Patrick – Shamwari Game Ranger Q&A

Patrick is a wonderful, happy-go-lucky member of the Shamwari team. He has proudly worked his way up to being a ranger and guides out of Lobengula Lodge. His friendly demeanour and charming personality combined with his love for the bush make him a great guide at Shamwari.

Name: Patrick Kepe
Title: Game Ranger
Started at Shamwari: 2009
Hometown: Dispatch, Uitenhage
Previous roles: I started working at Shamwari as a bartender in 2009, then moved onto the Food & Beverage department as a driver. In 2012, I worked at Shamwari Explorer Camp and after completing my studies, became a ranger.

Qualification

FGASA Field Guide
Back up trails guide

Hobbies:

I enjoy reading, writing poetry, singing, walking and love socialising with friends.

Passion:

I am passionate about laughter and making my guests have an amazing experience in the bush. I am also passionate about taking photographs. I have a soft spot for giraffe’s, they are incredible animals.

Favourite part of the job:

My favourite part of my job is the safari. You have less time to think of the pressures of the world, I think of it as a healing journey. You are more in tune with the natural elements of the world. I am also able to make my guests’ dreams become a reality, and it is something that I don’t take lightly as it is a privilege.

“Our greatest joy depends on our peace of mind.” – Dr BE Lekganyane

Favourite animal:

Giraffe
If I had to choose, I would be a giraffe so that everyone can watch me walk elegantly and so I can see things before they happen 🙂

Favourite animal in a sighting:

Elephants
They are very wise animals and they are also very emotional animals. You can easily detect if there’s something wrong. I love the way they live their lives like humans, with lots of discipline and respect for their elders. There is a matriarch that is my favourite elephant here at Shamwari.

Most exciting encounter while on a game drive:

My guests and I left Lobengula Lodge and headed down to the Southern section of the reserve. We were hoping to find rhino and cheetah and I managed to track cheetah. We stumbled upon this beautiful male cheetah. Whilst enjoying the sighting, he yawned, got up and started moving easterly towards the riverline. The light was perfect as it was golden hour. Suddenly, the cheetah’s body behaviour changed and I knew that he had seen something. I scanned the area with my binoculars and that’s when I saw a female red hartebeest. Little did I know that there was a young calf that was just a couple of minutes old. She was licking her baby and encouraging it to get up.

The cheetah stalked closer, he was very patient and the female was also aware of some danger in the area as the birds let off their alarm calls. She was trying to figure out what was happening in the area when the cheetah used this opportunity to burst into speed towards the female and her calf. The cheetah grabbed the baby at the back of the head, not to kill, but to pick up and run off with. The red hartebeest wasn’t going to let her baby go, so she ran behind the cheetah. Luckily, he let go of the baby. He was almost injured by her as she tried to ram him with her horns. This was my favourite experience because the baby had a tough start to life and I’m hoping it will live a long and happy life.