It’s pretty hard to describe life at Londolozi purely as ‘work’. The opportunity we get as rangers to head out into the bush every day to view magnificent wildlife and share incredible moments with our guests can not be ignored. I for one, count myself extremely lucky to be given these opportunities and try my best to continuously remind myself not to take any of these special moments for granted. A question we often get from our guests is:
“What do you rangers get up to when you’re not out in the bush?”
Londolozi allows us the opportunity to have front-row seats into amazing animals’ lives.
Living with a bunch of people who are like-minded and working at Londolozi for similar reasons creates an environment with flourishing camaraderie, extreme banter and a healthy, tightly nit community. After the morning game drive is complete and once we have completed our work duties, the rest of the day until the afternoon game drive usually is available for us to do as we please.
On most days, the members of the ranging team who are available and whoever else has a bit of time and energy will look to get a touch rugby or soccer match underway on our village soccer field. Rangers, head rangers, camp managers, trackers, general staff, guests, accountants, ladies and gentlemen are all invited to play. The right combination with the perfect balance of competitiveness as well as fun is achieved in every match. Letting off a bit of steam, getting some exercise in and just having a good time with your colleagues is what it is all about. Many laughs, falls and good times make up at least one hour of our day.
Chris Goodman runs down the line with Kate Imrie in hot pursuit
A game of soccer up in the village. Notice the effort put in! No one wants their team to lose.
After the final goal or try has been scored and the over-competitive ones have accepted defeat we then tend to head down to the ‘Wallow’ to cool ourselves off. We at Londolozi have access to a beautiful swimming pool and fully equipped staff gym. After the morning’s exercise, whether it be the exciting match in the village or a quick session in the gym, people often, especially on the hotter days, come for a much-needed swim in the Londolozi staff swimming pool.
The Londolozi family after completing a cleanup walk through the village.
After lunch is often a ranger’s downtime. One of my favourite things to do during this period is to enjoy a little peace and quiet. I’ll often make myself a cup of tea, sit outside on my veranda and enjoy the sounds of nature. The sounds of the Sand River flowing not too far away and the continuous harmony of many different bird species as they come and go from the natural gardens. Sunbirds feeding on the aloes, Robin-chats singing in the thickets and the Natal Spurfowls with their newly hatched chicks keep me entertained for hours. I find this part of the day to be as important as any other. Just sitting, listening, and enjoying the opportunity of peacefulness away from artificial distraction is an amazing opportunity. This is also a great time to look at the images I have taken over the past couple of days and edit them.
A White Browed Robin-chat hoping around below a thicket. This beautiful bird is definitely one of my favourites. I can sit and watch this particular bird for a very long time. Its call is also extremely beautiful and one of favourite sounds in the bush.
Londolozi is an amazing place which so many of us are lucky enough to call it home. The relationships we get to form with fellow staff from different backgrounds and walks-of-life makes this place so special. We get to form relationships with people and wildlife surrounded by the purity of nature. A day as ranger is a day well a spent.
Thank you Dan for giving us a look into your day, after dropping your guests off at their lodge. I have seen your residential area, complete with the pool and gym, but had no idea that there was a soccer/rugby field nearby that was used almost daily. Your job requires you to wear many different “hats”, so you really deserve that personal quiet time as well as getting a good work-out in. I assume you all use this time after some exercising and lunch to research articles for a blog whilst editing your images and searching the archives for additional ones if necessary. Let me end my comment with a thank you to ALL – your dedication and enthusiasm is apparent and appreciated.
Hi Denise. Thank you for your comment. We appreciate it!
I love this.
Excellent, interesting overview. Don’t you also go back out sometimes to follow up on some intriguing occurrence that happened during the morning drive?
Hi Willa. You are right, on some occasions our tracking teams will head out in between drives to continue following tracks from the morning.
Thanks, Dan, for sharing this insight into your free-time activities with our readers.
I think it is really nice and also important that all of you have such great camaraderie with each other and have such a tightly knit community so that you can enjoy this community out in the bush.
Thank you all for your friendliness and competence and untiring efforts to make the stay for your guests so great.
Hi Christa. Thanks for the comment. What a place Londolozi is!!
Thanks Dan for this insight into Londolozi’s family. It is good to know that life is not just one path but many all to be enjoyed and experienced. Best wishes to the entire staff!
Hi William. Thanks for the message! We appreciate it.
You certainly know how to maximize your time!. Incredibly demanding work schedule!
Dan your day is filled with lots of different activities, from Ranging with guests and then interacting with your colleagues. The time you have off is well spent and you get some good exercise as well. The foto’s are always magnificent and carry on being the best Rangers ever. Appreciation for nature is a big plus point and always first priority.
Hi Valmai. You are right, nature and it’s well being always come first for us. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for this glimpse into the daily life of a Londolozi ranger Dan! It certainly sounds as if a day as a ranger is a day well spent. But I’d go as far as to say that it is a life well spent as well!!
Hi Paul. I completely agree!
Thanks Dan, It is wonderful to see how the Londolozi family is such a happy group!
I’m curious how long the average ranger serves as a ranger. Is there a typical-ish number of years that are common or is it completely personal preference?
Hi Chelsea. On average a ranger stays with Londolozi between three to four years. However, there are many rangers who remain with the family in different capacities once they have left the guiding team. Thanks for your question!