My name is Kirsten. Some people call me,

Ranger Kirsten

Intro

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.

My journey back to South Africa began with my grandad Ivor. My grandma and I went on safari with him in Mabalingwe, Limpopo, where he gave me the chance to spend time in the bush. Walking with a ranger, listening to the buzz of insects and birds, and finding perfect heart-shaped impala tracks in the rich earth ignited something in me. I felt a connection and joy I still struggle to put into words.

I decided to return that same year to train as a ranger and live with my grandparents. Heartbreakingly, my grandad passed away a month before I returned. I owe so much of my journey to his kindness, and I dedicate my love of guiding and teaching to him. Sharing the wonder of nature and creativity with others is a privilege I never take for granted.

Part 1: The Training

Two women smiling outdoors, dressed in safari or exploration outfits, with one wearing a hat and the other with binoculars.
Group of people exploring a muddy water hole around a safari vehicle, some looking inside, others taking photographs, in a grassy outdoor setting.
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.

My journey as a safari guide began at Limpopo Field Guide Academy, where I completed my Level 1 qualification. Living in the bush, with lions, elephants and rhinos around us, I learnt to look more closely at the world I had fallen in love with. From animal behaviour and tracking to plants and local culture, every day brought something new to discover. That training gave me the knowledge and confidence to begin guiding—and made me even more certain this was where I belonged.

Part 2: Honeyguide Ranger Camp

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'.

My professional guiding career began at Honeyguide Ranger Camp in the Waterberg. With its mountains, waterholes and forests, it was a breathtaking place to explore—and an even better place to put everything I had learnt into practice. Every day brought new encounters with the plants and wildlife that make this landscape so special.

Part 3: Botswana

I then spent a month in Khwai, on the edge of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, walking with professional guides Cliffy and Massi. They mentored me and fellow ranger Amara, teaching us to use our senses, read the landscape and move safely through the wild.

Hands down, it was the best month of my life. We lived in tents, with a long-drop toilet and a bucket shower that thirsty elephants sometimes visited too! By the end, we had the skills and confidence to lead our own guided nature walks back in South Africa.

Part 4: Singita, Sabi Sand

A woman in a tan uniform sitting on a safari vehicle, observing a zebra walking through a dry grassland with scattered trees at sunset.

From the Waterberg, my career took me to leopard country: Singita Sabi Sand. I spent three years there guiding alongside my best friend and bush brother, Rebel, who was my tracker. Together, we led morning and evening game drives, followed tracks, uncovered the bush’s little mysteries and shared what we discovered with our guests.

Part 5: Zimbabwe

During my time in the Sabi Sand, I was fortunate to join a group of guides on a visit to Singita Pamushana in Zimbabwe. Walking alongside the rangers, I learnt more about tracking lions, black rhinos and white rhinos. It was a chance to develop my skills in a new landscape and learn from guides who knew it so well.

Part 6: Singita, Kruger National Park

Woman holding a large green stick insect with long legs on her hand in a forest setting.

Eager to experience a different landscape, I moved to the Singita concession in Kruger National Park, near the Mozambique border. I led guided walks and game drives, met wonderful guests and worked with some very special people—especially my trackers, David and Nkhlayo. The mountainous terrain brought new challenges and more chances to observe the lives of lion prides.

Beyond the Bush

A woman outdoors in a dry, dirt area with sparse vegetation, squatting and smiling at the camera.

In 2022, I returned to England and began bringing together my life in the bush and my love of art. I wanted to create something that sparked creativity while helping people feel closer to the natural world.

Alongside my art, I’ve continued working with wildlife in the UK, including at Cassiobury Farm, where I helped people learn about animals through hands-on experiences.

I created I Am Wild at Art in honour of my grandad Ivor. His warmth, kindness and respect for all living things still shape everything I do.