A life-long interest in South African wild life and the challenges of conservation in a world too full of people was given practical expression when Mavis and John Job purchased a portion of the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve in late 1999. Enthusiasm gave way to reality when the floods of March 2000 destroyed dams on their property and broke the wall of the weir on the Makhutswi River in front of Job’s Halt. A 3-year project to revamp the Twines farmstead, Job’s Halt and to build Yangu Lodge ensued. A few years later, the Siyafunda Programmes were initiated and volunteers have been coming to the GMPGR ever since. The valuable contributions of the volunteers to the research and conservation work done in the GMPGR should not be underestimated in our search for answers about the myriad of questions that arise about South Africa’s incredible wildlife and the reserves in which they live. Everything each of us does in the GMPGR makes and will continue to make a positive difference to the future sustainability of reserves such as the GMPGR.

Mike’s role with Siyafunda is to supervise the volunteer’s activities, act as program facilitator & manage the company’s operations.

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

Claudia hails from Germany & discovered South Africa in 1991 for the first time & she fell in love with the bush when she volunteered at Siyafunda in 2007, which has changed her life. She quit her job as a real-estate-manager, rented her flat, sold her car & moved to SA.
Claudia on her return to the country got right into making her dream come true & got her Level 1 Guiding Qualification as well as her Trails Guide Qualification & is working towards Level 2 Guiding Qualification. She started working with Siyafunda in January 2009 & coordinates our volunteers at Twines & Bush Camp.
With her funky German-English she keeps us all entertained,…not just on game drives & brings a bit more multi-cultural aspect to our community out here in the bush.

After starting at Makalali as a Tracker, Patson advanced to Head Tracker & has recently qualified as a Master Tracker. This is remarkable achievement as only 8 people in the Province were invited to participate in this rigorous training. Makalali has been home to Patson for 10 years. He thus has an intimate knowledge of the reserve & his tracking ability is renowned. Patson will educate you on tracking skills, the medicinal uses of indigenous plants, Shangaan culture & bush survival skills.

Andrews Mtshali has had a background in the South African Defence Force & army as an infantry soldier, Recce for Special Forces & an instructor. As such, Andrews joined Makalali in 1994 as part of the anti-poaching unit, as gate guard & fence patroller. After 10 years of service in these fields, he has gained an extensive knowledge of the reserve. Andrews joined Siyafunda in June 2005 as an Assistant Facilitator, aiding & substituting both the bush camp & SCI facilitators when necessary. Andrews has a passion for lions – must be as a result of the many close encounters he had with them whilst patrolling the reserve on his motorbike!

Alex is our new trainee ranger with the kiwi accent. After studying Psychology and Statistics at University, he spent two years working in the field of drug addiction research. A passion for hiking and everything natural lead him to leave his sanitary laboratory job for Africa.
Alex spent the first six months at Bushwise completing his Level 1 field guiding qualification, and is now gaining experience guiding, whilst remaining in the research loop. He is currently involved in the start up of Siyafunda’s latest project, hyena monitoring.

Monica & Ripson are charged with general camp & upkeep duties at SCI & the Bush Camp respectively. They both have lived in this part of South Africa all their lives & take much pride in looking after the Volunteers & Bush Campers, to make their stay as comfortable as possible in their part of Africa.

Audrey heads the Makalali Research & runs the trust which over sees all research & monitoring activity on the reserve & Ross is the Conservancy’s Warden, responsible for managing the reserves activities. Ross & Audrey provide a supporting role by conducting presentations/discussions on Elephant & Lion Contraception, African Wild Cats, The Role of Conservancies & the Importance of Biodiversity. Ross has completed his MSc on “Lion Management in Small Conservancies”. Audrey is currently completing her PhD at the Kruger National Park. Audrey correlates all data collected by the Siyafunda volunteers & the Reserve Rangers. She also consults for a number of reserves with regards to Elephant Immunocontraception & behaviour.

Shongi (slang for “Shongololo” which means millipede) calls Makalali home. We can assure you that once you have looked into her soulful brown eyes, your resistance will crumble & she’ll have you wrapped around her paw!

African Wild Cats Felix & Sylvester were confiscated from a neighbouring reserve & now call SCI their home. These furry felines have settled right in & just like Shongi, will have you at their beck & call. Don’t be surprised to find these felids stretched out on your bed!