Memories of a game ranger

Every game ranger has a story about how they ended up in the bushveld; living a life close to nature is so different from the next..

Unlike most jobs, every day as a game guide in the African wilderness is unique. A 3hr drive out into the wilderness promises daily action, wildlife interactions and surprises in many forms may been those once in a life time experience. It may sound dream but it’s not always easy. Guides are up early every day, preparing vehicle, tracking animals and ensuring guests have the most exceptional time during their short stays. Sometimes the job involves managing the wilderness (Allen plants), roads and fences, vehicle repairs, wildlife rehabilitation and capture and then trying to slot in time to study and learn about the wilds to make the next drive even better than the first.
It’s a unique type of person that chooses this lifestyle, and their reasons for venturing into the bush vary, however there is one characteristic that we all seem to share – a passion for Africa and its natural spaces...
Sitting round the camp fire at night, listening to all the different daily wild life interaction, it's hard to plan one day from one to the next as there are so many unexpected...

Early morning coffee and a quick rusk.. before everyone jumps onto the pontoon to ferry over to the main land to start the safari ... Heard over the radio that there was a herd of elephants north of Bumi hill with two youngsters.. was not long after we set off we where sitting right in the middle of the herd..
I caught a glimpse of one of the babies something seemed off.. he was struggling to keep up with it mother and the rest of the herd.. snapping a quick couple of pics it was clear the babies leg was swollen due to a snare..

Bravo Bravo come in for Jax's.. reading you over.. Bravo this youngest seems to have been caught in a snare and needs some urgent medical treatment.. I'm north or Bumi hills landing strip ..over .. Jax's for Bravo .. Jax's go..
Ok so we can organise vet from Harare they said they would fly up tomorrow.. Roger that over thx.. we heading south then heading back to lodge over.. Bravo.. Roger that see you guys later bravo out..
It was an early start for the team, trying to get guys sorted to assist with the darting of the baby.. vet due to land at 11am.. Jax's for Bravo.. Jax's go.. bravo umm Jax's we have had to make another plan vet from Harare fell this morning and broken his ankle and going in for surgery vets from Victor falls wildlife trust are going to assist but can only come up this pm over.. Roger that bravo will get everything setup and ready.. do we have a eta for them over .. Jax's ET's 15h30 at landing strip.. Roger that over.. bravo guests have request to attend over... Bravo Roger that... Jax's brovo , Jaxs go ahead.. vet asked if you can take a drive and find herd this afternoon when you pick them up .. Roger that over will take guests with and do Sundowns at same time over...

It's 14h00 everything was loaded on pontoon ready for the pm game drive, I headed up reception to wait for guest which where already making there ways, the radio crackled Masango Masango come in . Masango receiving you load and clear over.. Masango our eta is 15h15 over.. Masango copied over.. I did not hear the rest as we made out way down the track to the pontoon.. 20min later we where bundled into the Landrover and making our way to the landing strip to pick up Jess and roger... Jax's Jax's bravo.. bravo go ahead over, Jax's Roger going to buzz the runway, Roger that over I driving down the side of it now just a few warthog that gapped it over.. Roger that over... The crackling stopped and between the birds we could here the distant sound of a plane... Jax come in for Roger, go ahead over.. we 5min out over.. copy that over we can see you.. as Roger buzzed the landing strip you heard the flock of guinea fowl took off making that distinctive call.. the plane taxied towards us, Roger and Jess quickly did last tie downs as I loaded the vehicle with the gear.. Roger mentioned they had seen a herd not far on East side out on the flats.. as we edge our ways up the east side of the island we could see a herd feeding and drinking of the lakes edge.. Roger spotted an older bull also with a snare around its leg.. Then there on the fringes of the bush Roger points out the injured baby.. The herd had not moved far fr yesterday so good chance they would be in the same area tomorrow... After finding the calf we head towards the lake edge to watch the African sunset.. there is something about Kariba that has a very special place.. as the sun set we drove back to the pontoon and back across to masango..
5am start saw everyone bundled into the Landy with coffee and blankets, a few of the other surrounding lodge rangers had also gotten roped into helping with the operation.. Roger say he wants to try dart a few more animals while he was there including the big male we first saw on the lake edge.. we found the herd Roger runs us though the steps.. he has have decided to dart the mother with dart gun and pole dart the baby..
Well, all I got to say, you think you got a plan and then it all goes belly up.. first shot and the needle is shot perfectly.. 5min later the knee became wobbly and she landed on her chest Roger shouted quickly she going to crush her ribs we need to lye her on her side.. the rest of the herd was some 100m maybe 150m.. as we approach the mother and calf and started push the cow over the calf was about 10m away squiled a heart wrenching squile. That caused the matriarch and the rest of the herd to move from 150m to 15m in literally seconds.. they surrounded the baby and would not let us get near him.. finally after 30min Roger said we going to have to rethink this one, lets wake mom up and give them a little space.. once mom was up and reunited with herd we head down to the lake edge we darted 2 bull elephant a buffalo that morning.. we had lunch then head back to the herd .. mom and calf where still 100m behind the rest of the herd Roger darted mom and waited 2 min then darted baby this way the baby would not be able to call the herd.. Rogers plan worked perfectly.. we successfully manage to remove and clean the wound and 30min later mom and baby where back in their feet.. anyways that how I remember it lol.. these guys where amazing they extended there stay a few more days and darted quite a few animals. Just a few pic's

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