Our Rangers & Trackers

Stuart has been visiting Leopard Hills since he was 7 years old, and it was here that he fell in love with the bush. Spending time in this beautiful piece of Africa, with the rangers and trackers, his knowledge and interest in all things flora and fauna grew into a passion.

After completing his training and qualifying as a guide in 2015, Stuart’s guiding career started off in the Madikwe Game Reserve. When a ranger position opened up at Leopard Hills Stuart was elated to have the opportunity of realising his childhood dream of guiding in a reserve he had grown to love at a young age. He believes that every day in this job is a blessing, and living a dream just makes it even better.

Growing up on a farm with animals around him, Johan learned to respect and love nature from a young age. After school he worked with an overland company (Tours Across Africa) as a tour guide. Travelling across the African continent his true passion developed for the bush and its wildlife. In 2004, after three years of touring, his passion for the bush steered him to the western sector of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve and in 2013 he joined Leopard Hills guiding team.

Johan’s hobbies include fishing, birding, photography and sports, so when the opportunity arises he enjoys playing a round of golf or a cricket match. As a guide, Johan loves to immerse his guests in the true experience of the bush. He believes the bush is too special to rush around, we do that enough in everyday working life, so he enjoys taking the time to explain what guests are seeing; and not just ticking off the “boxes”.

After completing his degree in business management and marketing Justin decided to pursue his true passion in life, which was to work in the bush. He completed his training through Nature Guide Training and started his first job at Balule Game Reserve. Justin has a huge passion for birding and gets excited at the idea of being able to share his love and passion for the African bush with people from all over the world.

From a very young age Justin was exposed to the bush during family trips into the Kruger National Park, and accompanying his parents on their work trips, which exposed him to many incredible private lodges, one of which being Leopard Hills during its early years.

From a young age, Michael has always been fascinated by animals and loved being surrounded by nature! His passion for nature started as a kid going to the bush with his family and eventually “Veldskool”. Growing up on the outskirts of Krugersdorp it was not uncommon for him to cycle into the cradle of humankind where he found peace in the simplicity of nature away from all the hustle and chaos of a city. After school, Michael went straight into the bush completing a 3-year nature course where his spark grew into a fire and hasn’t stopped…

He’s a passionate photographer and loves capturing stunning moments in the bush. He also loves the smaller things that the bush has to offer like birds and reptiles.

Growing up in Alberton Johannesburg, Morne had a far from “city boy” upbringing with both his parents’ love of nature. He can remember spending almost every school holiday in the Kruger National Park, viewing everything from the Big 5 to the Small 5 and everything in between.

After school, Morne spent some time studying in North West University, to which he decided to leave it all behind to follow his passion of becoming a Field guide.

He truly believes that a guide’s role is not only to share their knowledge of the bush with guests but also to interpret animals and their behaviour, thus to be the so-called “translators” of the bush.

Ronald was presented with an opportunity to join the Leopard Hills family back in 2004. Starting off as the dedicated groundskeeper, his hard work and passion for the bush quickly led him to join the tracking department.

Ronald is most comfortable walking, tracking and finding animals and sharing his joy with guests.

Desire’s love for the bush started when he was 10 years old. He grew up in the local village, Justicia, just outside the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. Every day he woke up listening to or watching different animals along the fence. His father taught him what he knew and that is where his passion grew. After completing his matric, Desire went to Nelspruit to study, but that was not his passion; he wanted to become a tracker, so he applied to the Tracker Academy and studied for the year. After passing his Tracking Course, he started working at Tswalu as a Field Ranger and tracking when needed. He is very excited to start his new future with Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve.

Bongani was born in a local village North of the Sabi Sands and was privileged to have a father who was one of the first master trackers in the world. Having a great role model, he started learning from his dad which built a hunger for the bush. He started learning more and more about animals and their behaviour. Before his father passed, he told him to love what you do and you won’t work a day in your life.

Bongani started his career working for the Sabi Sands Wildtuin, part of the environmental monitoring group, saving up to pay for his tracking academy course which he passed top of his class.

Advice’s passion and desire to become a tracker started at an early age as his father is a well-known head tracker in the area. During his school holidays, he used to visit his father, who would take him and his brother on game drives. That is where he found his passion. He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue with the family legacy. He got a sponsorship from The Tracker Academy and completed an intensive year of studies and tracking assessments. Advice has worked at a few different game reserves but realized his heart was The Sabi Sands. He is now blessed to be working with Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve.