Our Field Rangers

 

All our field rangers have a vast knowledge of the reserve and its animals. They facilitate all the field work for our volunteer programs at Siyafunda, and also guide at My Kaya, Your Kaya lodge. Their work has them involved in the daily research and monitoring of animals, birds and the bush, your time spent with them is guaranteed to be fun and full of learning.

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Michael Job

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Mike is the Director of Siyafunda Wildlife and Conservation, he is a qualified FGASA guide and Lead Trails-guide, with a level 3 Tracker. He has an under-grad degree in Social Science and a Masters in Business Administration.

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Mike's role with Siyafunda is to over see all operations of our projects and lodge.

After university, Mike spent a couple of years working in the UK. However, the call of the bush was too strong, so he returned to South Africa where once qualifying as a field guide, he worked as assistant manager & guide in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Thereafter, Mike moved to his family farm (Twines) in Makalali Nature Reserve & began working for Siyafunda in his present role.

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Emma Jenkins

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Emma is the manager at the Siyafunda volunteer projects and over sees all the research and monitoring projects. Emma is a qualified FGASA guide and Lead Trails-guide, with a level 2 Tracker.

 

If you have any Makalali animal questions, Emma is the person who has the answer and some. She is one of the reserves most experienced Field Rangers and invaluable to the management of the reserve.

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Derek Smith

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Derek is the Senior Field ranger at Siyafunda's Projects. He heads up our Mentorship and Internship program and overseas their camp The Nest . Derek is a qualified FGASA guide and Lead Trails-guide, with a level 2 Tracker and level 3 Track and Sign.

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He has exceptional bush instincts and tracking abilities. Derek is happiest while out on foot tracking down Africa's Big 5 and other endangered species.

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Kai Harris

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Kai is a Field ranger at Siyafunda's Endangered Species camp. He is a qualified FGASA guide and Back up Trails-guide.

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Kai has done both his Field Guide Mentorship and Trails Mentorship with Siyafunda before being employed by the company and so he has extensive experience with us and is a fantastic addition to our team.

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Coming from South Africa he has an affinity with the bush and the animals that roam our country. His passion for our animals is infectious.

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