This month we are celebrating remarkable women in wildlife. Meet Lozanne, our passionate head guide and manager of Africa on Foot.
Nestled in the heart of the untamed Klaserie, Africa on Foot specialises in immersive walking safaris.
A major drawcard not only for adventurous guests but also for guides like Lozanne who thrive on the rare opportunity to walk though Big 5 territory on foot. She is able to bring the bush to life, sharing her vast knowledge and passion for every intricate detail of the wild with guests.
Where did you grow up and what first drew you to the bush?
“I was born and raised in Pretoria, just north of Johannesburg. My family loved to go camping and granddad had a citrus farm with cattle on it where I spent most of my school holidays. Both my parents had a love for the bush and that resulted in me loving it and wanting to be part of it from a very young age. I always wanted to explore the bush and learn about it and be part of conserving it. Becoming a Field guide made it possible to explore the bush and to learn everyday by being able to show guests the bush and help conserve through educating.”
Do you remember your very first safari experience?
“I remember a Kruger National Park school trip we did in Grade 2. It was a week long and we did day trips through the KNP and even did the panorama route, visiting Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre and staying in the KNP camps. I distinctly remember the night drives, seeing the hyenas and the bushbabies.”
How did you become a guide? What was your journey like?
“I didn’t study to be a Field guide directly after school; I worked an office job in Cape Town first for about 3 years. Then an opportunity opened to go study Field guide at one of FGASA’s training providers. I did a 4-month course and from there it has been a self-study journey in my guiding career. From there I went to work at a wildlife sanctuary and took care of the predators they housed. I then moved to a commercial lodge where I worked and accumulated hours and experience so I could advance to the next level in the guiding qualification. I’ve always wanted to work in the Kruger area, so an opportunity opened to do volunteer conservation work, and I took it and loved it! But a few years ago, I wanted a new challenge, and I came to Sun Destinations and I’m now working in the Africa on Foot camp and enjoying it every day!”
How has your experience been as a female guide in a role that was traditionally dominated by men?
“It’s has been a journey of learning how strong you are when you do get push back where they underestimate your ability but MAN!!! The satisfaction when you prove them wrong is soo sweeeetttt! By experiencing being underestimated, you are also being pushed to test your own abilities and skills far beyond what you thought you are capable of and that to me is the beauty in it. For the more they want to prove that ladies don’t belong the more we as ladies are proving the opposite. And for me I honestly know that everyone has his/hers strong or weak points and that collectively makes us are stronger in a team regardless of if you’re a lady or a gentleman.”
How long have you been at AOF? What’s your favourite thing about the Klaserie?
“I have been with AOF since February 2025. My favourite thing about Klaserie… mmm.. I would say the variety of landscapes that allows for a variety of animal and bird life to occur which of course reminds us that there is never a dull moment in the bush.”
Africa on Foot evening visitors
What’s your favourite thing about living and working in the wild?
“The peacefulness of it, that after a long busy day in camp, when you go out for the afternoon drive and the sun is setting there is a peacefulness and quietness the just takes over which is just so contagious, and you forget about whatever was bothering you in the day. In the morning to see the bush wake up and the sun warming the cold landscape and life just starts awakening, it’s like the quiet before life’s daily storm hits.”
What’s the most valuable thing you ever learnt from the bush?
“Patience… and excepting that not everything has to work according to plan. Sometimes the bush will go its own way, and you should just trust it and go with it, it will all work out the way it should. Appreciate the good times when the bush is showing off all its secrets and beauty but also appreciate the quiet times when the bush is hiding its secrets.”
What are guests are often surprised to learn about safari life?
“The early morning wake-up!! That we as guides have a working schedule of 6 weeks full day schedule with 2 weeks off. That we are living on site and can call this home for 6 weeks (I think we sometimes take it for granted the privilege of it)”
Leopard hanging out in the Klaserie
Do you have a favourite animal sound or bird call?
“HYENAS!!!!! Love them to bits, I know they are stinky and do gross yucky things, but they are so important in the bush and have a very important role to play. They are very intelligent and can be silly at times!
But I love spending time with elephants, I always find it humbling when they let us sit with them being part of the herd and just allowing us to observe the intricacies of the herd and its individuals.
I enjoy the Burchell’s Coucal call, I love summer and love the rain and having them call after a rain shower just makes it special.
The call of the Double banded sandgrouse at sunset at a pan when they come to drink water.”
Any experiences or animal encounters that you’ll never forget or moments that stand out?
“Sjoe! There is so many I can think of…. How do you single them out…
Scariest – When I found myself facing an elephant bull in musth not knowing there is a breeding herd behind him, and he did not appreciate my presence and was very clear of it and made sure I practice my reversing skills as fast as possible.
Cutest – Seeing a newborn baby rhino discovering the bush with mom and their curiosity about everything, how they smell and taste everything. Once we saw a mom at a dam drinking water and the calf decided it also wants to try this. He came took a sip, spat it out as quick as possible. Turned around in disgust, whined and went to drink milk from mom.
Funniest – Seeing hyenas trying every possible trick or solution to get to a leopards kill in the tree. I have seen them trying to climb a tree, too clumsy for that, and trying to chew a tree down!
Intriguing – A hyena discovered a dam drying up and was busy catching catfish in a very muddy puddle. He would catching a slippery one, kill it, and walk away to go hide it close by in the bush, comes back and do it again, come back, eats one, hide one. Until at a point when you saw him stopping and thinking after stashing a catfish, he then went back to a different spot and took the catfish from that spot and hid is under the other spot, he most likely thought that the one spot was a better hiding spot then the one before.
Most Unexpected – One morning I was following a pride of lions, we discovered them feeding. The females were laying under a thicket and cubs of about 6 months was feeding on something, was difficult to make out what it was from where we were parked. Then as we watch the cubs feeding, one of the cubs lifted the leg of the carcass and I saw it was a lion paw… I was like, what?.. I repositioned and saw that the carcass was indeed female lion carcass… it was not one of the moms, so we don’t know who and where this female came from on which the cubs were feeding on.”
What do you hope guests take away from a safari with you?
“Respect… respect for the bush and its inhabitants but also experience the magic of being able to have been in the animal’s presence and to have been able to be part of their daily lives in the bush.”
Lozanne is a passionate and knowledgeable guide whose wealth of experience makes her an asset to the world of conservation and wildlife as well as Sun Destinations.
As camp manager at Africa on Foot, she ensures the tooth sailing of life at camp, all while inspiring others with her dedication and love for the wild. Whether behind the scenes or out on safari, Lozanne savours every opportunity to share the wonders of the wild with guests. A role model for all aspiring conservationists and young women considering a career in wildlife!
To explore the vast wilderness of the Klaserie, contact our reservations team here.
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