

on How Close Is Too Close?

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GM Majingilane
Guest

great would love to visit londolozi just hope Matimbas would still be there or the Golden Mane Majingilane look forward to your blog posts everyday Rory shared his video of sighting of the incredible Hairy Belly at Londolozi

barbara jones
Guest

Wonderful article. Africa is so blessed to have all these beautiful animals. I can’t wait til I can visit Londolozi!

Geert van Mourik
Guest

So for any people with bad intentions, just drive up in a Landrover.. Safari is bad for the animals, it is unnatural (look at the leopard being run over a few months ago). Rangers bring guns ‘just in case’. So, someone wants to look at a lion, it gets agitated, attacks and get shot..

It has a lot to do with earning money.

Annette
Guest

Can’t be too close. Those “scary” moments make us feel alive. Definitely not at a zoo. Personal view, tricky for a guide!

A great article particularly for those that have not as yet experienced the thrill of an up-close encounter while on a game drive.

Master Tracker

It was very noticeable how the good driving and respect paid dividends with good game viewing. Also patience, the ability to kill the engine and not the moment means that animals are more relaxed.

Very interesting Alistair and well written. Thank you for sharing your experience as a ranger and what a game drive entails…you are so right about the 1st time out in the bush is such an exilirating and somewhat frightning experience. It takes a very special ranger and tracker team to make it the “Londolozi Experience” . I will never forget my 1st experience on a game drive. I will be with me until I die.

Well said, excellent article, lovely story!

Lynne
Guest

It is always such a pity when one is enjoying the sighting of animal in say KNP with one’s engine switched off when along comes a noisy Diesel vehicle who never bothers to switch their motor off, just leaves it running! Thank you for all the interesting Blogs !

very well written article Asti!thank you for sharing!

Great write-up Alistair! I remember asking Mark and Lucky why we didn’t look like dinner as one of the big Majingilane walked right past our Land Rover, clearly noting our presence but not concerned at all that we were there. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget!

Marion Vollborn
Guest

ui that’s me! 🙂 oh please, I would like to have the video

Senior Digital Ranger

As my son is a Guide & I have driven with him & others, it is respect & space that the animals need & shouldn’t have to “ask” for it!! Thank you Londolozi for the love, respect & space you give the wild there! Keep the blogs coming

Diane
Guest

My friend and I will be visiting Londolozi at the end of April this year . It will be our first trip there and we are thrilled for the experiences in the wild. I have dreamed of this all of my life . God has blessed us . As for me, the closer respectful distance , the better . I want to hear them breathe….

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