Every day we wake up at 04:30am. All the rangers meet each other for an early morning meeting to discuss some strategic planning for the day. We have a cup of coffee; have a laugh not knowing what the day might bring to our doorsteps. Every day of our lives, its worth waking up to experience the beauty of nature.

I always say that no matter how good of a ranger or tracker you are. You need the luck to be on your side. It’s about being at the right place at the right time; that’s when you see that once-in-a-lifetime sighting. We never know what to expect out there. Maybe we see a Leopard male walking across the road, a new born elephant baby or maybe the lions stalking their pray. All of these are rare sightings, but every minute that you spend in nature is one minute closer to something extraordinary. These are not moments that we can expect or take for granted. These are moments that come unexpected.

We enjoy the silence of nature. We don’t have the traffic or the rush most people have in the city. We have a peaceful life; bird calls, sun rises, rivers flowing, animals roaming free and the starry night reminds us of this. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be in this beautiful environment. Kapama offered me some of my most amazing sightings, but not only sightings; if you are able to lose yourself in the bush, you could find yourself. Maybe you will find a peace inside of you that you never knew you had.

My wish for you is that you would have the same opportunity to experience this feeling. I think every person should find themselves through nature. I believe every person owes it to themselves to have this feeling. The happier you are, the more luck you will have.

Janco Du Plessis – Kapama River Lodge
08/04/2013