Q&A: JOHANNES LEKOLOANE

Meet Johannes Lekoloane, Inspiring Vacations tour leader in South Africa

INTERVIEW BY EMILY HUMPHREY

NAME: JOHANNES LEKOLOANE

OCCUPATION: TOUR LEADER

COUNTRY: SOUTH AFRICA

How long have you been a tour leader? What is your role in guiding IV travellers around South Africa?

I’ve been a tour leader for the past 13 years. My role is to make sure the tour is run in the most safe, enjoyable and educational way possible.

What‘s been your favourite wildlife encounter?

A lioness taking down a kudu in Kruger National Park, and also being stuck in the middle of the Chobe River because of a herd of elephants crossing and it was getting dark.

What’s been your most exciting (maybe even scary) safari experience?

We were on a guided walk in the middle of the delta, a local guide was leading the walk. We came across fresh lion prints and decided to follow the spoor for a few minutes. After about five minutes he quickly spotted an old male lion a few metres away looking at us, while sitting on top of a termite mound. He quickly alerted me and we decided to backtrack until we were at a safe distance before we showed our guests why we backtracked. That was the end of our walk – everyone wanted to get back to the lodge.

Do you have a favourite animal?

Zebra, honey badger.

What do you love most about your work?

Meeting people from different countries and cultures, learning from each other and sharing my knowledge about my country and experiences.

What job would you be doing if you weren’t a tour leader?

I’d probably be working with a lot of people… like driving buses.

Where is your favourite place to holiday yourself?

I love Botswana.

What can guests expect to see and experience on safari?

Expect to see animals in their natural habitat… nothing beats that! The most raved about encounters are leopard and lion sightings.

Outside of the safari experience, what’s an absolute must-do for visitors to South Africa?

Trying food, from bunny chow to pap and morogo.

Any tips for travellers embarking on their first safari?

Don’t ever switch off your camera on a safari, anything can happen anytime.

What should eager travellers know about spotting the Big Five on safari?

Being too eager to see the Big Five can sometimes spoil your holiday, take it as it comes. There are more interesting things in the wild which will lead to getting the Big Five. Always remember, this is the wild side of life.