A young woman with wavy light brown hair, wearing a white shirt, smiling and resting her chin on her hand, sitting outdoors on a chair during sunset.

A snapshot about 

Ranger Kirsten

My journey back to my home country began with following the call of my heart, shown to me by the dearest person in my world, my grandad Ivor. Taking my grandma and I out to Mabalingwe reserve, Limpopo, we ventured out into the untamed wilderness to go on a safari.

To describe a fire igniting in my soul does not come close to the feeling of connection, emotion and joy roaring inside me whilst on this trip. I will always be grateful to my grandad, for organising the opportunity for me to spend as much time as possible in the bush. Walking with a ranger, we listened to the buzz of insects and birds whilst looking at the perfect heart shaped impala tracks on the rich earth.

An overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the natural world and for my grandparents fuelled my mission to return to South Africa to learn how to be a ranger. I planned to return in the same year to do the course and live with my grandparents. With enormous pain, my dear grandad Ivor passed away a month before I returned. My journey and joy for teaching and guiding is dedicated to him and his unwavering kindness to the world. Guiding, engaging and teaching in the bush is such a privilege and spreading the love of nature and creativity is my passion.

Group of people exploring a muddy water hole around a safari vehicle, some looking inside, others taking photographs, in a grassy outdoor setting.
Woman holding a large green stick insect with long legs on her hand in a forest setting.
A woman in a tan uniform sitting on a safari vehicle, observing a zebra walking through a dry grassland with scattered trees at sunset.
A woman outdoors in a dry, dirt area with sparse vegetation, squatting and smiling at the camera.
Two people standing on a hilltop overlooking a vast green forest and a blue sky filled with white clouds.
Three people, two women and one man, smiling outdoors on a sunny day with trees and blue sky in the background.
A young girl being held by a woman, while a man stands nearby, all smiling outdoors on a sunny day with trees and houses in the background.

The Journey

Two women smiling outdoors, dressed in safari or exploration outfits, with one wearing a hat and the other with binoculars.
A plant with a long, curved thorn resembling a horn, attached to a notebook page with handwritten notes and a drawn sketch, labeled as 'Balloon thorn'.
A woman is bending over outside a small building with a thatched roof, near laundry hanging on a line, and an elephant partially visible behind a black screen.
Dead animal carcasses on dirt ground, with a person's foot and tan work boot visible in the lower left corner.
A man and a woman smiling and posing together near a river with trees and elephants in the background during daytime.

The Training

My adventures started at Limpopo Field Guide Academy, where I completed my Level 1 Safari Guide Qualification. Living out in the bush, surrounded by lions, elephants, rhino’s and more we delved into the wonders of nature. Learning about animal behaviour, plants, culture and more, this stepping stone was brilliant start to my learning, understanding and guiding career.

Honeyguide Ranger Camp

My professional career started straight away at Honeyguide Ranger Camp in the Waterburg. A stunning landscape to explore with mountains, waterholes and forests brimming with vast varieties of plants and animals.

Botswana

Venturing to Kuwai, Okavango Delta Botswana, I spent a month walking with professional guides Cliffy and Massi, who mentored myself and fellow ranger Amara. I can hands down say this was the best month of my life. Living in the middle of the wilderness, we slept in tents, had a long drop toilet and bucket shower, which was often visited by thirsty elephants too! Learning to walk safely in the wild, harnessing our scenes and interpreting our surroundings, we built our walking skills to take our own guided nature walks back in South Africa.

Singita Sabi Sand

From the Waterburg to the home of leopards, my career took me to Singita Sabi Sand, where I stayed for 3 years, working with my best friend (and bush brother) Rebel. Rebel was my tracker and together we, as a team lead game drives morning and evening, tracking animals, uncovering mysteries and teaching guests the way of the bush.

Zimbabwe

During my time in the Sabi Sand I was fortunate to be invited to join a group of guides to visit Singita Pamashana Reserve, Zimbabwe. During me stay I learnt to track lions with the professional Rangers as well as Black and White rhino.

Singita Kruger National Park

Driven to experience a different environment, I moved to Singita Concession in Kruger Park, which boarders Mozambique. Conducting guided walks, game drives and various other activities, I met some amazing guests and worked with some very special people. In particular were my trackers David and Nkhlayo. A much more mountainous terrain saw more lion pride activities.

In 2022, I returned to England to continue my wild journey. Bringing together my safari experiences and artistic flair, this next chapter has focused on developing a brand that encourages creativity and a deeper understanding and love for the natural world.

Alongside my artistic work, I continue to engage with animal conservation in the UK, including working with organisations such as Cassiobury Farm, helping to connect people with wildlife through education and hands-on experience.

At my core is an enduring joy for art and nature. Inspired by my grandad’s compassion, naturally engaging demeanour, and kind heart, I created I Am Wild at Art to carry forward our shared values of respect for life and the natural world.

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