Following clues in the Klaserie

At Baobab Ridge, we're blessed to have a team of talented safari guides on hand to enhance the safari experience... But - our safari guides are more than knowledgeable experts behind the wheel of an open safari vehicle - they are the interpreters of the land, the eyes that read between the lines of the African bush and a bridge between generations of bush wisdom and visitors enjoying wild Africa for a fleeting moment. Let's find out more...

The ability to spot a distant predator, identify an elusive bird’s call or trace the path of a herd of elephants from the faintest signs in the soil isn’t something that comes from textbooks or manuals. It’s learned, honed, and passed down through generations of guides who have spent their lives in the wilderness.

For our guides - David Mathonsi, Devine Nkomani and Moven Qibi - every safari is a treasure hunt, and the bush is full of clues waiting to be discovered. But to truly understand these clues, you must look past what’s in front of you. It’s about noticing the subtle, the fleeting, and the seemingly insignificant - those tiny details that tell the bigger story of life in the Klaserie.

When you first drive out on to the dirt roads of Baobab Ridge, it’s easy to think of it as just another stretch of land. But for our guides, every inch of terrain holds a narrative. It starts with something as simple as the tracks left behind in the sand. A lone paw print could indicate the passage of a hyena, but the way it’s pressed into the ground might tell you how long ago the animal passed through. The size and depth of the print can reveal whether it was walking slowly or running. The shape of the print could hint at whether the animal is on a hunt or simply moving through its territory.

These signs aren’t just guesses - they’re answers to a question that’s always in the air: What’s going on right now in this place? And the guide’s job is to piece those answers together, forming a story.

That’s the true art of guiding: it’s about reading the land like a book, but it’s also about connecting with our guests and helping them see what’s often invisible to the casual observer. The track you spot might be something you wouldn't immediately notice, but when the guide points it out and explains the subtle shift in the soil, that moment becomes part of the story. It turns from a footprint in the dust into a snapshot of life - a fleeting moment that’s gone but still holds meaning.

Guiding goes beyond the physical act of spotting a track or observing animal behaviour. It’s about understanding the rhythm of nature and interpreting its language. It’s no accident when a guide knows exactly when to stop the vehicle and look up at the sky to spot a bird of prey, or when they tell you to listen intently for the distant roar of a lion. Every sound, every change in the wind, every rustle in the undergrowth plays its part in the grand narrative of the bush.

For many guests, the real magic of a safari lies not just in the animals they see but in the way the guide brings everything to life. It’s in the stories shared over a quiet afternoon, the cultural context of the land, and the personal anecdotes of a guide who has spent years in the same corners of the Klaserie, watching, listening, and learning. They are not just the eyes of the bush; they are its heart and soul, connecting you to something much bigger than the safari itself.

A guide's relationship with the bush is also one of deep respect. At Baobab Ridge, our guides take their role as guardians of the environment seriously. They don’t just lead safaris - they act as stewards of the land, respecting its rhythms and learning from it every day. 

Their knowledge is rooted in more than facts; it’s an intimate understanding of how the animals interact with the land, how the seasons shape everything, and how every experience in the bush is part of a greater ecological puzzle. They know that every animal sighting, every plant, and every topographical feature tells a story about the land, and their responsibility is to help preserve that.

For example, when you walk with Devine, you aren’t just following the track of an animal - you’re walking in the footsteps of generations of guides before you. Their knowledge, passed down through years of training and hands-on experience, forms the foundation for every safari you experience. This is why a safari at Baobab Ridge is never just about a list of animals you see, but about understanding the incredible ecosystem that sustains them.

So, as you set off on your next adventure with us in the Klaserie, take a moment to watch your guide. Notice how they read the landscape, how they see stories in the smallest details, and how they invite you to do the same. Because in the bush, the clues are everywhere - you just need to know how to see them.