I’ll start off by saying that this is a blog I have been wanting to write for a long time now. With the end of the year approaching and it always being a good time for reflection and gratitude for the year gone by, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate one of Londolozi’s Trackers and what he has taught me, as well as share a little further insight into the relationship between Guide and Trackers here at Londolozi. 

Many returning guests will have been blessed with having been on game drive with, or simply meeting, the one and only Equalizer Ndlovu. I, on the other hand, was fortunate to be teamed up with ‘Equa‘ and have spent the better part of two years with him on the front seat of my vehicle. 

Mr. Equalizer Ndlovu

Equalizer arrived at Londolozi in 2013 after graduating as one of the top students of the Tracker Academy and has since accumulated a wealth of experience and wisdom by exploring this reserve, tracking on foot, and bearing witness to the stories and lives of many of the lineages of animals we see today. 

And I have had the privilege of learning from, and learning with him in recent times. So when I think back to the year that has been, I thought I would share a few of them with you, as well as celebrate certain aspects of working as a dynamic duo in this industry. 

Power Of Partnership

The Ranger and Tracker teams at Londolozi are more than just a simple paired partnership. I’ll start off here by saying that a Ranger and Tracker’s relationship is multi-faceted. We’re work employees, but more; way more.

Equalizer and I spend roughly 6-8 hours a day together for a consecutive 6-week period, other Rangers and Trackers alike. Professionally, we share in the responsibilities of ensuring that we meet every set of guest expectations, with the common goal of ensuring that every game drive is the best possible experience we can give. 

There’s no better way to start a morning drive than to arrive at a water hole and be surrounded by hundreds of buffalo and a herd of elephants all arriving for a drink.

But above and beyond our professional partnership, the personal power of this partnership and friendship triumphs all, in my opinion. Having started my career as a ranger with a tracker by my side, I cannot quite imagine not having one. We spend each and every day building a memory bank of experiences and sightings shared with every guest that graces the back of our vehicle. But, every guest’s stay eventually comes to an end, and we therefore bundle those drives and experiences into one Londolozi memory before starting afresh as new guests arrive. 

Equalizer and I with another Ranger and Tracker team, Keagan Chasenski and Ray Mabelane, captured up at the Londolozi Village Clubhouse.

However, with Equa by my side, we are each other’s constants. And with that a depth of shared experience and an unlikely friendship builds. He is the only person I can almost always turn around to and say, “remember when this happened!”, or laugh at/relive moments well beyond the duration of any particular guest’s stay.

No two days are ever the same! This photo captured a memorable moment after driving back to camp full of mud after successfully getting our vehicle unstuck. Still full of smiles!

I believe that there is so much power in the human psyche of sharing life with others and to have a feeling of community and connectedness. I look at the dynamics of our Tracker and Ranger teams and feel such pride and gratitude for the layers that come with working as a duo. 

Unspoken Communication

Following on from the above, one aspect in particular of working with Equa that stands out is the level of unspoken communication between us. 

On one hand, this comes from “time in the saddle” as we say, but it also requires a sense of synchronicity between both Ranger and Tracker. We all know the feeling when you are in tune with another individual and feel like you are simply in sync; which translates into a sense of acute awareness that flows between the two of us whilst out on a game drive. 

One of my favourite aspects of this is the way we communicate simply with our eyes – whether it be a stern look back when I may perhaps have driven too close to a bush with him upfront (sorry Equa); or the excited glance we share in knowing we have just experienced a spectacular sighting or received some form of affirmation to know that our guests are having a great time.

A happy Equalizer sitting up front, giving me a glance that says it all.

An additional layer of this nonverbal communication comes from each Ranger becoming a master interpreter of their respective Tracker’s sign language from upfront on the tracking seat. A simple hand movement atop the bonnet of the Land Rover that comes across as a straightforward instruction to either “speed up, slow down, or stop” can let me into Equa’s thoughts (with no eye contact at all).

With these additional nonverbal communication cues, it adds another layer of depth to our partnership, and increases clarity, rapport and trust between Ranger and Tracker.

Trust Me; and Trust Your Gut

I think this goes without saying, but with the trust that develops and grows between every Ranger and Tracker team is unparalleled. 

There is this indescribably special feeling being on foot with your tracker. There’s an unspoken layer of trust, confidence and presence whilst working together to find whatever we are looking for.

Given our profession, Equa and I have full trust in one another. Beyond the trust in divided responsibilities and duties to take every guest on a Londolozi safari, when we are on foot in the reserve tracking an animal: I trust Equa with my life and we essentially entrust our safety in each other’s abilities. This is powerful.

Added to this, one final aspect I thought sums up all of the above so aptly is the way Equa has shown me the power of listening to your gut. 

Watching the sun set over one of our favourite places to stop in the open grasslands of Londolozi.

We’ll have drives when Equa will have a bee in his bonnet to drive certain roads or check particular areas, just because he “has a feeling”. And I have learned to marvel in those moments with complete trust because more times than not, had we not followed his gut (6th sense/intuition as I call it) the excitement of discovering the unexpected would never have happened.

What a team! The Guides and Trackers of 2023.

It has been a magical year of lessons learned, experiences shared and a deepening of trust, friendship and respect for Equalizer and all the powerful partnerships that drive out every day exploring this reserve!