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MAGAZINE

AN &BEYOND PUBLICATION Issue 23

3RD

ANNUAL KHAKI FEVER SPECIAL EDITION

KHAKI CONFIDENTIAL BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

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AN &BEYOND PUBLICATION

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to our 3rd annual Khaki Fever special edition. It is by far my most favourite issue to write and as I look through these pages, I realise not only are we blessed with an extraordinary team of talented rangers, but also, that the fever is real. There’s no denying it.

CLAIRE TRICKETT

This issue is filled with personal anecdotes, feel-good stories, entertaining quotes and more than 50 shades of khaki. From our rangers, trackers, naturalists and anti-poaching teams, to our city guides, dive instructors, transfer drivers and private guides, they all share knowledge, forge bonds, inspire adventure and create memories with our guests. This issue is a celebration of those incredible people; whether or not they actually wear khaki is immaterial.

And so, to all the khaki fever sufferers out there … you’re welcome. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I enjoyed writing it. May it remind you of past adventures you’ve taken with us and inspire you to dream of future journeys in Africa, South Asia and South America. It’s time to escape the daily deadlines and dramas and get back to the real world.

@clairetrickett I’d love to hear from you

ON THE COVER

TOUGHEST RANGER OF THE MONTH

The charming, khaki-clad Jarryd du Preez, &Beyond Kirkman’s Kamp Assistant Head Ranger, has inspired some entertaining quotes from our guests. Have a look at page 6.

Even rugged rangers take selfies … and make questionable duck lips (?!). #KhakiKardashians If you would like to make a nomination, please send it to [email protected].

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CONTENTS FEATURE Industry’s Finest Guides

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REGULARS Guest Delight Kitchen Safari Faces & Places WILDchild Leave a Legacy Leaders in Conservation Africa Foundation Living the Brand Fun Side

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32

© Daryl Dell

6 41 46 49 55 60 67 71

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© Steve Walker

© Jonestha Moths


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES DO YOU BELIEVE IN KHAKI FEVER? The dreaded khaki fever. Is it just an urban myth or a safari ailment for which there is no cure? Our rangers like to think it’s real and many of our female guests will gravely agree. It’s the age-old story: brave, rugged man in (khaki) uniform; protector, educator, lover of nature and gifted charmer. Women afflicted by this fervent fever are said to be ridiculously and hopelessly attracted to their safari suitors. Not all guests fall prey to the captivatingly charming khaki brigade. Some claim absolute immunity, while others become helplessly and incurably enamoured with our rangers. Men are not immune either; we’ve had many male guests develop puppy dog eyes for their female (and male) rangers.

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Playing devil’s advocate, an exranger explains, “The beauty of the natural environment is so evocative, so naturally intoxicating that it can inspire a kind of romance all by itself. Many guests don’t know to give credit where it is due and end up objectifying the ranger, as though he or she conjured it all up. Mind you, having said that, I did use this tried and tested phenomenon to full advantage and now have a gorgeous wife to prove it!” Adding further fuel to the khaki debate, two guests wrote:

“You might not have been able to organise dancing boys in tight shorts, but laying eyes on Jarryd du Preez (our ranger) came a pretty close second. I was having such a crush it’s just as well we left when we did, otherwise I would fear for his virtue.” Some guests even created a hashtag for ex-ranger JP Joubert: #jptherangerishot. Alas, draw your own conclusions. It’s the lure of the khaki. It’s real, it’s unpredictable and it can catch you off guard. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

“Obvious special mention goes to gorgeous Jarryd du Preez who, apart from being very knowledgeable and an amazing ranger, was also rather nice to look at.”


INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES WORLD-CLASS GUIDES

&Beyond is a guide-led business, first and foremost. Our guests seek exceptional, authentic and interpretive experiences in Africa, South Asia and South America, so whether it’s a ranger on safari, a guide in a city or a marine ranger at one of our island properties, they all need to be top-notch.

It’s that first friendly face that greets you at the airport and makes you feel safe and welcome, those eight hours a day spent on a safari vehicle sharing stories with and learning from an &Beyond ranger, the eagle eye tracker that expertly locates impossible-tofind animals, the enthusiastic guide that introduces hidden gems in new cities, and the dive instructors that reveal the mysteries of the ocean.

The experience is only as good as the guide, so &Beyond places a heavy emphasis on ensuring that we have the industry’s finest rangers, naturalists, guides and trackers, hands down.


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Ranger selection is not easy. When you consider that many of our guests have not only saved up for and dreamed about these bucket list holidays for most of their lives, but for some, it is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, never to be repeated. Our rangers therefore have one chance to leave a lasting impression and deliver an experience so spectacular that it exceeds all of the guests’ expectations and is worth every penny saved. &Beyond rangers must have an indepth, encyclopaedic knowledge of animal behaviour, from the Big

Five right down to the Little Five and everything in between. They must be fascinated by wildlife and the natural environment, so much so that their passion becomes contagious. We look for positive, engaging individuals that have excellent interpersonal skills, charm that is not forced, a talent for captivating storytelling and a strong, resilient character. They must have a healthy respect for the land and its wildlife, display grace under pressure, be able to solve problems quickly and be diplomatic at all times.

It might not be an easy job, but it is a rewarding job. The safari vehicle is their “office” and every single day they are surrounded by some of the world’s most famous, breathtaking landscapes that are filled with diverse, iconic wildlife that some people only dream of seeing. They get to meet and build friendships with people from all around the world and they are rewarded in sunrises and sunsets. It doesn’t get much better than that.

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES BACK TO SCHOOL Ranger selection alone doesn’t mean an individual will go on to become a fully-qualified &Beyond ranger. We first conduct thorough interviews with hopeful candidates, and if they meet the criteria and have the right personality fit, then they go back to school. Literally. &Beyond operates three full-time ranger training schools in South Africa, East Africa and India, as well as a mobile training school in Botswana. These schools are run by a highly experienced, knowledgeable team of ranger trainers (all of whom are former &Beyond rangers) who work hard at moulding, mentoring and shaping world-class rangers, imbuing them with the &Beyond culture. Our ranger training courses vary by region. In South Africa, it’s a six-week course that runs twice a year at the Inkwazi Ranger Training School based at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve (followed by two to three months of workplace training). In India, it’s a five-week programme held once or twice a year (as required) at Banjaar Tola Tented Camp in Kanha National Park (also followed by two to three months of workplace training). In East Africa, it’s a three to four-month course that runs once or twice a year (as required) at the Mwewe Ranger Training School based at &Beyond Klein’s Camp in Tanzania. &Beyond has developed a unique, personalised and inspirational approach to guide training for new and experienced guides alike. The training covers the necessary guiding-related topics of fauna/flora, 4x4 skills, tracks and signs, night skies, hospitality, effective communication, as well as weapons training and assessment where relevant. It takes into account the national guiding legalities and requirements for each country. The courses are gruelling and typically, only half of the rangers in a particular class will go on to graduate and successfully become an &Beyond guide. Demanding and exhausting as though it may be, there is also an element of fun and lifelong comradery. We’re not churning out ranger clones, but rather highlighting and celebrating each individual’s differences and helping them to reach their full potential within the &Beyond culture of guiding.


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES MEET THIS YEAR’S INKWAZI GRADUATES & MWEWE HOPEFULS INKWAZI CLASS OF JANUARY 2015 BACK ROW (L-R): Dylan Royal (Phinda Forest), Seth Vorster (Regional Ranger Trainer, South Africa), Jonty Tatz (Phinda Mountain), Matthew Smith (Phinda Mountain), Benjamin Ackerman (Phinda Mountain), Thulani Dlamini (Inkwazi Camp Attendant) FRONT ROW (L-R): Bryan Olver (Regional Ranger Trainer, South Africa), Chad Stephenson (Phinda Forest), Nic Andrew (Phinda Mountain), Sarah Eichstadt (Phinda Forest), Jaryd Povall (Phinda Forest), William Moss (Regional Ranger Trainer, South Africa), Fred Krantz (Phinda Forest), Andrew van den Broeck (Regional Ranger Trainer, South Africa), JG de Swardt (Phinda Mountain)

INKWAZI CLASS OF JUNE 2015 BACK ROW (L-R): Seth Vorster (Regional Ranger Trainer, South Africa), Mark Pretorius (Exeter and Kirkman’s Kamp), James Walker (Phinda Forest), Amy McMillan (Phinda Mountain), Nikki Muller (Phinda Mountain), Bryan Olver (Regional Ranger Trainer, South Africa) FRONT ROW (L-R): John McDonald (Phinda Mountain), Kerri Smithers (Phinda Forest), Thulani Dlamini (Inkwazi Camp Attendant)

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES MWEWE CLASS OF SEPTEMBER 2015 (currently still in session) FRONT: Solomon Ngidinga MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Grant Telfer (Regional Ranger Trainer), Felix Parmwat, Zakia Lashku, Phabian Zacharia, Wilson Kilong BACK ROW (L-R): Justice Narikae, Erick (Head Ranger Ngorongoro Crater Lodge)


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN It is thanks to this team of exceptional ranger trainers, as well as the hard-working camp attendants, whose leadership skills, universal knowledge and ongoing mentorship continues to produce top quality rangers that exceed guest expectations.

GRAHAM VERCUEIL Group Field Manager

BRYAN OLVER Regional Ranger Trainer South Africa

SETH VORSTER Regional Ranger Trainer South Africa

“The Inkwazi Headmaster, this guy is your music and pop culture guru”

“Mr Mischief, he is not to be trusted if he tells you something with a straight face”

ANDREW VAN DEN BROECK Regional Ranger Trainer South Africa

GRANT TELFER Regional Ranger Trainer East Africa

NARAYANA RANGASWAMY Training Anchor India

“Mr Khaki Fever”

“The Lone Ranger”

“India’s King of Khaki Fever, with his piercing green eyes”

THULANI DLAMINI Inkwazi Camp Attendant South Africa

TIPAPA MOYOYI Mwewe Camp Attendant Tanzania

“The strictest, funniest, most trustworthy camp attendant south of the Limpopo River”

“The Must-Have Man at any “nyama choma” (Swahili for braai or barbecue)”

“The Absent-Minded Professor”

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES A WEEK IN THE WILD IS NEVER ENOUGH

Group Field Manager, Graham Vercueil, has been with &Beyond for more than 24 years. While this issue was being put together, it seemed fitting that Graham just so happened to be at our Inkwazi Ranger Training School at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. The very place where it all began for Graham, and countless other rangers. It proved the perfect time for him to reflect on his first day at Inkwazi. Here are Graham’s personal reflections… “Our departure day would come around all too soon, just as my senses had begun to tune back into that irresistible array of stimuli from the natural world. Views full of symmetry and chaos and colour, unfamiliar textures under foot and fingers, scents of crushed organic matter and tastes of inedible things, enough stillness for sounds to arrive from far off, letting one feel the open space. And the sense that everything mattered. Childhood memories can be tricky things, but I know for certain that as a boy, the thought of a lifetime spent in a city was impossible, yet seemed unavoidable. I had spent enough time in the wilderness for the feared creatures to become familiar and the urban jungle to become strange. “You can’t live here Graham, you make money and visit here, like this.” The future promised the intangible and impending tragedy of urban life. I could not possibly have imagined that:

• I would hear about &Beyond Phinda being set up, call for an interview and be turned down. Then pitch up on their doorstep and be turned down again. Go home and shave, cut my hair, resign from my job and return a few hours later, unrecognisable to Carol Momsen behind reception. To try yet again, this time politely ignoring being turned down and waiting for five minutes to persuade Dave Varty that I should at least get a crack at it. • Arriving for the training and squeezing into a rambling farmhouse in Zululand with 17 other hopefuls would seem so daunting and yet so perfectly right. And when, on that first afternoon, a crowned eagle powered through the thick afternoon air and yellow light clutching a vervet monkey, I thought perhaps I had died and gone to heaven. • That I would spend years immersed in the seasons and cycles and endless, delightful details of woodlands, sand forests, riverine galleries and green cathedrals. All at their best without our help. Sharing, entreating, inspiring and learning to listen to the differences in others without judgement. Meeting fascinating people from all over the world. • That the first night of selection week, around a fire under a magnificent Zulu milkberry tree, listening to the backgrounds and dreams of the hopeful young men and women would become an iconic day for me; reliving the excitement of my own selection course vicariously through their stories of risk and hope. That so many would welcome the chance to hand in their mobile phones and be more fully present for a change. • That there would be so much reward in helping others to learn a skill that has brought me more

pleasure and meaning than I could have imagined. Together, we have moulded a high industry standard and it endures, so much so, that even today as I read a guest recounting their recent safari, I feel proud:

‘Luke Sutherland has a wonderful way of being as a ranger that completely immersed us in the bush experience. He brings deep knowledge and respect for the bush and a patient tenacity that created countless moments of unique experience for us. We saw the animals in so many different dimensions of their life: caring for their young, hunting, fighting, feasting. We were so impressed with Phinda’s conservation mission, and the authenticity of your commitment came through in so many aspects of our experience. This was a really special trip for our family, and we will be back to share the experience with others.’

This small Inkwazi camp with its simple, humble beginnings became like ground zero for me. Where my life, and those of so many amazing young people, have been pared down to the essentials and built back up into a life in the bush that was once just a dream. I know that those who trained in Tanzania at Mwewe or in Botswana and Central India have had the same experiences in their own way. And sitting here now, overlooking the floodplain below Inkwazi Camp and beyond to the Ubombo Mountains, I am grateful that the sheer beauty of the place and the animals living in it are enough to sustain it. &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has become all that its founders dreamed it could be and more. I could never have imagined that I would marry and raise two children here. We have all done exactly what we set out to do here; we made a life in the bush.” ~ Graham Vercueil &Beyond Group Field Manager 13


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES BREAKING THE SOCIAL NORM &Beyond employs more than 200 expert rangers, guides, naturalists and trackers in Africa, South Asia and South America. Among this highly competitive, male-dominated group are 15 fierce, determined, strong-willed and highly capable female rangers and trainees that are paving the way forward.

and took no half measures. They pushed stationary Land Cruisers, lugged around massive tyres, climbed ropes, shot powerful .375 rifles, walked into big game, slept out in the bush and proved they were to be taken seriously. These are not the typical “Girl Guides” or scouts that you remember as a child.

These women, and many others at &Beyond before them, made the bold decision to bravely enter the traditionally male-dominated world of guiding. Being accepted on the ranger training course is one thing, but to show up on that first day as the only female (or perhaps one of two) in the group is another thing entirely.

“We can do everything the men do. I shoot rifles, walk lions and elephants, take responsibility for my guests’ safety and change massive 4x4 allterrain tyres on my own. But most women don’t have that competitive streak that men have so we don’t behave like ‘cowboys’. I can also put flowers behind my guests’ ears, wear bright pink nail polish on my toes and scream when spiders fall down my shirt. I’d say about 70% of guests are surprised when they meet me. They always say: ‘Are you a ranger?’ I don’t mind. I like knowing I am part of a revolution. I have only had five

To confidently prove yourself to all of those men and the trainers, and to take part in the same gruelling physical challenges is no mean feat. They received no special attention

KERRI SMITHERS (LEFT) Trainee Ranger, Phinda Forest Lodge South Africa

A quiet soul, her unconfessed hero is tree guru Braam van Wyk

SARAH EICHSTADT Ranger, Phinda Forest Lodge South Africa

During training when asked if she has ever hunted, she calmly replied, “Yes, but only for good-looking guys. Still hunting.”

guests refuse to get on my vehicle because I am a woman, and most of them were women. Sometimes you’ll have men who believe they’re being quite funny, asking me if I can drive. ‘Do you know the property? How many times have you been lost? Is that Richard’s rifle?’ It doesn’t bother me. It just tells me a bit more about that person.” (Insert from Jane Broughton’s British Airways High Life editorial piece, “Meet the Girl Guides”) In the words of our CEO, Joss Kent, “&Beyond employs hard-working, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and strong-minded individuals. Whether they are male or female is immaterial.” Congratulations to these 15 fearless females for evening the playing field and proving that guiding is no longer a male-dominated world.

AMY MCMILLAN Trainee Ranger, Phinda Mountain Lodge South Africa

Having visited Phinda as a guest, she vowed to become a ranger, first working as a safari host and now officially earning her khaki stripes

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RICCI CHRISTEN Ranger, Phinda Mountain Lodge South Africa

CILLA PICKERING Researcher, Phinda Habitat Team South Africa

JENNI CHIN Ranger, Ngala Safari Lodge South Africa

Clumsy at times, her fellow rangers won’t let her live down a not-sograceful face-plant into a muddy elephant track

Á real social butterfly, everyone knows the beautiful Cilla, yet she avoids cameras like she avoids the dentist

When working as a volunteer, she brought Graham Vercueil a Wahlberg’s eagle (found in a cattle dip) and spent 3 hours cleaning it; a great first interview

LEE-ANNE DAVIS Ranger, Ngala Tented Camp South Africa

ALLY BAUER Ranger, Kirkman’s Kamp South Africa

None of us knew she was completely blind in her left eye until she had a cornea transplant earlier this year

The only ranger to get her vehicle so stuck that even lions couldn’t pull her out (see pg 58 of Issue 22)

AZIZA MBWANE Assistant Head Ranger, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Tanzania

GEMMA ARCHER Marine Ranger, Mnemba Island Tanzania

CHARITY CHERUIYOT Ranger, Kichwa Tembo Kenya

LUCY KETERE (RIGHT) Ranger, Kichwa Tembo Kenya

A real chocoholic, “Mama Chocolate” always has a secret stash to share

Named one of the 25 Best Safari Guides by US Condé Nast Traveler in 2013

The only ranger to have had twins

Nicknamed “Mama Tembo” (Swahili for elephant) for her uncanny elephant knowledge, she was &Beyond’s first female guide in East Africa


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SANGITA MANI Naturalist, Mahua Kothi Jungle Lodge India

“Pagal Aurat” (or mad woman), she is madness personified in the most endearing way

SADHVI SINGH Naturalist, Baghvan Jungle Lodge India

PAYAL MEHTA Specialist Guide Bhutan

Ever classic and eloquent, she’s the queen of a bygone era

Loves telling jokes, but her uncontrollable laughter often stops her from getting to the punch line

PRIVATELY YOURS &Beyond’s private guided safaris are personalised journeys in Africa, South Asia and South America that are crafted entirely around what the guest wants to see and do. Accompanied and hosted throughout by an &Beyond private guide, guests enjoy quality time on a private vehicle exploring those destinations on their bucket list. &Beyond has two fully-qualified private guides: Daryl Dell who is based in South Africa and Grant Telfer who is based in East Africa. Click here to read more about them.

© Grant Telfer

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES JUNGLES, ISLANDS & CLOUDS Anything is possible … Daryl or Grant will tailormake the adventure, including all of the must-see attractions and hidden gems. To get a taste of just how grand these safaris can be, here are some of Daryl’s personal highlights from one of his recent private guided safaris, which explored the natural wonders of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. “The first part of the safari was spent in Quito, the second highest capital in the world set in the Andes. Quito literally means the middle of the earth as it sits on the equator. There were magnificent cathedrals perched on every street corner and incredible views of snow-capped volcanoes dotted the horizon. I couldn’t contain my excitement when we headed into the mighty Amazon jungle. Being a naturalist, the comparisons between Ecuador and Southern Africa are fascinating: 1 600 birds versus 850; 398 mammals versus 330; 492 frogs versus 114; and an astounding 4 000 tree species versus 1 700. We couldn’t wait to explore. We enjoyed canoeing, night walks in the jungle, views from a tower set above the tree canopy and, for me, the highlight was a wooden lookout set 45 m high in the canopy of a Kapok tree overlooking the Amazon and Napo Rivers. The tree was adorned with mosses, lichens, bromeliads, strangler figs and orchids. The birding was incredible;

the colours, sounds and diversity are difficult to rival. It felt like every nook and cranny had a new species waiting to be discovered.

ambled past marine iguanas, land iguanas, giant Galápagos tortoises, Galápagos penguins and flightless cormorants.

We saw blue and yellow macaws, red-bellied macaws, chestnutfronted macaws, orange-winged amazons, banded and whitethroated aracaris … the list goes on. From caimans and anacondas, to electric fish and urethra catfish, the Amazon did not disappoint.

The adventure wasn’t over yet, next up was a journey back to the Andes and into the world-famous cloud forests. We stayed in a luxury lodge deep in the heart of the cloud forest, with two elegant storeys of floorto-ceiling glass that literally made you feel like you were in the clouds, peering down at the lush, dense valleys below.

Our next stop was the Galápagos Islands. I had to pinch myself … another lifelong dream was coming true. We spent a week on the Cormorant, a small luxury catamaran, and island-hopped (a word I never expected to use during my guiding career) from one mind-blowing island to the next. Cruising while we slept and waking up to a new view every day was spectacular. Frigate birds, boobies and storm petrels flew within arm’s reach while we brushed our teeth in the mornings amidst the azure waters. Literally hundreds of green turtle heads popped up one day, as a new island formed in front of us. Volcanoes rose from the oceans and lava fields stretched out as far as the eye could see. It was like being on a different planet. We went snorkelling in the crystal clear water amidst playful sea lions, curious turtles, dolphins, sharks and the brightest, most colourful fish. We

We travelled in sky trains through the canopy, trekked to cascading waterfalls, went on exciting night hikes and spent some quiet time photographing hummingbirds in a camouflaged bird hide. We saw tarantulas, umbrella birds, trogons, toucanets, aracaris, chlorphonias, vireos, dwarf squirrels, tyras, agoutis, opossums … I could go on forever! It was an unbelievable, life-changing safari and the first foot in the door to South America as an &Beyond private guide. I urge everyone to put this extraordinary and diverse continent at the top of your bucket lists. I know I’ll return as soon as I can; I feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface and so much more adventure awaits.” ~ Daryl Dell &Beyond Private Guide


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© Daryl Dell

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES FROM TIGERS TO MONASTERIES TO EASTER ISLAND With the exciting launch of our &Beyond Chile office earlier this year, &Beyond is now able to offer our signature brand of authentic, luxury experiences on three different continents. This means employing the same high calibre, knowledgeable, personable and engaging rangers/guides in both South Asia and South America. Since 2006, more than 100 naturalists have completed our naturalist training school in India (in partnership with Taj Safaris), with 60 of them qualifying. There are currently more than 20 expert naturalists working in our four jungle safaris in central India, and we also have renowned specialist guides that are uncovering the natural beauty, wildlife, culture and landscapes of India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Chile and Argentina to our guests. Riaz, who is the Special Projects Manager for our &Beyond office in Colombo, is also a part-time nature guide and an accomplished wildlife photographer. From oceanic encounters with mighty blue whales off the coast, to the regal leopards in the white sands of Wilpattu, to the elusive Sri Lanka spurfowl in the lowland rainforests of Sinharaja, Riaz knows all of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems.

RIAZ CADER Specialist Guide Sri Lanka Toby has lived and guided in India and Sri Lanka for over 30 years and is one of the region’s best-travelled naturalists and specialist guides. Not only has he edited, photographed or authored 20 books about India and South Asia, but he also continues to manage wildlife and cultural documentaries for the BBC, PBS, Discovery and National Geographic channels across the region. With a wide network of contacts, Toby has unprecedented access to authentic local experiences.

TOBY SINCLAIR Specialist Guide Sri Lanka, India, Nepal & Bhutan Harsha has been guiding for more than a decade. Formerly the Head Naturalist at one of our Indian lodges, he was also heavily involved with naturalist training. A well-travelled animal lover, Harsha leads birding and wildlife safaris in India’s tiger country, the central highlands, the Himalayan foothills and the grasslands of Gujarat. His lifelong dream is to go on an extended birding adventure across India, hitchhiking along the way.

HARSHA JAYARAMAIAH Specialist Guide India, Nepal & Bhutan 19 AN &BEYOND PUBLICATION

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES Payal’s journey has taken her from a typical urban childhood in Mumbai to a successful career as a naturalist. Having trained as a mountaineer and majored in Geology, Payal went on to complete our naturalist training course and worked as a naturalist, and later as a freelance guide and naturalist trainer. Now based in Bhutan, Payal can indulge in her two most favourite things: mountains and wildlife.

PAYAL MEHTA Specialist Guide Bhutan Born in the UK, Gary’s wanderlust and love of nature took him to South America and in 1996, Chile became his new home. An avid outdoorsman with a penchant for South America, Gary has travelled extensively and cites Colombia, Perú, Ecuador and Brazil as his favourites (outside of Chile of course). He knows Chile like the back of his hand and spends most weekends exploring new areas.

GARY JAMES Specialist Guide Chile

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES NOT ALL RANGERS WEAR KHAKI Not all of our rangers wear the traditional khaki attire and drive 4x4’s. Some of them don walking shoes, city maps or scuba gear. &Beyond’s guides are a varied group; from classic safari rangers and trackers, to private safari hosts and specialist and city guides, to expert PADI Divemasters and Instructors.

MEET OUR MARINE RANGERS house reef and studying its colourful inhabitants, getting himself PADI certified, as well as mastering his English. He passed his final exam with 117 out of 120, an outstanding achievement.

With two exquisite island properties in our portfolio, &Beyond ensures that our marine rangers are worldclass, PADI-certified masters of the sea. Every day, off the shores of both &Beyond Mnemba Island in Zanzibar and &Beyond Benguerra Island in Mozambique, our marine rangers deliver fascinating, interpretive marine experiences and reveal the magnificent underwater world to our guests.

We couldn’t be more proud of Uledi Jaku, who recently qualified as a PADI Divemaster and now officially joins the &Beyond Mnemba Island team of PADI professionals. Uledi has lived on Mnemba for almost 20 years, originally employed as a boat captain.

CHRIS VIBERT &Beyond Mnemba Island

RYAN ARCHER &Beyond Mnemba Island

GEMMA ARCHER &Beyond Mnemba Island

Whale shark repellent (he’s still never seen one!)

Rather talkative, he forgets to put the “brief ” in briefing

Known on the island as “Zimwi la Bahari” (Swahili for mermaid)

ULEDI JAKU &Beyond Mnemba Island

KERRY-LEE MARTHESE &Beyond Benguerra Island

MICHELE FALCHETTO &Beyond Benguerra Island

This all-knowing turtle guru used to sport some rather impressive dreadlocks

A natural shark whisperer, yet she’s terrified of Parktown prawns!

The Italian (Underwater) Stallion

Passionate about the ocean and marine conservation, Uledi took the initiative and dedicated the last four years to exploring the Mnemba

Hongera sana (Swahili for congratulations) Uledi, your hard work paid off and you are an inspiration to us all.


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES MEET OUR CITY RANGERS A million times better than any guide book, &Beyond’s professional team of expert city guides know Cape Town inside and out. Each of these fabulous five accompany guests on a range of fascinating half or full-day city tours that are carefully tailormade to suit each guest’s unique interests. Their authentic and encyclopaedic local knowledge, engaging personalities and fantastic senses of humour ensure that &Beyond guests visiting Cape Town experience everything the cosmopolitan Mother City has to offer.

OLIVER CAVERNELIS &Beyond Tour Guide

ALLIE ADAMS &Beyond Tour Guide

SHAHEEN LEECH &Beyond Tour Guide

On his days off, he loves to explore Cape Town with his son on his GSXR 1000K8 Rizla Replica

A real ladies man, he is known by name at all the tourist attractions for his good looks and swagger

Proud member of the Vikings Motorcycle Club, he plans on getting himself a Harley-Davidson

NASEER JANUARY &Beyond Tour Guide

ROESHDIEN HENDRICKS &Beyond Transfer Guide

He would eat, sleep and work in his baby blue 1965 Volkswagen Beetle if he could

Hardworking and driven at work, but when he’s at home, he likes to be pampered and spoiled

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES TOP OF THE (KHAKI) CLASS Earlier this year, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve ranger Ian Lombard put his expert guiding skills to the test and was officially named the Safari Guide of the Year for 2015. This esteemed annual award was created by Africa Direct, in partnership with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA), to reward, recognise and celebrate guides across Southern Africa. This is a tremendous accolade and no one deserves it more than Ian, who continues to grow and develop as one of our most senior guides. His keen interest in and respect for nature, along with his natural gift for storytelling, earned Ian the well-deserved title and we couldn’t be more proud of his continued success. Click here to watch the video. Images & video courtesy of Dave and Naomi Estment, Outdoor Video & Photographic.

PUNKED: INDIA 1, SOUTH AFRICA 0 Mr. Safari Guide of the Year himself recently travelled to India to assist with our naturalist training programme at Banjaar Tola Tented Camp. He spent three weeks there, helping out with the initial Phase 1 naturalist selection, as well as the actual training of the current Phase 2 trainee naturalists. This is what Ian had to say about his first time in India… “It was a really rewarding trip and I loved every moment working with our Indian naturalists. We formed lasting friendships; I don’t think I’ve ever been more sad leaving a place and I am hoping to visit again. The comradery and constant humour shared on the assessment drives will stay with me forever.

The Indian hospitality was outstanding; however, upon my arrival I did have to endure an hourlong cross-examination by some not-so-friendly forest guards. They confiscated my passport and all of my travel documents and not even the sweet chai tea offered to me around the small fire in a forest hut could ease the tension.

Even though the park itself was closed for the monsoon season, the wildlife was spectacular. I managed to see various deer species, gaur and Indian wild dog or dhole. The birding that India has to offer is also incredible and diverse. Indian Scimitar Babbler, Black Eagle and Blue-Bearded Bee-eater stand out as my highlights.

After finally negotiating my access to the lodge, it became apparent that this was all part of a very elaborate prank to welcome me. It had been orchestrated by the trainees and they should all be awarded Oscars for their performances. I will subsequently be plotting my revenge over the next few months, waiting for an unsuspecting Indian naturalist to come and visit.

It was definitely the people, their culture and the warm local hospitality throughout that made for a lifechanging experience that I’ll never forget.” ~ Ian Lombard &Beyond Ranger Safari Guide of the Year 2015


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES KHAKI AT HEART

Being a guide-led business, it makes sense that &Beyond’s management and leadership teams are full of former khakis. It may not be common knowledge to all, but even our CEO Joss Kent used to be a khaki-clad ranger. His British military training aside, Joss often cites his time working as a professional guide throughout Africa as his most formative training. It was then that he realised he could change people’s lives through the experiences he gave them, a golden thread that runs throughout &Beyond today. Born and raised in Kenya and the former CEO of Abercrombie & Kent, Joss is also a Harvard MBA graduate, holds a private pilot’s license, speaks fluent Kiswahili and Spanish, windsurfs, scuba dives, rides horses and held lieutenant rank in the British Army.

Joss has guided the likes of Bill Gates, Jimmy Carter, Michael Jordan, Kenny Rogers, Gene Hackman and Lauren Hutton. He also has a longterm connection with the Royal Family, having had the honour of arranging a number of safaris for them throughout his guiding career. These include the first trip by both of the royal princes to Kenya and, more specifically Lewa Downs, where His Royal Highness Prince William would subsequently propose to the Duchess of Cambridge. The most over-the-top safari that Joss tailormade for his guests was a month-long adventure across Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire (now the DRC) and Burundi travelling in a World War II seaplane. The theme was ‘The Origins of Man’ and traced the evolution of humankind, connecting the dots between Olduvai Gorge, the mountain gorillas in Kahuzi Biega, chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains and ending up on the exclusive &Beyond Mnemba Island, landing gracefully on the water between the island and the Zanzibari mainland.

Clearly an adventure enthusiast, Joss has travelled the world and then some. From canoeing in Zambia and watching the Great Migration in East Africa, to driving from London to Nairobi through the Middle East with a photo journalist. That particular adventure took two months and they crossed through Europe, Turkey, the Western Desert of Syria, Jordan, Egypt’s Sinai Desert, Yemen, Djibouti, Ethiopia and eventually Kenya. His one memory that stands out from the rest was having the rare privilege to visit Yemen and cross the deeply inhospitable Empty Quarter with the local Bedouin. Adventuring and exploring is born within you or you are born into it. Joss was lucky enough to have a strong exposure to both. An adventurer since birth, Joss continues to explore, investigate and learn. What’s next on his bucket list? Japan and Colombia … and we have a feeling he’ll tick them both off in no time.

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES There are, no doubt, some people missing from this growing list, but here are just a few of the former (land and marine) rangers that have worked their way through the ranks at &Beyond. Some may not have been rangers with &Beyond specifically, but all of them have either worked behind the wheel of a 4x4, or revealed the underwater and natural world to curious minds around the world. JOSS KENT CEO

KEVIN PRETORIUS Regional Director South Africa

NIALL ANDERSON Regional Director Tanzania

MARK WHEELER Managing Director East Africa, South Asia/ America

TONY ADAMS Sustainability & HR Director

WAYNE NUPEN Regional Manager, Touring

PEDRO BARRAZA Managing Director South America

SUHAIL GUPTA Managing Director South Asia

RIAZ CADER Special Projects Manager

TOBY SINCLAIR Director, &Beyond South Asia

ADITYA DEV Projects Manager &Beyond South Asia

DUSHYANT SINGH Ops Manager &Beyond South Asia

JONATHAN BRAACK Group Sustainability Manager

LES CARLISLE Group Conservation Manager

SIMON NAYLOR Phinda Conservation Manager

GRAHAM VERCUEIL Group Field Manager

BRYAN OLVER Regional Ranger Trainer South Africa

SETH VORSTER Regional Ranger Trainer South Africa

ANDREW VAN DEN BROECK Regional Ranger Trainer South Africa

GRANT TELFER Regional Ranger Trainer East Africa

STEPHANIE MAST General Manager Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

MARKUS SCHROEDER General Manager Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

TAWANDA MUNENGIWA Lodge Manager Klein’s Camp

IVAN JACOB Camp Manager Serengeti Under Canvas

MIKE KELLY General Manager Mnemba Island

TESS INCE General Manager Mnemba Island

VITALIS MASSAY Assistant Lodge Manager Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

DYLAN DAVIES Assistant Lodge Manager Ngala Tented Camp

BRENDAN STREAK General Manager Kirkman’s Kamp & Exeter Lodges

BRETT CRAIG Lodge Manager Phinda Homestead

PAOLO SLAVIERO Lodge Manager Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp

RICHARD SACHSE Assistant Lodge Manager Klein’s Camp

GRANT OLIVER General Manager Under Canvas &Expeditions

GREG DAVIES-COLEMAN Lodge Manager Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

TINA MARTIN Phinda Adventures Manager

ANDREW RETALLACK Revenue & Systems Manager

DALE WEPENER Phinda Assistant Reserve Manager

LEONIE WEPENER Phinda Game PA

CAITLYN GANE Phinda Executive Housekeeper

Jonathan Braack

Andrew Retallack

Simon Naylor


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Kevin Pretorius

Tony Adams & Graham Vercueil

Niall Anderson

Simon Naylor

Tony Adams

Simon Naylor

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Wayne Nupen

Toby Sinclair

Les Carlisle

Linda Figueira-King & Simon Naylor

Tony & Dee Adams

Kevin Pretorius

Les Carlisle


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES BIRDS OF A FEATHER Let’s not forget that khaki fever is in fact a real thing and it’s not just guests that are afflicted by the ailment. Over the years, many of our rangers have fallen in love (some have even married and had children), which further confirms the undeniable and inescapable lure of the khaki.

DYLAN DAVIES & LEE-ANNE DAVIS Both current rangers

HARSHVARDHAN & SADHVI SINGH Both current naturalists and recently engaged

JASON GLANVILLE & ALLY BAUER Both current rangers

NARAYANA RANGASWAMI & SANGITA MANI Both current naturalists

ERIC EXELBY & AMY MCMILLAN Current ranger & trainee ranger

HARSHA JAYARAMAIAH & PAYAL MEHTA Both current specialist guides

ROBIN CHEESMAN & CAITLYN GANE Current Head Ranger and exranger

DALE & LEONIE WEPENER Both ex-rangers

MARKUS SCHROEDER & STEPHANIE MAST Both ex-rangers

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RYAN & GEMMA ARCHER Both current marine rangers

MIKE KELLY & TESS INCE Both ex-marine rangers and about to walk down the aisle

TONY & DEE ADAMS Both ex-rangers

LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Both ex &Beyond rangers, Simon Naylor (&Beyond Phinda Conservation Manager) and Tina Martin (&Beyond Phinda Adventures Manager) have a ten-year-old daughter called Tamsin. Well, move over Bindi Irwin, this adventurous little girl has grown up in the bush surrounded by African wildlife and is a mini conservationist-in-training. Tamsin regularly joins her Dad on his many conservation initiatives on the reserve, from notching rhino and catching giraffe, to collaring elephant and removing venomous snakes and sleeping hyena from the staff villages. She’s clearly not afraid to get dirty and we think she just might grow up to become an &Beyond ranger. After all, the khaki does run in Tamsin’s blood and &Beyond Phinda is her home.


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW YOUR RANGER… Think you know everything about our rangers? Guess again. Here are some fun facts that not everyone knows about our rangers.

• Regional Ranger Trainer Andrew

van den Broeck received a most unfortunate scorpion sting “youknow-where”.

• Seeing Double: we have twin

sets of twin rangers in the group, Hassan and Hussein Nuru in East Africa and James and Steve Walker in South Africa.

• Ranger Dan Fenton proudly

sported a mullet (and full moustache) in the not-so-distant past.

• Our rangers must reach and

continually maintain a high standard of rifle handling and shooting drills and are required to re-establish it after every leave cycle.

• Ranger by day and artist by night, Andre “Mac” McDonald sketches the most incredible wildlife drawings.

• Ranger Matt Murray is the team hairdresser.

• Dan Fenton is the youngest ranger to graduate from Inkwazi at the age of 20.

• The rangers have nicknamed

Group Field Manager Graham Vercueil “The Badger”, because he is forever running around, foraging and endlessly curious.

• Head Ranger Abdallah Hassan has been to the Arctic and witnessed polar bears and icebergs.

• Ranger Dylan Royal has more

Instagram followers than anyone at &Beyond.

• Head Ranger Justin Hall once

guided actor Hugh Jackman and Regional Ranger Trainer Andrew van den Broeck guided singer Natalie Imbruglia.

• &Beyond CEO Joss Kent used

to be a ranger and has privately guided the likes of Bill Gates and the Royal Family (he also has his pilot’s license and speaks fluent Swahili).

• At Group Field Trainer Graham

Vercueil’s 30-year high school reunion, he was voted (with great envy) as having made the best career choice.

• Head Ranger Brett Devitt was

once stung by a swarm of wasps that invaded his shorts during game drive.

• Ranger JG de Swart will travel more than 2 000 km for his favourite braai spice.

• Ranger James Souchon recently climbed Mt Kilimanjaro.

• Ranger Lucky Ntuli almost

became a professional soccer player.

• There is a penalty for rangers

in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve whereby if their vehicle gets stuck and they need to call for assistance, then they have to carry around a shame-inducing, hot pink Hello Kitty rifle bag until the next ranger gets stuck (which could take months!).

• Ranger Ben Ackerman once fell

out of his safari vehicle out of sheer excitement at a lion sighting.

• Ranger Jenni Chin is the only

female, Australian/Indonesian/ South African ranger in the business.

• Qambarali Ladha was the first

guide in East Africa to visit our Indian lodges.

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• Many of our rangers, mostly in

South Africa, insist on wearing shorts all year round. No “longs” (long pants) allowed for these macho men, despite the often freezing temperatures.

• Ranger Ricci Christen is a qualified

civil engineer turned game ranger; what she describes as her best move ever.

• Our rangers enthusiastically

compete in an annual &Beyond Mr Movember competition (we apologise in advance to guests travelling in November, but it’s for a great cause!).

• Indian naturalist Harshvardhan

Singh remembers seeing his first tiger at the age of three.

• Ranger Scott Yammin has

DJ’d alongside some famous international acts.

• Head Naturalist Shreenidhi

Jayadeva in India holds the title for the most nicknames. He must have about 15 or 20: “Shree Shrew” (to rhyme with the area’s tree shrew), “Coucal’’s Mother” (because he hand reared a southern coucal bird chick), “Parle-G” (after the Indian biscuits he devours at teatime) and “Kitchen Bijju” (In India the honey badger is called “khabar bijju” meaning “gravedigger”; Shree is believed to dig up the kitchens in search of a midnight snack).

• Ranger Lee-Anne Davis has an

egg shell phobia and she sleeps with a stuffed bunny every night.

• &Beyond’s only Spanish-

speaking ranger in East Africa, Serengeti Under Canvas ranger Andrew Robert took the initiative to learn the language fluently and now hosts our Spanish guests on safari.


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES RANGER DIARIES This entertaining Q&A sheds some light on the day in the life of an &Beyond ranger. From their most unforgettable and surprising wildlife sightings, to what inspired them to become rangers and even what’s on their bucket lists.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE SIGHTING? “A pangolin in 2004.” (Joseph Kima, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “A rock python squeezing the life out of an impala.” (Tim Kiok, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “When ranger Andrew van den Broeck and I were on a walk, we heard an alarm call that neither of us could identify. We followed it and eventually came upon the most unusual sighting. A mother and baby lesser bushbaby were very agitated and jumping around in the tree. Below, a slender mongoose was killing the second young bushbaby and they were having a scuffle. After it ended, the mongoose dragged the bushbaby off like a leopard. We both had goosebumps because it was the most unusual thing to see.” (Blaine Moolman, &Beyond Exeter River Lodge)

“We had got out the vehicle when [my tracker] Richard pointed out fresh lion tracks. A second later, 21 lions came bursting out of the tall grass, growling. One youngish male came running at us with four lionesses backing him up. He stopped metres from us, smacking sand up in our faces. He walked back to his mother and then came at us again and again. Richard and I walked backwards very, very slowly to the vehicle. The lion went back to his mother and very proudly rubbed heads with her. It is amazing to have that sort of experience with an animal. Fair game, no weapons, just respect for each other’s space.” (LeeAnne Davis, &Beyond Ngala Tented Camp; insert from Jane Broughton’s British Airways High Life editorial piece, “Meet the Girl Guides”)

“We were searching for lions and spotted a cheetah at a distance. It wasn’t our first cheetah sighting, so I suggested we have a quick look, then carry on with our lion search. As we approached the cheetah, we saw a flash of white disappear into the grass and realised she had newborn cubs with her. As she walked through the long grass, we could see movement, but had no idea how many cubs there were. We parked on the road some distance away and waited as she carried on walking towards us, knowing that if she crossed the road the cubs would follow. As she got to the road, suddenly four tiny little bundles of fur came running out into the open revealing themselves for the first time.” (James Souchon, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “A female cheetah chasing a big male leopard away from the area where she had hidden her three small cubs. Luckily the leopard was just passing through and wasn’t interested in the cubs, so her effort to drive off the male was successful, much to the everyone’s delight.” (Sarah Eichstadt, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “The mythical striped polecat.” (Matt Fleischack, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “A python killing and swallowing a young impala.” (Dylan Royal, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “A ratel (honey badger) in Pench National Park.” (Shreenidhi Jayadeva, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India) “Leaving four tigers for an orangebreasted pigeon … and was proud about it, so were my guests.” (Sadhvi Singh, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India)

© James Souchon

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A RANGER WITH &BEYOND?

© Matt Yardley

“I heard it is a great company that offers world-class service and personal growth development for its staff. Most importantly, I liked their three pillars: Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People.” (Joseph Kima, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “I grew up seeing the open &Beyond safari vehicles in the Masai Mara and always wished I could be the one driving them. I chose my path to be a guide so that I can give the best experience to guests in the best vehicles.” (Tim Kiok, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “I heard about &Beyond through ranger James Souchon who I went to university with. I liked the fact that if you could make it through the selection course you were guaranteed a job. When I was researching &Beyond for my interview, I discovered all of the things we do and it made me very excited to work for the company.” (Blaine Moolman, &Beyond Exeter River Lodge)

“My uncle was the Operations Manager at Phinda Forest Lodge in 1997 and I had fond memories of coming to visit him as a nine-yearold kid. We’d go out on game drives with the rangers and all I wanted to do was be the one driving the car and finding animals for everyone.” (James Souchon, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “It’s not every day that you find a company whose morals and values are on par with your own. Apart from the excellent training and ongoing improvement of the rangers, the company has an approach whereby all wildlife, the land, as well as the people in the area are of utmost and equal importance.” (Sarah Eichstadt, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “For the chance to grow and &Beyond’s ethics suited mine.” (Matt Fleischack, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge)

“I had been on safari with &Beyond before and the ranger seemed to love his lifestyle and spoke with pride about the company.” (Dylan Royal, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “It was the only company that believed in protecting/caring for both the wildlife and human life.” (Shreenidhi Jayadeva, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India) “I surely wanted to do something different from others. I wanted to live my passion and be outdoors. It’s icing on the cake if you get paid for the same.” (Sadhvi Singh, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India) “So that I could meet people from different parts of the world and introduce them to the beautiful views of Africa.” (Mohamed Omary, &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas)


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING GUIDING HAS TAUGHT YOU? “That I must treat everyone as the most important person in the world; that I must listen to what people are telling me before jumping to my own conclusions; that the safari is not mine, but solely that of my guests; and it has also taught me to be selfmotivated and responsible.” (Joseph Kima, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “That people are the same regardless of colour.” (Tim Kiok, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “To choose a positive attitude. People travel from all over the world and plan or save for the trip for years. There is no room not to make their experience as good as it can be just because you are tired or have personal issues.” (Blaine Moolman, &Beyond Exeter River Lodge) “Expect the unexpected! You can plan and plan as much as you like, but very rarely does everything go according to how you want it to.” (James Souchon, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge)

“People skills and effective communication skills.” (Sarah Eichstadt, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “Patience (and how to groom the perfect beard).” (Matt Fleischack, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “Guiding teaches you that patience often pays off handsomely, but it also teaches you how to appreciate new and different things every day. Nature is mind-blowing.” (Dylan Royal, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “‘I don’t know, but I will get back to you.’ Those words have been the most significant thing I have learned.” (Shreenidhi Jayadeva, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India) “Patience, patience and patience.” (Sadhvi Singh, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India)

© Matt Poole

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES WHAT IS THE #1 DESTINATION ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“India to see the tigers.” (Tim Kiok, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “It changes often, but at the moment it’s Sossusvlei in Namibia.” (Blaine Moolman, &Beyond Exeter River Lodge) “A sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara during the Migration.” (James Souchon, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “The Northern Lights in Alaska/Artic.” (Sarah Eichstadt, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge)

“Somewhere in India, maybe north closer to the Himalayas.” (Dylan Royal, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “Galápagos Islands.” (Shreenidhi Jayadeva, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India) “Africa again.” (Sadhvi Singh, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India) “Mozambique, India, Kenya, Cuba, Brazil … tell me when to stop?” (Andrew Nicholson, &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve)

“The Okavango Delta.” (Matt Fleischack, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge)


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES NAME SOMEONE FAMOUS YOU’D LIKE TO TAKE ON SAFARI. “Barack Obama, President of the United States.” (Joseph Kima, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “Xi Jinping, President of China.” (Tim Kiok, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “Jemaine and Bret from Flight of the Conchords. Or Emma Stone, if she was single.” (Blaine Moolman, &Beyond Exeter River Lodge) “Taylor Swift. She’s my inspiration.” (James Souchon, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore from Vampire Diaries). Not only is he drop-dead gorgeous, but he also has a heart for protecting the environment and animals worldwide.” (Sarah Eichstadt, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge)

“Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) or Rowan Atkinson (just so I could say I have taken Mr. Bean on safari).” (Dylan Royal, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “Sir David Attenborough.” (Shreenidhi Jayadeva, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India) “My lovely in-laws.” (Sadhvi Singh, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India) “Elon Musk or Meryl Streep.” (Joss Kent, CEO) “The few controlling the rhino poaching.” (Graham Vercueil, &Beyond Group Field Manager) “Kelly Slater.” (Scott Yammin, &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve)

“Emma Stone or The Rock.” (Matt Fleischack, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) © Steve Walker

© Craig Parsons

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, NAME 3 THINGS YOU WOULD BRING. “A match box, Maasai knife and pair of binoculars.” (Tim Kiok, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo) “A way to purify water, my guitar and a girl.” (Blaine Moolman, &Beyond Exeter River Lodge) “Taylor Swift, sunscreen and sunglasses.” (James Souchon, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge)

“A GoPro, Leatherman and a writing book (with a pen attached).” (Sarah Eichstadt, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge)

&Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge) “A fire starter kit, Leatherman and lots of beer!” (Shreenidhi Jayadeva, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India)

“Besides survival stuff … any Wilbur Smith novel, my fly-fishing rod and binoculars.” (Matt Fleischack, &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge)

“Blanket, food and binoculars.” (Sadhvi Singh, Baghvan Jungle Lodge, India)

“Leatherman, machete and an &Beyond chef.” (Dylan Royal,

“My children, my wife and my dog.” (Joss Kent, CEO)


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES KHAKI CONFIDENTIAL Rangers certainly get asked some fascinating, often mind-boggling questions, especially from first-time safari goers who, in their defence, wouldn’t know any better. We love our guests and their keen curiosity about the natural world, so we’d rather they ask lots of questions to glean as much as possible from the interpretive experience. This is just a light-hearted blooper reel of some of the most entertaining moments our rangers have had in the bush. All names have been removed, not only to ease the rangers’ guilty consciences, but also to protect the egos of our most charming and humorous guests.

WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST QUESTION YOU’VE BEEN ASKED BY A GUEST? “Does a zebra eat meat or grass?” “If they could get out of the vehicle and feed the hippos some grass.” “If they could get out of the vehicle and take a photo next to a bull elephant.”

along it, a guest points out and asks, ‘That must be impala dung?’” “Why is the giraffe not hunting the impala?” “How many times have you witnessed hippos extinguishing bush fires?”

“Do elephants eat meat?” “Why is that warthog getting so close to that rhino? He’s going to get eaten!” “Driving down a road with a large amount of elephant dung scattered

“Do the spotted deer ever jump into the vehicle and bite?” “Why aren’t you a vegetarian? Naturalists should be vegetarian!”

“I was describing a martial eagle taking prey and was using the image of me throwing a medicine ball at them at very high speed and the damage that would do. One of the best guests I have ever had, who I am still friends with, looked at me with a frown on her face and asked, ‘So how do they do it? Do they fly into it head first?’ I tried to answer with a straight face, but the image of a martial eagle cannonballing head first into a duiker was too much for me. We all had a very good laugh.”

“Why does the sun set over there?”

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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES WHAT’S THE STRANGEST THING YOU’VE SEEN A GUEST DO ON SAFARI? “One guest pulled out his Leatherman to ‘protect’ his girlfriend from lions.”

“My tracker and I got out to investigate lion tracks. A guest tried to follow, giving advice.”

“I had one guest who would quack like a duck at random, but regular, intervals throughout the entire safari. I still don’t know why he did it.”

“I had one guest who would stand up and try to grab the thorniest branches every time we went offroad. I also had a couple that just made out non-stop. It was rather awkward for the other four guests on the vehicle.”

“I asked my guest what he was hoping to see and he said he was only interested in getting photos of animals doing a #2. I didn’t question it, but after two days of sitting with different animals, waiting for them to do their ‘business’, my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to ask. He laughed and explained that he was in charge of decorating their newly-renovated bathroom back home. He wanted to frame pictures of wild animals in their ‘bathroom’ as an inspiration to the person on the throne.”

“Take off his pants and say it’s a very hot day!”

“I saw a guest going for an early 05h45 unsupervised ‘stroll’ in his striped pyjamas from a mobile camp in the Serengeti. I only saw him (1 mile out of camp) because of the pyjamas!” “One guest tried to jump out of the vehicle into a pride of lions so that he could take a photo of the vehicle and the lions together. He wasn’t happy when I stopped him, telling me he had been a professional hunter for 15 years.”

“My guest, who was three months pregnant, tried to stand on her seat while the vehicle was moving! I almost had a heart attack.”


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INDUSTRY’S FINEST GUIDES DO YOU FOLLOW OUR RANGERS ON INSTAGRAM? Do you love wildlife and conservation? Are you following the extraordinary sightings from our &Beyond rangers on their dedicated @andbeyondrangers Instagram feed? Here are the top most-liked photos so far. The rangers are competing against each other, with the most-liked photo in March 2016 winning that ranger a coveted pair of Swarovski binoculars. Ranger Matt Murray at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve not only holds the #1 title for his photo of the reserve’s new cheetah cubs, but he also dominates with three different photos in the Top 20. The competition is fierce, so please visit the ranger Instagram regularly to like your favourite photos and support your favourite rangers.

@andbeyondrangers

MATT MURRAY

BRETT DEVITT

DARYL DELL

JOSEPH KIMA

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GUEST DELIGHT THE PERFECT BACKDROP

We are so fortunate to be in the business of making dreams come true. Each and every day, we host guests from across the globe and invite them to truly switch off, reconnect with each other and fall in love with the natural world all over again. To consistently come up with new surprises, creative personal touches and memorable, meaningful moments might seem daunting to some, but to us it’s a challenge that we as &Beyonders thrive on. We aim to create authentic experiences − never contrived and always genuinely from the heart − that guests will cherish and talk about for years to come.

When it was discovered that a group of ten guests visiting &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge were keen artists, the lodge team had the perfect surprise in store for them. The lodge already boasts one of the best backdrops on the planet, so the lodge’s professional carver Abdala Shomary Nasorro (affectionately known as Dullah) was commissioned to carve ten intricate wooden easels − a task that took four weeks to complete. One afternoon, when the guests returned from an eventful morning on the Crater floor, the ten handcarved easels, fully stocked with paper and acrylics, were awaiting them on the North Camp veranda

overlooking the jaw-dropping 180° view. Kokai Ole Melita, one of the lodge’s askari (security guards) donned his traditional Maasai warrior attire and regaled the artists with stories about his heritage. With sundowners in hand and warm homemade snacks delivered straight to each art station, the artists set about creating their masterpieces. Some of the art pieces were even donated to a school in the local community to decorate the headmaster’s office, leaving a lasting impression of this special moment shared.


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GUEST DELIGHT MY BIG FAT ZULU WEDDING Well, not quite… but 17 year-old guest Meghan Hancock has one heck of a story to tell after visiting &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve with her family. Meghan and her family visited the nearby Mduku community, where they were invited into a traditional Zulu homestead by a warm and welcoming ugogo (elderly woman). She shared stories with them about her cultural heritage and local traditions, from mealtime customs and beer making, to dating and marriage. While explaining the Zulu marriage rituals, the ugogo selected Meghan to help demonstrate the ceremonial customs of a Zulu wedding. In an entertaining and charming mock Zulu wedding, young bride-to-be Meghan was dressed in colourful, traditional Zulu attire, while a local warrior negotiated Meghan’s “lebola” with her parents. Lebola is the practice of paying a bride price, typically in cattle. Clearly Tracy and Chris were happy with Meghan’s “asking price”, because the ceremony went ahead, all in good fun. The mother of the bride had this to say, “Our daughter is now the wife of a Zulu warrior and in exchange we, her parents, were offered ten cows for her hand in marriage, plus an extra cow for her beauty. This proved a good way to rid ourselves of a teenager! We’re still waiting on our gift of 11 cows. It was so much fun!”

© Meghan Hancock

Meghan, Tracy and Chris, thanks for being such great sports and we hope this will be a memory you cherish for many years to come … and perhaps a story for you to share at Meghan’s real wedding one day!

© Meghan Hancock

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GUEST DELIGHT

#travelandbeyond To see all of the winning photos to date, click here.

August

2015 WINNERS

#travelandbeyond

CARE OF THE LAND

Rhonda Reina

CARE OF THE WILDLIFE

Sergio Armella Olazabal CARE OF THE PEOPLE

Kerry Mills

September 2015 WINNERS

#travelandbeyond

CARE OF THE LAND

Sara Gilley Krivoshia CARE OF THE WILDLIFE

Carolyn Dimitriyadi CARE OF THE PEOPLE

Hadrien Perrin de Brichambaut 43


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GUEST DELIGHT BEST FROM THE GUEST Our goal with each and every guest, quite simply, is to welcome them as friends, spoil them with unexpected surprises, create lifelong memories and ensure that they leave feeling like one of the family. Our guests really do say it best and we absolutely love hearing from them about their &Beyond experience. If you would like to share your own &Beyond story, please send your comments to [email protected]. “The &Beyond Botswana Explorer Expedition is a fabulous trip and the staff on the ground are amazing! Mompati (our guide) is a true credit to your company. His skill at reading the signs of the bush are unrivalled − more often than not, we were the first vehicle on the scene thanks to his amazing tracking skills. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide!”

“Our trip was amazing, spiritual, beautiful, challenging and lifechanging. We saw animals, yes, gorgeous animals in inspiring landscapes. But what we were not prepared for was the encounter with brilliant humans, in particular our expert guide, KD, and the wonderful staff that made the campsite not only comfortable, but also educational.” As a professor of literature and media studies who has taught and studied with some of the finest and most educated minds (at Yale University, UCLA, and, now, at San Diego State University), I can humbly state that KD was a giant in the jungle — a brilliant and progressive mind, a beautiful spirit and inspiring soul in the bush. We learned so much from him — so much about nature and the life cycle, but also about the beautiful pride and optimism of human beings in the face of hardship.”

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GUEST DELIGHT

“Ranger Andrew van den Broeck and tracker Chris truly made our trip. Their respect for one another, the wildlife, the land, and the people humbled our entire group. The rides we went on would have been just drives and encounters with animals had we not had the guides we had. Due to their passion and knowledge, we left with memories and stories that we now have the privilege and responsibility to pass on. At times, I tried to put myself in their shoes and think about how old the repetitive questions would become. I looked for any sign of impatience or frustration when the questions were asked, but all they ever exuded was joy, compassion and excitement. Also, very important to note, they seem to know everything about everything, but not in an obnoxious way. We would all just shake our heads in disbelief when watching them work together to track wildlife and answer our numerous questions with National Geographic style answers. They were simply amazing. During our last night in Africa, we played a game called Peaks and Pits … basically the highs and lows of our trip. Out of 12 people, all ranging in age, interests and backgrounds, each one of us named Andrew as our peak. What an enormous reminder that just one person could make such an impact. I am convinced that we could have just seen birds and impalas the whole time and we would still share the same peak. He took it upon himself to connect with each one of us, and that is not an easy task to complete with 12 Texans. Andrew and Chris, thank you for an experience of a lifetime.”

© Guest Mikelle Furman


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KITCHEN SAFARI MAGIC INGREDIENT DIET IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD At the opulent and whimsical &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, where the food is nostalgic, decadent and served in generous abundance, the “tam-tam” dessert trolley is stealing hearts (and waistlines). Tamu is the Swahili word for “sweet” and this tantalising trolley is literally overflowing with the most sinful, irresistible after-dinner treats. Down at the lodge’s Tree Camp, where the setting is too small and intimate for a trolley, guests are now being spoiled with a hand-carved

“tam-tam” wooden box filled with a tempting selection of mouthwatering delights. Dullah, the lodge’s professional carver, was commissioned to hand carve the small and intricately elegant boxes (Dullah has been hard at work … have a look at the custom easels he made in the previous chapter). Crafted with the classic music box in mind, each tam-tam box features an ornate pattern that is painted with a delicate layer of gold leaf. Once the box is opened, mirrors on the

top and bottom light up the box and showcase its treasures. Each night holds a different surprise, from rose-scented Turkish delights and sultana-rum truffles, to homemade nougat, espresso shortbread and Amarula white chocolate truffles. All of them pleading to be devoured. Think of it as Willy Wonka’s modern day chocolate factory. There’s no need to resist; you’re on holiday after all!

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KITCHEN SAFARI SEVENTH HEAVEN There are only a few rules when you’re on safari: (1) don’t get out of the safari vehicle, (2) don’t walk around the camp unattended at night, (3) relax as much as humanly possible, and (4) calories don’t count when you’re on holiday, so indulge at every opportunity (and boy, are there plenty of those). Did you know that there are seven official mealtimes for guests on an &Beyond safari? That’s right! 1. Freshly-baked biscuits and fruit (and much-needed coffee and espresso) are served just before sunrise to help wake everyone up.

6. Sitting on game drive is hard work (!), which is why we’ll always stop for a celebratory sundowner stop to toast the sunset as it dips over the horizon. And of course, no sundowner stop is complete without something to snack on, from dried fruit and biltong (dried, cured meat) to crisps and roasted nuts. 7. And finally, the pièce de résistance … dinner is served. Perhaps a candlelit dinner served out in the bush, or an alfresco poolside meal under the stars, or even a romantic dinner in the privacy of the suite, dinners at &Beyond are always memorable.

Alas, there you have the seven notso-deadly sins of an &Beyond safari and the birthplace of the widelyaccepted term “lodge podge”. Just remember, life is short and holidays are meant to be enjoyed. So tuck in, have seconds and try everything. We won’t tell if you don’t. Like we said before, diet is a four-letter word and our chefs’ hearts are happy when our guests’ tummies are full. And if you fancy a particular recipe to take home, just ask! Bon appétit.

2. Towards the middle of the morning game drive, as tummies start to rumble, the ranger will stop at a scenic location where guests can stretch their legs, recharge with some Amarula coffee and snack on wholesome muffins or heavenly crunchies (see Issue 21 for our no-longer-topsecret recipe). 3. A plentiful breakfast buffet, complete with a hearty, made-toorder hot breakfast, awaits guests back at the lodge. 4. Many guests hint that they’ll be skipping lunch, but when they see the mouthwatering salads, warm quiches, fresh vegetables and selection of meats on offer, their good intention almost always falls by the wayside. And if it’s past noon, lunch always tastes better with a chilled glass of crisp sauvignon blanc. 5. After an afternoon swim and an indulgent siesta, guests return for high tea, where a selection of cakes (and savory snacks for those who might have missed lunch) are served alongside fresh juice, or iced tea/coffee.


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KITCHEN SAFARI GOURMET COMFORT FOOD Jonestha Moths, &Beyond Regional Chef Trainer in Tanzania, regularly travels between our six Tanzanian lodges and works closely with our expert chefs to continuously improve on each lodge’s signature menu and to brainstorm new, exciting and flavourful dishes. Guests travelling our Tanzanian circuit therefore enjoy an entirely different culinary experience at each of our lodges, never being presented the same meals twice. At &Beyond Klein’s Camp, the décor is an eclectic blend of classic safari meets African farmhouse chic meets Maasai elegance. Literally the only private wildlife concession to border two globally-famous national parks, the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, this spectacular camp boasts the best conservation real estate in the world.

and pumpkin cake or the mandazi hand pies, which are Swahili coconut doughnuts filled with a homemade ricotta-citrus and passionfruit filling. When guests return from an actionpacked afternoon drive, everyone gathers around the blazing fire in the bar (which by the way boasts one of the best 180° views in the world) for a pre-dinner tipple and warm snacks. Think cheese-herb and bacon puff pastry twists served on wooden boards or homemade vegetable crisps served in quaint little copper buckets with guacamole and roasted nuts. You have our word. You will not go hungry.

With the most luxurious, private farmhouse feel in the middle of the vast Serengeti plains, it makes perfect sense that the menu is focused entirely around comfort food and wholesome goodness. From delicious slow braised curries and fresh, straight-from-the-garden vegetables, to rich, flaky camembert dinner tartlets, each meal is simple yet irresistible. The overflowing breakfast buffet is a sight for sore eyes when hungry guests return from an adventurous morning of game viewing. A quirky blackboard declares what’s on offer, from rustic rösti, warm homemade breads and perfectly poached eggs, to fresh fruits, homemade preserves and creamy cheeses. Oh, and chef’s tip … the new coconut French toast topped with fruit and syrup comes highly recommended. No guest should ever go hungry (what do you mean seven ‘meals’ on safari is too much?!), and with that in mind, the &Beyond Klein’s chefs have concocted some new tea-time treats and pre-dinner finger foods. At high tea, try the chocolate, rosemary

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FACES & PLACES BRINGING AFRICA’S GREAT MIGRATION TO YOUR … CELL PHONE?! Camp and &Beyond Bateleur Camp, took viewers on seven days of virtual real-time game drives, showing them everything from the nail-biting river crossings to the predators lurking nearby.

the-scenes tour of our luxurious ensuite safari tents, Kichwa’s swimming pool with the best views in the Mara and the bustling &Beyond kitchen where wholesome, gourmet meals are prepared.

Thanks to wifi connectivity in the lodge and a satellite internet connection on the game drive vehicle, the team was able to stream live videos from the middle of the vast Masai Mara via the increasingly popular Periscope app.

International viewers were immediately hooked, commenting enthusiastically that it was straight out of a movie. They could also watch live interviews with lodge managers, local safari guides, chefs, conservationists and wildlife photographers and engage with them personally by sending questions directly through the app, which were then answered live.

This was all done in a joint effort, not only to educate the world about the Great Migration and inspire them to put it on their bucket list immediately, but also to boost Kenyan tourism and remind the world what a fantastic, safe, easily accessible and welcoming safari destination it is. Karibu Kenya − welcome to Kenya − a magical land of unlimited possibilities.

The groundbreaking broadcast, which was made possible in part by &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented

The inquisitive armchair travellers were also taken on a virtual hot air balloon safari, as well as on a behind-

Yes, you read that correctly! &Beyond recently helped sponsor the world’s first live web broadcast of the Great Migration in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Broadcasted by HerdTracker in partnership with MakeitKenya.com, the team travelled around the Masai Mara and streamed LIVE week-long footage of the migration to curious viewers all around the world.

Click here to see some of the footage and start dreaming of a classic Kenyan safari.

Hyperlink: ADD UTM TAGS

© Stuart Price / MakeitKenya.com


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FACES & PLACES FIT FOR A PRESIDENT Back in 2013, when Rhinos Without Borders was officially launched, the first batch of translocated rhino was safely translocated from &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and donated to the country of Botswana. The official release and handover ceremony were graciously attended by His Excellency Ian Khama, the President of Botswana, and his brother, Tshekhedi (TK) Khama, the Minister of Tourism. That particular visit, and the initial forging of what is now a long-term partnership, inspired Minister TK Khama and his family to return to &Beyond earlier this year, this time to attend the grand opening ceremony of the newly rebuilt &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. He was so impressed with the groundbreaking

architecture, world-class service and local Motswana charm, that he vowed to encourage the President to pay them a personal visit to witness the magic himself.

in the heart of the bush, to luxurious massage treatments, romantic turndowns and a private family picnic on the lush banks of the Gomoti River.

True to his word, Minister Khama returned to &Beyond Sandibe, this time with President Khama himself, and their immediate family. Knowing that the Khamas are a close-knit family that rarely get to spend quality time together in one place, the Sandibe team ensured they were able to enjoy some privacy to reconnect and unwind.

The President and the Minister both thanked the &Beyond Sandibe family, and President Khama went on to boldly declare that the magic that has been created at Sandibe is unlike anything he has experienced anywhere else in the world and he assured the proud &Beyond team that he would soon return.

They even managed to surprise the Presidential party with some truly unforgettable moments in the Okavango Delta, from surprise takeaway ice cream and popcorn stops

President Khama, Minister TK Khama, and the entire Khama family, we look forward to welcoming you back to &Beyond.

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FACES & PLACES SEEN & PHOTOGRAPHED AT &BEYOND These remarkable photographs were all taken at &Beyond lodges, either by our guests or our staff. If you love photography and would like to keep tabs on the incredible wildlife sightings seen and photographed by our expert rangers, then please follow our &Beyond Rangers account on Instagram: @andbeyondrangers

&Beyond Guest Brendon Khan &Beyond

Serengeti Under Canvas

&Beyond Guest Alexandro Pelaez &Beyond

Kichwa Tembo

&Beyond Guest Alexandra Walker &Beyond

Kirkman’s Kamp

&Beyond Guest Mark Brodkin &Beyond

Kirkman’s Kamp


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FACES & PLACES

&Beyond Ranger Andre “Mac” McDonald

&Beyond Guest Brian Scott

Handsketched (!!) at &Beyond Exeter River Lodge

Location undisclosed for security reasons

Naturalist Sadhvi Singh

&Beyond Guest Leslie Lawrence

Kanha National Park, India

&Beyond

Klein’s Camp

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FACES & PLACES

&Beyond Ranger Jason Glanville &Beyond

Kirkman’s Kamp

&Beyond Ranger Andrew Nicholson &Beyond

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

&Beyond Ranger Karipoi Ngaiseri

&Beyond Ranger Dan Williams

Location undisclosed for security reasons

&Beyond

Kirkman’s Kamp


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FACES & PLACES NOT-TO-BE-MISSED EVENT IN SRI LANKA The highly anticipated Galle Literary Festival will be taking place in Sri Lanka in January 2016: Kandy: 9-10 January Galle: 13-17 January Jaffna: 23-24 January Among the literary discussions and debates, this popular festival also takes literary and travel enthusiasts on beautiful garden tours, fort walks, poetry readings, wine tastings, cooking classes, gourmet dinners, concerts and late night jazz performances. It’s the perfect time to visit Sri Lanka and explore its diverse landscapes, rich culture and of course, this notto-be-missed festival. For more information, and to book tickets, please contact Nigel Hay in our &Beyond Sri Lanka office. © Jetwing Lighthouse

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY Mudy Nuru has been a ranger with &Beyond in East Africa for almost 17 years. Currently based at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Mudy continues to delight our guests with his love of wildlife and particular keen interest in birds, insects and the night sky.

course, but also had to learn English as a second language. Their fierce determination, outgoing nature and sharp senses of humour prevailed

and we are honoured to have two generations of Nuru’s now working for &Beyond.

Among Mudy’s five children are identical twin brothers Hassan and Hussein, who have always looked up to their father and been fascinated by his career in the wild. Hussein once said, “The water follows the stream,” indicating that both he and his brother would be following in their father’s footsteps. Hussein qualified as an &Beyond ranger in 2014, Hassan a year later, both proudly joining their father and donning the khaki uniform. We couldn’t be more proud of these brothers, who not only had to prove themselves in the ranger selection

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WILDCHILD MINI RANGERS-IN-TRAINING Keeping with this issue’s khaki theme, our rangers in Tanzania are helping to inspire the next generation to appreciate wildlife with a fun, new and interactive WILDchild activity. Children of all ages visiting &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp, &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas and &Beyond Klein’s Camp have given an enthusiastic thumbs up to our Tanzanian camera trap adventure. The ranger takes the young adventurers out on a mini exploration and helps them to select the ideal location to strategically place

their camera trap. The camera is then programmed to take photos throughout the night, documenting the Serengeti’s intriguing nocturnal world. Some children have even opted to set up the camera right outside their family tents/suites to prove just how wild and remote our lodges are. When the mini rangers-in-training get back from their morning game drive, the families gather around a computer and scroll through photos that tell an entertaining story of the critters that passed by while everyone was sleeping.

With fun comes education (sssh, don’t tell them they’re learning!) and the young learners take their wildlife experience to a whole new level as they compare their daytime safari with their night-time discoveries. It is the perfect complement to the curious sounds they hear at night. The mini rangers-in-training can take the imagery back home with them to share with and educate their friends. Our young guests agree that it’s a million times better than a day spent in the classroom!


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WILDCHILD SOMETIMES BIG HEROES COME IN SMALL PACKAGES Jess Robinson has been visiting our lodges since she was a baby and has been fortunate not only to bond with many of our rangers, but also to learn about conservation from them first-hand. Saddened by the ever-growing number of rhino poached in South Africa and inspired by &Beyond’s rhino conservation initiatives, Jess wanted to help make a difference. She decided to throw a rhinothemed, anti-poaching party for her 11th birthday and even went as far as to forego her birthday presents in lieu of donations made to our Phinda Rhino Fund. To symbolise the war against poaching, Jess came up with the idea of having a Rhino Water War party, complete with a rhino midden ice cream cake. Armed with their water guns, Jess and 15 of her closest friends officially declared “war” on poaching and had a blast getting soaked in the middle of a South African summer heatwave. As a thank you to her guests, Jess even created a rhino bracelet so that each of her friends could remember the impressive ZAR 2 000 donation they made to rhino conservation. Happy birthday Jess and thank you to you and your Rhino Warrior friends for joining the war against poaching. You are an inspiration to us all and genuine role models for your generation.

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WILDCHILD LIFE’S A PICNIC &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp is a year-round wildlife haven teeming with the most incredible array of animals, from roaming herds of elephant and grunting pods of hippo, to some of Africa’s largest lion prides and of course, Africa’s largest crocodile. With herbivores and predators in great abundance, the game viewing here is unsurpassed. Not only that, but it is a fantastic destination for families. Boasting a spacious family suite that can accommodate two adults and three children, &Beyond Grumeti also has a fun-filled WILDchild programme to keep young guests entertained, educated and inspired. The “watoto” (Swahili word for children) are treated to a surprise afternoon picnic. Sometimes it’s in the boma where they can all play games together, and other times it is concealed under a shady tree for children to discover during a nature scavenger hunt with their ranger.

They can even enjoy the picnic on the lush lawn in front of the camp, overlooking the hippo pool in the distance. Awaiting their arrival are brightly coloured blankets and cushions, a large bucket of ice with refreshing iced tea full of juicy fruit and brightly coloured jelly served in kilner jars, and next to that, packets of fresh popcorn and a small gift to remind them of their time in Tanzania. Back at the lodge, young guests can order from Grumeti’s “For Your Eyes Only” menu, which is offered exclusively to the watoto. It is filled with child-friendly meals, from warm toasted jaffle sandwiches and rainbow fruit skewers served with vanilla bean yoghurt and crunchy honeycomb pieces, to homemade ice cream topped with gooey chocolate bar sauce. &Beyond Grumeti is the perfect place for families to unwind and reconnect.


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WILDCHILD SUGAR & SPICE Tucked away in a lush mahogany forest that is punctuated by birdsong and the distant cries of bushbabies, &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is an idyllic escape from reality. From world-class birdwatching and relaxing in a peaceful massage sala deep in the dense foliage, to playing football in the local community and cycling on the shores of Lake Manyara, this is a destination fit for families. The expert chefs at &Beyond Lake Manyara have been hard at work revising the children’s menu to suit all ages and tastebuds. Just some of the many highlights include:

Manyara’s signature maji bread toasted sandwiches; a forest snack plate complete with melon, white cheddar sticks and chicken sausages that come with the Flamingo’s secret pink sauce; baked potatoes with an endless array of delicious toppings; and banana and cinnamon pancakes covered in chocolate sauce. Young safari enthusiasts have also been raving about &Beyond Lake Manyara’s new WILDchild experience, the “Mua Party”. A large wooden wheelbarrow is positioned in a secret location as a surprise for the watoto (Swahili for children). Perhaps next to the pool or by the ping pong

table, or under the forest canopy, it is a mobile celebration that is strictly for watotos only. The butlers introduce the children to “mua” (fresh sugarcane) and educate them on where sugar comes from and how to eat mua the traditional way. The party continues with refreshing iced fruit lollies, homemade crisps and creamy milkshakes. Make &Beyond Lake Manyara your next family adventure … click here to take a 360° tour of the lodge.

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WILDCHILD OUR GUESTS SAY IT BEST “We are back in the US with what the three of us describe as a trip so amazing we are not sure how to tell our friends and family. There was a pace to the trip I’m sure designed by you that allows one to increase their adventure and expectations as you go along. All elements of our experience at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge were excellent, but we feel compelled to note that due to our ranger Sam Mapalo’s expertise, enthusiasm and professionalism, our safari experience was extraordinary.

His vast knowledge of the animals and their behaviours led to our ability to experience many rare sightings. Sam was always engaging and patient, and took time to enhance the trip for our 10-year-old son Jack.

When we visited &Beyond Kirkman’s Kamp, we went to a local primary school and not only was it an eyeopener, but Jack spoke in front of the 5th grade class and they asked him questions.

Sam was steeped in knowledge and skilled at informing us. He was punctual and courteous. His concern for our (and his tracker’s) safety was always evident. His passion for his profession and for the animals was impressive and contagious. We are so grateful to have had his guidance and company.

All three of us came to Africa for the first time believing it would be our only trip to the continent. We will leave certain that we will return soon due to the experience we have had with &Beyond, and with guides like Sam. We all thank you for our adventure and are already planning our next trip.” ~ The Kahan Family &Beyond Guest Book

© Kahan Family


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LEAVE A LEGACY LEADERS IN CONSERVATION BREAKING NEWS: WE MADE A RHINO Just in time for World Rhino Day on 22 September, we received some groundbreaking news from our teams in Botswana. One of the rhino cows that was translocated earlier this year as part of the Rhinos Without Borders project has given birth to a healthy calf. Click here to watch the video. &Beyond Group Conservation Manager and Rhinos Without Borders Project Manager, Les Carlisle, was interviewed by CNN on World Rhino Day and was thrilled to share this fantastic conservation victory with the world. Click here to watch Les’ interview.

© Elaine Dixon

With poaching at an all-time high in South Africa, Rhinos Without Borders is a joint initiative between &Beyond and Great Plains Conservation that aims to move 100 rhino from South Africa’s poaching hotspots to the relative safe haven of Botswana. Ever wondered what it takes to translocate rhino? It’s no mean feat and takes considerable planning, substantial fundraising and orchestrated team work amongst industry experts. Click here to watch the evocative footage.

© Joyce Dixon

With one rhino killed every seven hours, the time to act is now. Visit www.rhinoswithoutborders.com to find out how you can get involved and help save this iconic species from the brink of extinction. Images and video courtesy of &Beyond guests Karin Verdirame and Elaine & Joyce Dixon.

© Karin Verdirame

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LEAVE A LEGACY ONE FIERCE RHINO WARRIOR Lee-Anne Davis has been a ranger with &Beyond for almost six years. When she joined the &Beyond Inkwazi Ranger Training School in 2010, she was a good seven to nine years older than her fellow trainees, and had already been living abroad working as an event planner at Chateau Marmont on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard. Prior to that, Lee-Anne was a model. Talk about opposite worlds colliding. Hollywood glitz and glamour aside, to work in the bush and be surrounded by nature was LeeAnne’s destiny and her homecoming, and subsequent qualification as an &Beyond ranger, was the start of an exciting new chapter that has only just begun. Lee-Anne’s undeniable passion for wildlife is evident in everything she does. By day, she enthusiastically reveals the beauty of &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve to our guests, and during the very little downtime that she actually has, she runs her own non-profit organisation, Our Horn is Not Medicine (OHNM). Lee-Anne launched OHNM in 2012 and, with the help of her fellow rangers at &Beyond Ngala and generous donations from &Beyond guests and wildlife enthusiasts around the world, she has managed

to raise just short of ZAR 2 million for rhino conservation. One hundred percent of the proceeds are channelled between two projects close to Lee-Anne’s heart: (1) the Bathawk project and (2) Rhinos Without Borders (an &Beyond and Great Plains Conservation initiative). OHNM has donated much-needed equipment: the actual Bathawk aircraft itself; telemetry sets; 10 handheld radios; 6 rhino collars; 17 rifle-mounted torches for the SANPARKS men that patrol &Beyond Ngala at night; 3 Trimble GPSs; 5 motion-sensor camera traps; and 22 hours of helicopter fuel. In addition, OHNM has donated a whopping ZAR 1.1 million to Rhinos Without Borders. From printing flyers, posters and vehicle disks and stickers, to designing button badges, safari buffs and stylish t-shirts, Lee-Anne and the &Beyond Ngala rangers are dedicated to the cause. Sadly, they have all witnessed the brutality of rhino poaching first-hand and they are all committed to saving this highly endangered species. They continue to hold fundraisers, sell raffle tickets, participate in cycling events to raise funds, produce videos and speak at local schools to educate the next generation.

© Beverly Joubert


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LEAVE A LEGACY FOLLOW YOUR NOSE &Beyond Ngala shares an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, so Lee-Anne works very closely with the SANPARKS field rangers and APU team to ensure they are equipped to track and apprehend poachers. Three years ago, Ngala’s APU team was the first section of the Kruger National Park to acquire tracker dogs, which has proven highly successful. The five sniffer dogs (Chico, Combi, Jetta, Polo and Golf) are highly trained to use their brilliant tracking skills and keen sense of smell to successfully apprehended countless poachers. Chico alone has caught 23 suspected poachers! Thanks to Lee-Anne and her continual campaigning for OHNM, another ten puppies have just been added to the force. Donated by Shumba Safaris, the ten six-monthold fox hounds will be working in the Joint Protection Zone (JPZ),

which includes a 300 000 hectare section of the Kruger National Park and neighbouring western reserves (including &Beyond Ngala). For the next six to eight months, all 15 dogs will undergo extensive training. They will then join the SANPARKS field rangers and work as APU tracker dogs; however, they will work as “free track” dogs, as opposed to the rest of the Kruger National Park, where the hounds all track on a leash. Instead, these dogs will track at a much faster pace, running ahead of suspicious tracks and wearing a GPS collar that will enable the APU rangers to follow in a vehicle or even helicopter, as opposed to being on foot. Part of the dog training involves running on the local road networks for 5 to 10 km each day. When asked why she started OHNM in the first place, Lee-Anne said, “I strongly believe that everyone, particularly people working closely

with wildlife, should have a cause. It doesn’t have to be rhinos or elephants. There are so many of ‘our’ animals that are being illegally trafficked and exploited on the black market, and I don’t think it would be right to take a back seat and allow others to fight on our behalf. Be a part of the change. I am so proud of our &Beyond Ngala ranging team and their commitment to our rhinos. Together, we have made OHNM a success by educating all of our guests on the current poaching crisis”. To Lee-Anne and the &Beyond Ngala rangers, and of course to all of the generous donors that have selflessly contributed to OHNM, thank you for joining the fight against poaching. You have made a significant and meaningful difference and your efforts, no doubt, have saved (and continue to save) countless rhino from an otherwise horrific outcome.

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LEAVE A LEGACY HOPE FOR HORNS One of Lee-Anne’s fellow rangers at &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve, Dan Fenton, is busy finalising plans to embark on his own epic journey next year in support of Our Horn is Not Medicine and rhino conservation. Dan has committed to walking 922 km in 45 days, recreating the route taken by some of the Rhinos Without Borders’ translocated rhino. Starting in the poaching hotspots of South Africa, Dan will make his way on foot all the way up to the Ramatlabama border post in Botswana. Aptly named “Hope for Horns”, this walk will not only serve as remembrance for the countless rhino that have been illegally killed for their horns, but will also raise awareness and muchneeded funding for the plight of this endangered species.

Dan will stop in local communities along the way to educate young children about why it is so important for us to protect the rhino and save it from extinction. Through his ambitious walk for hope, Dan will be raising funds for OHNM and the goal is that, together, they can contribute two rhino to the Rhinos Without Borders translocation project. If you would like to sponsor Dan’s walk and help make a difference, please click here to contact LeeAnne directly.


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LEAVE A LEGACY CONSERVING TWO AFRICAN ICONS

Earlier this year (and featured in our previous issue), &Beyond donated five lionesses from &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve to the country of Rwanda as part of an African Parks project aimed at reversing the 15-year local extinction of the species in Akagera National Park. The five lionesses were safely translocated, together with two males that were donated by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, and they now form a suitable founder population for Akagera National Park, enabling park visitors to view these big cats for the first time in 15 years.

As a show of sincere gratitude from the people of Rwanda, &Beyond Phinda Conservation Manager, Simon Naylor, was among just 24 invitees to attend Rwanda’s 11th annual Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony. The prestigious ceremony, which was attended by Rwanda’s president himself, highlighted the country’s conservation milestones, including this historic lion translocation. Simon was then invited on an unforgettable gorilla trek deep into the Rwandan rainforest to observe the fascinating primates in their natural habitat.

When asked about the experience, he said, “What an honour it was to be invited and asked to name a baby gorilla on behalf of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. Rwanda is a shining light in Africa, achieving some incredible conservation success stories, including the growing numbers of the endangered mountain gorilla. High-level political will and tourism have played a significant role in this success. I am very proud of the part that &Beyond Phinda has played in the growth and success of Rwanda’s conservation and tourism success through the donation and reintroduction of the lions into Akagera National Park. Seeing mountain gorillas on the forested slopes of Volcanoes National Park was a personal lifelong dream and I urge every wildlife lover to spend an hour with these remarkable animals.” Click here to watch Simon’s endearing encounter with a baby gorilla. &Beyond is proud to have played a role in this groundbreaking translocation, which involved the private sector, a non-governmental organisation and the government of Rwanda, all working hand in hand for conservation.

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LEAVE A LEGACY AFRICA FOUNDATION: EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES, ENABLING CONSERVATION &Beyond’s social development partner, Africa Foundation, actively consults, empowers and works together with the communities that border our reserves. This chapter is dedicated to the Foundation’s ongoing successes. For more information about Africa Foundation and how to support its ongoing community empowerment projects, please visit www.africafoundation.org.

KHAKI FOR A CAUSE &Beyond’s core ethic of Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People is the golden thread that runs through our business, as well as the through hearts of every &Beyonder from Africa all the way to South Asia and South America. While the previous chapter paid tribute to some of the rangers that are making a difference to our planet’s land and wildlife, this story celebrates three special rangers in Africa that have committed to caring for the people in our local communities. Jenni Chin is a ranger at &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve in South Africa and her consistent

drive, unwavering enthusiasm and continued dedication to Africa Foundation recently earned her the well-deserved &Beyond Bateleur Award. These awards are an annual celebration of staff within our company that go above and beyond the regular call of duty and who regularly and selflessly make a meaningful contribution to our core ethos. In her own unassuming way, Jenni has inspired her fellow rangers and trackers to volunteer their time together to help those in need. From painting and repairing playground equipment and building Up in East Africa, two of our longestserving and most experienced Head Rangers, Abdallah Hassan and Nadhir Waziri, continue to help empower the local communities surrounding &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge and &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp respectively.

NADHIR WAZIRI

ABDALLAH HASSAN

Waziri (as he prefers to be called) is a firm believer in community development and plays a crucial role in introducing Africa Foundation to our guests and taking them to witness our community projects first hand. Through these visits, he inspired his guests to make a generous USD 40 000 donation that supplied playground equipment and school supplies to the Lukungu Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Centre. More recently, through Africa Foundation UK, substantial funds were raised to complete an entire new wing at the centre. Now, more than 150 orphans and vulnerable children are receiving a good education in a safe, comfortable environment.

a greenhouse, to planting seedlings and vegetable gardens, Jenni and the Ngala rangers continue to get involved, create awareness and raise much-needed funds.

JENNI CHIN Abdallah is an Africa Foundation champion through and through and his tireless hard work and devotion have ensured that the development needs of the communities surrounding Lake Manyara are met. One particular Africa Foundation project close to Abdallah’s heart is the Mayoka School, which he regularly takes his guests to visit. These community visits too have inspired generous donations from Abdallah’s guests which have since enabled the construction of new classrooms and much-needed equipment, as well as a ZAR40,000 donation to Africa Foundation’s Community Leaders Education Fund bursary programme. Now the Mayoka children can also benefit from a comfortable and clean learning environment. Hongera sana (Swahili for congratulations) to this trio of exceptional and kind-hearted rangers that continue to lead the way to a brighter future for those less fortunate.


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LEAVE A LEGACY A REASON TO SMILE With a massive population of 52 million people, Tanzania has a mere 250 dentists. Residents of the country’s many rural communities are forced to walk long distances over difficult terrain to obtain any form of dental treatment and the standards of hygiene at many of these practices remain woefully underdeveloped. Five years ago, when German dentist Prof Dr Martin Jörgens stayed at &Beyond Klein’s Camp, his ranger Seleu introduced him not only to the area’s fascinating wildlife, but also to the local culture. Their visit to the nearby Ololosokwan Clinic (a ten-room medical facility that was built by Africa Foundation) had such a profound effect on Dr Jörgens that he vowed to help make a difference. He made a commitment to return and set up a mobile dental clinic for the Maasai people and that was the official birth of Daktari for Maasai (Doctors for Maasai). Dr Jörgens and his incredible team of dental practitioners continue to work closely with &Beyond and Africa Foundation to provide much-needed dental work three times a year to patients with ailments ranging from cavities and wide gaps to roots canals and more. On his most recent visit, Dr Jörgens even brought along a plastic surgeon who was able to conduct a number of successful corrective surgeries. The Daktari for Maasai have completed thousands of hours of consultations, with treatments ranging from 30 minutes to more than six hours. They treat up to 40 patients a day and have successfully treated more than 3,000 patients in five years in the communities surrounding &Beyond Klein’s Camp, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge and Mnemba Island. This do-good team of dentists is truly changing lives. Asante sana (Swahili for thank you) to Dr Jörgens and the Daktari for Maasai for giving so many people a boost of confidence and a reason to smile.

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LIVING THE BRAND &BEYOND IN THE NEWS Here are some of &Beyond’s most recent and noteworthy awards, accolades and press coverage. We couldn’t do it without our guests, media and travel partners, so a big thank you for your continued support.

CAST YOUR VOTES FOR THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

Click on each icon above to cast your votes. Earlier this year, the 2015 World Travel Awards named &Beyond Africa’s Leading Game Reserve Brand for the fourth year in a row. &Beyond Leadwood Lodge was also honoured as South Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge for the third year in a row, claiming the title from &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge in 2013. &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp was named Botswana’s Leading Tented Safari Camp for the second year in a row and &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge was voted Tanzania’s Leading Safari Lodge for the second time.

Voting has now opened for the World category and it is an honour to have 4 nominations: World’s Leading Conservation Company: &Beyond World’s Leading Desert Resort: &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namibia World’s Leading Luxury Lodge: &Beyond Mnemba Island, Tanzania World’s Leading Luxury Safari Company: &Beyond Hailed as The Oscars of the travel industry, the World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. Voting closes on 08 November.

THANK YOU TO THE READERS OF CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER The highly anticipated Condé Nast Traveler US 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards have been announced and &Beyond is proud to have received top honours.

These prestigious awards are voted for by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler themselves − 128,000 of them − who rate the world’s best cities, islands, hotels, resorts, spas, ski mountains

&Beyond Sabi Sand lodges (#17) and &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve (#36) are listed among the Top 100 Hotels & Resorts in the World. They are also both celebrated among the Top 12 Resorts in South Africa. In addition, an impressive six &Beyond properties are included among the Top 30 Resorts in Africa: #6 &Beyond Bateleur Camp, Kenya #8 &Beyond Chobe Under Canvas, Botswana #10 &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp, Tanzania #11 &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania #13 &Beyond Kichwa Tembo, Masai Mara, Kenya #19 &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas, Tanzania


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LIVING THE BRAND A WILD LIFE INDEED his extraordinary book “Wildlife in Pictures”, which documents his enviable time as a safari guide and ranger trainer.

Former &Beyond ranger Craig Hayman retired his khakis long ago and set sail for Australia where he now works as an architect specialising in sustainable design. Recently published, Craig just became a first-time author with

With 320 pages of the most beautiful, emotive wildlife photography (the vast majority taken at &Beyond’s lodges), readers are taken on a journey through the grasslands, forests, mountains, deserts, rivers and coastlines of Africa and India. Paired with fascinating stories and personal anecdotes, the images come to life and tell the story of a life as a ranger and wildlife enthusiast. Looking back on his time with &Beyond, Craig describes it as “Unforgettable. I only wish it could

have been a little longer. The life skills and way of thinking that my mentors Graham Vercueil, Byron Ross and Bryan Olver instilled in me at Inkwazi continue to influence me today.” Click here to watch Craig’s interview on The Daily Edition.

Well done Craig, what an outstanding achievement. We miss having you as an &Beyond ranger, but we’re all so proud that you have accomplished what you set out to achieve, and so much more. Click here to order Craig’s “Wildlife in Pictures”.

© Guest Josh Lustyan

© Craig Hayman

© Craig Hayman

© Craig Hayman

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LIVING THE BRAND Press Coverage: andBeyond Publication: HarpersBazaar.co.uk Date: 2 August 2015 Monthly Unique Users: 415,000 AVE (£): 3,000

MAKING HEADLINES

Page 1

&Beyond Mnemba Island is named one of the World’s Best Honeymoon Suites by HarpersBazaar.co.uk.

The 2015/16 Condé Nast BRIDES Honeymoon Guide recommends &Beyond Press Coverage: andBeyond Kichwa Tembo for “adventure seekers”, with the hot air balloon safari mentioned as a “wow factor”. Publication: Travel Africa Date: Summer 2015 Circulation: 25,000 AVE (£): 1,000

&Beyond’s experiential travel is featured in The Metro UK newspaper. Included among the “Wild Things to Make Your Heart Sing” are our horse-riding safaris, photography safaris, WILDchild programme and stargazing in Namibia.

The news that &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge was named Page 1 the Top Design Hotel at the We Are Africa Innovation Awards is celebrated in the summer issue of Travel Africa.


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LIVING THE BRAND

Client Region Date Publication Headline PR Value

&Beyond China September 2015 Conde Nast Traveler China – Hot List 2015 Best Way-Out-There Hotels: &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge USD148,620

Safari

LEE-ANNE DAVIS

Field guide, Ngala Private Reserve, Kruger Park When she was little, Lee-Anne would ‘guide’ her family from the back seat of their Kombi on holidays to the Kruger Park. ‘I always loved nature and being outside.’ Yet she only started her training at age 30. ‘I was about seven to nine years older than the others. I’d been living in LA, I had a job [in events at Chateau Marmont] and a boyfriend over there. The course was the best and worst thing I had ever done. When I look back it is hands down the most character-building experience of my life.’ She credits her tracker Richard Khosa, who was born on Ngala, with teaching her the most. ‘He has opened my eyes. We’ve walked through parts of the reserve so beautiful that I have to just stop and take it all in. He’s shown me that if you respect the bush, the bush will respect you.’ One of Lee-Anne’s greatest concerns is rhino poaching. ‘I fly with our BatHawk APU pilot every week or two, and the concentration of rhino has noticeably diminished. That scares me.’ She started the Our Horn is NOT Medicine campaign in 2012, raising funds for rhino projects. She also takes local children out on drives as often as she can. ‘There are kids who live ten minutes from the reserve who’ve never even seen a zebra! That is such a shame, but also a problem if we do not do something about it. We have to get them interested in the bush.’

Most MeMoRable eNcouNteR ‘On a game drive, we had got out the vehicle when Richard pointed out fresh lion tracks. A second later 21 lions came bursting out the tall grass, growling. One youngish male came running at us with four lionesses backing him up. He stopped metres from us, smacking sand up in our faces. He walked back to his mother and then came at us again and again. Richard and I walked backwards very, very slowly to the vehicle. The lion went back to his mother and very proudly rubbed heads with her. It is amazing to have that sort of experience with an animal. Fair game, no weapons, just respect for each other’s space.’ oN beiNg a FeMale RaNgeR ‘We can do everything the men do. I shoot rifles, walk lions and elephants, take responsibility for my guests’ safety and change massive 4x4 all-terrain tyres on my own. But most women don’t have that competitive streak that men have so we don’t behave like “cowboys”. I can also put flowers behind my guests’ ears, wear bright pink nail polish on my toes and scream when spiders fall down my shirt. I’d say about 70 per cent of guests are surprised when they meet me. They always say: “Are you a ranger?” I don’t mind. I like knowing I am part of the revolution. I have only had five guests refuse to get on my vehicle because I am a woman, and most of them were women. Sometimes you’ll have men who believe they’re being quite funny, asking me if I can drive. “Do you know the property? How many times have you been lost? Is that Richard’s rifle?” It doesn’t bother me. It just tells me a bit more about that person.’ andbeyond.com

on the prowl

A leopard closes in at Ngala Private Game Reserve, which is also known for its wild dogs

The rebuild of &Beyond Benguerra Island is featured in the August issue of Hong Kong Tatler magazine.

&Beyond Ngala ranger Lee-Anne Davis discusses the challenges that female rangers face in the industry in Jane Broughton’s “Meet the Girl Guides” feature for the British Airways High Life in-flight magazine.

&Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is featured in the Conde Nast Traveler China’s Hot List 2015 as one of the Best Way-Out-There-Hotels.

| T: +852 3955 9866 |E: [email protected] / [email protected] | W: http://www.mangopr.com |

business business

“I feel schizophrenic,” says Joss Kent, the

a place

in the sun

CEO of &Beyond, describing the squalls of geopolitical headwinds his global safari business is enduring. Although his declared state of mind is also likely attributable to attempting to fulfil the Herculean goals of sustainable ecotourism and delivering profits to global shareholders, the past year for sub-Saharan tourism has been challenging to say the least. After a tough year of consistently bad news from Africa – terrorism at Kenya’s Westgate Mall and Garissa College; the threats of al-Shabaab, Islamic State and Boko Haram; the scourge of Ebola; the xenophobia attacks in SA; the prohibitive visa requirements to SA, not to forget the incessant forex swings – one can imagine how difficult it has been to assuage both guests and shareholders and continue to grow any travel destination and hospitality business whose drawcard is Africa. Attending the recent smorgasbord of travel and hospitality expositions in both Cape Town and Durban and speaking to some of the leading industry players, it is clear that the sector has had a tough time due to unforeseen sociopolitical issues. Despite these unpredicted events the quality, scope and depth of product on offer remains dazzling, accessibility to capital is flowing, the tourism industry is forecast to post solid growth and, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the sector should this year expand 3.4%, above the 2% growth predicted for the broader economy – so there is cautious optimism the storms will pass. Notwithstanding these hurdles, investment in and demand for sub-Saharan tourism destinations remains strong. In the past year, &Beyond – which employs about 2 000 staff and owns and operates 33 lodges and

camps in 15 African countries as well as India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives – has spent $30m in product development. About $6m has been applied to Tanzania, with the rest going to Botswana, Mozambique and their other destinations. Their award-winning design at Sandibe Lodge in the Okavango Delta is a case in point and Kent admits: “We pushed the envelope and it needed to be pushed,” explaining that “typically we are not followers of fashion but rather it was a sustainable decision based on the products’ longevity and without losing sight of its purpose of serving both the community and conservation. For us the biggest challenges are to make intuitive decisions; to keep centred on the people, the guests and the experience.” This requires constant alignment between a triage of community, conservation and commerce demands while returning value to shareholders and guests and ensuring motivated staff. In its latest global Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index report, the World Economic Forum found that SA’s performance in the tourism sector had improved significantly since 2013. The report, released on May 6, ranked SA as the leading country in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of competitiveness and growth drivers, and 48th out of the 141 markets assessed overall. Not bad at all, but not that difficult when competing with other sub-Saharan countries. For instance, SA jumped two rungs in the 2015 survey, displacing the Seychelles atop the sub-Saharan rankings. The improved ranking was in part a reflection of the level of government support for the travel and tourism industry and the country’s effective marketing strategy, which had helped build SA as a brand, the report said. But, as we’ve witnessed before, what our government provides with one hand it

ABOVE Joss Kent, CEO of &Beyond. TOP LEFT AND RIGHT &Beyond’s Sandibe LEFT More Hotels’s Marataba BELOW Marataba. Rob More

Factors at home and abroad threaten the hard work sa has done to grow the tourism and hospitality sectors text DAVID ALLARDICE

32

AUGUST 2015

The exchange rate remains favourable and SA is still offering great value – this has boosted revenues and we’ve had two good years

JULY 2015

9

&Beyond CEO Joss Kent is interviewed by journalist David Allardice in WANTED magazine, the lifestyle publication for the Business Day newspaper. The article, “A Place in the Sun”, discusses factors at home and abroad that threaten the tourism and hospitality sectors.

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FUN SIDE CAUGHT IN THE ACT To celebrate the often amusing antics of the animal kingdom, this regular feature showcases entertaining wildlife photos from our rangers and guests. Do you have a funny photo of an animal caught in the act while on an &Beyond safari? If you would like it featured in this column, please send it to [email protected].

“Pardon me sir, I thought you were a rock”

“Hide & seek … Cheetah Cubs 1; Ranger 0”

&Beyond Private Guide, Daryl Dell

&Beyond Ranger, Matt Murray

Photographed in the Galápagos Islands

Photographed at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve

“The grooming station”

“(Break)Dance like no one’s watching”

&Beyond Ranger, Ricci Christen

&Beyond Ranger, Steve Walker


Photographed at &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserve


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FUN SIDE

“Stop. Hammertime.”

“When you are totally ignored by the wildlife”

&Beyond Ranger, Eric Exelby

&Beyond Head Ranger, Wayne Raymond



“Am I doing it right?”

“Caught red-handed(nosed)”

&Beyond Private Guide, Daryl Dell

&Beyond Ranger, Moses Mhina


Photographed at &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp

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FUN SIDE WHAT DO YOU CALL A GROUP OF RANGERS? Rangers and guests alike enjoy learning and reciting the collective nouns for wildlife. The descriptions are apt and oh-so charming: dazzles of zebra; journeys of giraffe; pods of hippo; prides of lion; crash of rhino; herd of elephant; murder of crows; parliament of owls … we could go on forever. But what do you call a group of rangers?! The late Bob Griffin, a long-time friend of &Beyond, officially declared it a “randy of rangers”, a joke we have never forgotten. He even went as far as to have the slogan printed on a t-shirt so that he could reveal it to the rangers at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. Oh Bob, we sure miss you and your hearty laugh.

RANGER PRANKS? A lot of investigative research goes into this magazine and every now and then, a story emerges with conflicting reports. This is one such story. When this photo of &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve Regional Manager Jane Braack surfaced, I knew exactly who to interrogate. I also knew who would give a somewhat tainted version of the truth. With the Grade 2 Walking Workshop currently underway with our Phinda rangers, Jane decided to accompany them on one of their walks. She was briefed beforehand to wear comfortable, neutral and appropriate clothing (from head to toe) as they would be on foot in big game country.

One report suggests that Jane showed up that morning in full camo, ready to conceal herself from any onlookers. In fact, they gravely claim that they only reaslised she was there halfway through the day. Another report hints that Jane may have been forced into the suit as punishment for showing up for the walk in her impossible-to-miss hot pink trainers. You can decide which version of the story you prefer. Either way, it just had to feature in this issue.


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FUN SIDE PROUDLY &BEYOND Our company employs 2,000 proud &Beyonders from many different tribes and cultures. From rangers, trackers, butlers and housekeepers, to gardeners, lodge managers, sales executives, bookkeepers and so much more. When there is a job opening, we are always on the lookout for fantastic people to fill the role. Be sure to check the Careers section of our website and follow our LinkedIn profile. For more information, please email us on [email protected].

www.andBeyond.com/about-us/careers www.linkedin.com/company/andBeyond

COPYRIGHT POLICY GENERAL The &Beyond Group of Companies embraces a culture of respect for copyright owned by third parties and, equally, is committed to enforcing copyright that it owns globally. To that end, the following policy is adopted.

REGARDING WORKS OF COPYRIGHT THAT ARE OWNED BY THE &BEYOND GROUP OF COMPANIES All literary works, artistic works, published editions and all other works of copyright that are displayed in this magazine are protected by copyright. Apart from any fair dealing purpose, that is: research or private study by, or personal or private use, or for the purposes of criticism or review (as contemplated under the Copyright Act) no part of any work of copyright may be adapted, copied or used in any way without the prior, written approval of the copyright owner. In any event, should a fair dealing provision be relied upon, it is insisted upon that due acknowledgement to the copyright holder must be indicated prominently and clearly.

REGARDING WORKS OF COPYRIGHT THAT ARE OWNED BY THIRD PARTIES While every reasonable effort has been made to identify and provide accreditation to all works of copyright displayed here, neither the accuracy nor the completeness of this information can be guaranteed. Accordingly, the &Beyond Group of Companies can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be contained in this publication, nor any damage that is suffered as a result of any reliance that is placed upon this. The &Beyond Group of Companies invites any third party that suspects that any of its work of copyright have been infringed to bring this to our attention, and undertakes to give due consideration to every complaint received.

ALL ENQUIRIES All copyright-related enquiries are to be directed, in writing, to [email protected].

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