James is a brilliant ranger who predominantly guides out of Long Lee Manor. He is incredibly well-liked by guests and colleagues alike. His enthusiastic personality, sense of humour and zest for life make him a great member of the Shamwari Team.
Name: James Moodie
Title: Game Ranger
Started at Shamwari: February 2017
Hometown: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Previous roles: Sales Representative, Camp Manager, Hyena Researcher, Overland Safari Guide
Qualification:
FGASA Level 2 Trails Guide
Diploma in Game Ranging and Lodge Management
Hobbies:
Photography, ITF Taekwondo
Passion:
All animals are my greatest passion, but in recent years I have taken a massive liking to photography. I am also very passionate about birds, predators, and snakes.
Favourite part of the job:
Waking up in the morning and not knowing what to expect around every corner. I also love being able to pass on my knowledge to the many visitors to this beautiful country, helping them learn about the creatures and critters that make this place so fascinating.
“Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein
Favourite animal:
Spotted Hyena.
It is one of the most underestimated animals in the animal kingdom. I have always supported the underdog all my life, and these animals are no exception. They are incredibly successful, powerful hunters, one of the top ten most intelligent mammals on the planet, very caring and loving parents, and have a fascinating social structure. It’s a pity they get such a bad reputation from movies like Lion King and so many documentaries.
Favourite animal in a sighting:
It’s a toss-up between leopard and elephant.
Both of these animals are individually so unique, with each individual being completely different from the next giving, them special characters.
Most exciting encounter while on game drive:
My favourite Shamwari sighting was watching a young lioness attempt to hunt and kill a new buffalo calf, only to have the herd chase her back several times. After the game of cat and mouse, she realized she stood no chance, and as luck would have it a small herd of springbok came trotting through and she managed to catch and kill an adult female in front of my vehicle.
