You can’t buy experience.
Nor can you buy a grey cap in the Londolozi Boutique shop.
The colours we have on offer there are khaki, black, white and then there’s a cool sort of mustard-brown coloured one I’ve seen before, but I don’t think we stock those anymore.
My point is that despite there being no retail availability of grey caps, this is the common colour you’ll see amongst the headwear of the Londolozi guides and trackers. You might think that the lodge reserves the grey colour exclusively for its employees, but this isn’t so.
No, the grey cap is something far more than a simple head covering with a visor. It represents time in the field. It represents experience, and – probably most importantly – it represents being part of a team.
No one who owns a Grey (I’m just going to call it that from now on to save type space) hasn’t put in his or her time out there.
These guys aren’t hanging their heads in shame. They’re just comparing cap colours for the camera. Fin Lawlor (second from L) has just retired his old grey cap, so frustratingly for him has to start the weathering process all over again!
All grey caps started their lives as black caps, but as many things do over time, they fade. The hot African sun beats down, buffalo thorns tear at the fabric, and sweat and dust infiltrate the material on a daily basis so that repeated washing is essential. And over time, the black colour slowly starts to disappear.
It takes at least 6 months for a cap to properly start becoming grey, if not more. As a ranger or tracker, you’re probably looking at over 1000 hours accumulated time in the field over the course of 6 months, and I’m factoring in going on leave as well. Not all of the field time will necessarily be in the sun (although most of it will), but you will be rained on, wind will scour the cap, hail will occasionally fall on it, and in all likelihood the cap will be sat on more than a few times by accident.
All the signs from these caps indicate that Fin on the right is a rookie. In fact he’s a veteran with close to a decade of guiding experience. If anyone visiting Londolozi in the next 6 months is fortunate enough to get him as your ranger, know that he’s just going through the breaking-in phase we all have to go through with our caps every few years.
Each ranger’s cap starts to take on a personality of its own. Sweat stains, slight colour variations formed by different substrates of the various roads the individual prefers driving; it’s seldom that one has to closely examine a cap left in the Ranger’s Room to identify its owner. Far more likely that you see it on the table and know that it belongs to Jess, simply from the tear to the right of the logo, caused by that Knobthorn when she was tracking the Ntsevu Pride, or Souch from the slightly brown section along the rim just above the peak…
Of course not everyone favours the peak cap as their headgear of choice. Head of Technical Services Chris Goodman has been at Londolozi for over 10 years, having started as a ranger, and he probably boasts more hours than anyone else under the African Sun over that period of time. Chris has chose a wide-brimmed leather number from the beginning, and since I’ve known him (mid-2010), he has only had to change hats once. “Change” is a term loosely used as the original one literally started falling apart:
Chris’s hat. Probably Londolozi’s most iconic.
Wear-and-tear, thy name art Chris’ Hat. Don’t worry, I washed my hands after taking this photo.
I’m digressing slightly here as we could go off on a completely different tangent about iconic hats, so let’s get back to the Grey.
You’re highly unlikely to find anyone with a Grey Londolozi Cap who hasn’t been or isn’t currently a ranger/tracker here. The sheer volume of hours out in the field needed to transform the original item into one of status is seriously hard to come by unless actually on the job. The only thing I could suggest would be to buy one and just leave it on the roof for 6 months. Throw it in the wash a few times. Kick it around in the dirt.
Ranger James Souchon, quite happy with his Grey-Cap status
And if it fades just enough, then on your next visit here – although you might not be openly lauded or have your praises sung – when your ranger and tracker team greet you at the airstrip, they’ll notice the faded wash of what was once your black cap, and there will probably be a knowing look that passes between you.
And it will likely remain unspoken, but the feeling of pride you will certainly feel will be closely tied with another, which is often more elusive.
Belonging.
My Londolozi caps are not black or grey. It is white and kakhi. The white cap I wear almost every morning when I go for a walk and the kakhi cap is packed in for camping in the bush. And of course when we visit Londolozi. My camps are not realy “clean” anymore. Full of stains. I feel proud to wear it. It does give you a sense of belonging.
Hi Marinda,
Sounds like you need to get a black one and start fading it in!!
In the 5 visits we have made to Londolozi we have never had any Ranger or Tracker team that was not wonderful. We always learn so much and so admire the x ray vision of the trackers. Victoria
Never thought “caps” could tell such a interesting story, James. And when I come to Londolozi I’ll take a silent look at the caps and grin inwardly. Which leads me to another important question that has gone unanswered, although asked. How can I purchase caps and a coffee mug from Londolozi? I begin my day with Londolozi, so it would be only fitting to have my necessary morning coffee from one of your mugs. Just the idea makes me smile!
Hi Joanne,
We ship items from our shop, so I’m sure we can arrange a mug and cap for you. If you mail the shop on living@londolozi.co.za they will be able to help you out.
Best regards.
Funny posting! Everybody has his favorite cap and hates to give them up! Thanks for sharing, James!
Darlene I was once at a lodge where I spilled something one one of my original Grey Caps and the laundry service there scrubbed it too hard (I think they were hand-washing) and put holes right through it. Broke my heart!
I purchased a black cap in November 2017. Wear it while fishing, sometimes while playing golf. Glad to hear this fading is normal. On my next visit I may look like I have been there before. Thanks James
Good stuff!
The fade is what makes it authentic and grows your attachment to it!!
Thanks for a delightfully different blog.
Thanks Gloria,
We’ve got a few more in the pipeline… 😉
This is on the short list for one of the all-time best Londolozi blog posts. While I always love the images and wildlife information . . . this is a GREAT peek inside the ‘fun’ tent that also makes Londolozi so special.
Haha thanks Jeff.
Glad you liked it!
Alas, I left not only my heart at Londolozi, but my cap as well……. hopefully I’ll return and claim the prized possession!!???
Hi Denise,
Woops, you’re going to have to start from scratch by the sounds of things then!!
I think sales in Black caps might spike after this! Love this blog! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Stuart. Glad you liked it!
Allow me a disgression James…. Wouldn’t it be fun to start a sort of “Londolozi museum” collecting not only caps but other items with logos (wine bottles, shirts, etc.) produced over the last 2 or 3 decades? I am sure there would be lots of contributors….
James, what a great and funny article! When we were at Londolozi 5 years ago, my partner Bobby and I were in awe of our ranger, Kate. She was a total BAMF! And we wanted to be just like her!! We will still occasionally impersonate her and put our hand to our ear and say, “Bushbuck calling!” in our poor South African accent. Anyway, her cap was very gray and Bobby has been on a mission to make his hat look like Kate’s over the last 5 years…wearing it to the barn, riding in it, etc. Always with the goal of the gray, worn cap that we saw at Londolozi.
Who knew it was a thing?! The good news is that we’re returning this year, and he’s gonna look like a total stud with that gray hat! Thanks for the fun blog! PS: whatever happened to head-ranger Kate?
Hi Dustin.
Haha Grey Cap status is a real thing!
Head-ranger BAMF Kate left Londolozi a few years ago with her husband Tom and their two kids and are living not far away. Kate is doing a lot of consulting and guide training and still loving the bush! And still as hardcore as ever 😉
Great news. Thanks for the follow up. See you in July!