With the lodge having been relatively quiet over the last 10 days, our ranging and tracking team have had the opportunity to involve ourselves in activities which don’t come around as often. Myself and fellow ranger Shaun D’Araujo joined the Tracker Academy for a morning out in the bush.
The Tracker Academy on the trail of a predator.
The students of the Tracker Academy spend 6 months at Londolozi. Learning from some of South Africas best trackers.
At the moment the students of the tracker academy are still in the initial phase of the Londolozi component of their training. The Academy’s Head Trainer and expert tracker, Innocent Ngwenya explained to me and Shaun that this particular morning may be a bit slower; “They’re just finding their feet”, he explained. The conditions were harsh. On top of the bush being extremely dense, the soil and grass were wet. This meant that the morning would be a good challenge for the young trackers.
Because of the amount of rain we have had and how thick the vegetation is at the moment, predators will often use road ways to walk. Tracking becomes extra tough when the animal ventures off the road…
We met with the academy out in the bush at the starting point for the morning. As we arrived Innocent introduced us to his ten men, and at their feet their challenge for the day was circled; a male lion track. How it worked; each student would follow the tracks up ahead for 1 hour at a time until the lion was found. Behind him in single file, Innocent, Shaun, myself and the rest of the students would follow. Before the first tracker began, he briefed us on the usual do’s and don’ts. “We will walk in single file, an arm’s length between each other and in silence”.
We set off.
Innocent mentioned to us that the tracks will appear much easier for now; they were on the road for the meantime, “Just wait and see what happens when we turn off the road”, Innocent grinned.
Male Lion Track. This is what the starting point looked like.
It was amazing. Every couple or so meters Innocent would stop and explain to Shaun and I what the Lion had been doing at the track below our eyes: where he was sleeping, how he was limping, where he was scent marking. All of these keys were signs to eventually accomplishing the goal. “Finding the Ngala” (Ngala meaning Lion in the local Shangaan language)
How profound or sharp the edges of the Lions track is can allow you to determine how fresh the paw print may be.
For me, the highlight of the morning was when Innocent mentioned, “Now it’s going to get tough”. The tracks cut off the well-worn road into a thick block of vegetation. Grass as high as our waists and a forest of Red Bushwillows were all that I could see. The student leading us showed absolute class. Yes, a little slower than on the road we had just turned off, but we remained on the predator’s course. There were now different signs showing us his way. No longer were there paw tracks to follow but rather fallen over grass, grains of sand dropped from his paws and the odd strand of hair left behind from his mane.
Accomplishing the goal. One can only imagine the feeling of finding what you set out to find, especially when it can take hours of your day.
After three hours of following the signs this lion had left behind, unfortunately Shaun and I had to return back to camp. However, Innocent and his team remained on seeking the tracks. Later that evening in conversation with Innocent he described with pride how they had accomplished their goal two hours after we had left.
The sheer work and determination that Innocent and these young trackers put themselves through each day is truly amazing. By the end of their course they will have accrued around 1000 hours on foot in the bush.
No wonder when one day they are sitting on the front of the game drive vehicle they will be in a league of their own..
Thanks for a great story! What a pity for you that you couldn’t stay until the trackers found their ‘prey’.
The skill of trackers never ceases to amaze me .
Total on the job training!
Well, I’m surprised to read it’s been quiet at the lodge, but fascinated by your day out with the tracking academy team. It’s still amazing to me how a well-trained tracker is able to identify what has passed through the bush when to the untrained eye a snapped twig is just that. Thanks Dan for giving credit to Innocent for teaching these students all they need to know to find employment after graduating, a precious commodity in these difficult times.
Hi Denise. They really are very good at what they do! Thanks for your comment.
I think that tracking is fascinating. Would love to participate in a tracking session some day!
Wonderful! I had the honour to go out with the Tracker Academy and Renias twice while at Londolozi. We were meters away from 3 rhinos! Then enjoyed a peanut butter sandwich breakfast with the guys. An unforgettable experience I will always treasure.
Must have been a really exiting morning.
Tracking must be quite an art! I remember the guides talking about Innocent’s talents when we were at Londolozi. What is not mentioned/answered when tracking on foot is how do you know when to stop or slow down the pace and not walk blindly into the Lion or other animal being tracked? Are there visible signs, sounds, or a sixth sense to know when not to approach further? What is the possibility another predator is in the area? I recently read of a tracker being attacked and killed near the Marataba safari lodge in Limpopo while tracking hence the question.
Hi Camille. As the bush/path start getting thicker they’ll definitely slow down as-well as stopping every now and then taking time to listen to what “danger” may be up ahead. Listening to small animals alarming and birds such as Oxpeckers which may warn us about what’s coming ahead will also assist in the process of remaining safe. Be in tune and aware with ones surroundings is a very important element of being on foot in the bush.
Absolutely astounding how Innocent can tell what the lion was doing, by looking at the tracks and finding hair from his mane. Very interesting and it surely takes lots of patience, determination and skill to be able to track the animals. May the 10 new trackers be determined and endure this course, so that they can become master trackers like Innocent. Having a Master Tracker teaching them is a privilege, take the opportunity and make a difference.
Hi Valmai. It’s definitely takes hours upon hours of hard work and determination. Thanks for the comment.
How do people go about becoming a ranger or tracker. I have always wondered about it and would like to know more about the courses, how much it costs and where does one go to get started.
Dan, I loved all the lions🤗
The trackers at Londolozi are truly extraordinary ! we are always so surprised at how they can find an animal by just looking at a squished pile of grass or a few broken branches! congratulations to them all and thanks fir making our visit fabulous. ! Victoria
They are unbelievable. Thanks for the comment Victoria.
Bravo Innocent !
Hats off to Innocence and the trackers ‘following in his footsteps’
keeping the art of tracking alive. 🙏❤️
thanks for sharing. so nice to learn more about the trackers
thanks for sharing. so nice to learn more about the trackers; don’t think people always understand just how hard it is to track and find animals. the bush is definitely not a zoo, with animals just laying around the corner waiting to be seen. well done everyone!
I love these posts that include the Tracker Academy! Along with all the special knowledge shared, there is always a certain anticipation and excitement to see what happens! Thanks Dan!
They have an amazing skill. I am glad you had an awesome time.
The skill of trackers never ceases to amaze me .