One of the greatest gifts of experiencing our lodges in the Greater Kruger is the intimate, passion-driven safari guided game drives that each of our camps offers. Every one of our guides is not only deeply knowledgeable, but also genuinely passionate about the wild. Their bush wisdom has been honed through years of dedicated time in the wilderness and they’re full of memorable (often hilarious) stories that make every game drive truly unforgettable.
Meet Christelle, a passionate guide at the serene and beautiful Nyala Safari Lodge. A born-and-bred bush baby from the Balule, Christelle shares her deep love and knowledge of the African bush with every guest she takes on safari, creating meaningful, personal encounters with nature at every turn.
Where did you grow up and what first drew you to the bush?
I am a born and bred bushbaby. I grew up on the Olifants river, and spent the first 18 years of my life on a property in the Balule, called Mathaga Ranch. To say my upbringing was unconventional would be an understatement. Not many little girls can say they grew up riding their pony through the Greater Kruger.
A love for the wild that began at birth
Do you remember your very first safari experience?
Because I grew up in the bush, it has just always been a part of my life. It’s one of the things I tell my guests. I was way too young to remember my first elephant or lion. It brings me the greatest joy to experience the “first” for every one of my guests. I get to live it vicariously through them.
How did you become a guide? What was your journey like?
By accident, haha! The bush has always been a very big part of my life. I was running a restaurant in Hoedspruit when I got offered a position at a local volunteer program and doing safaris was one of my duties. This made me discover my love for the guiding side of things. I sold the restaurant and moved back into the bush.
How long have you been at Nyala ? What’s your favourite thing about the camp and the area?
I came to Nyala at the end of 2019, to help a new guide learn the farm, as I had been guiding on the same property for the past few years. I was supposed to stay for two weeks…and well, the rest is history!
One of the things that I resonate with the most at Nyala, is that it is so intimate. We can offer the guests such a unique experience, and the camp is so fantastic, but still familiar in a way. We like to immerse our guests in our life in the bush, not just show it to them.
Coffee stops out in the wild at Nyala Safari Lodge
Unwind on the meandering deck surrounded by pristine wilderness
What’s your favourite thing about living and working in the wild?
The fact that we share our home with the most fantastic array of creatures. And every single one is so unique and important. At every given moment, all around us, on every level, there is a small battle for survival going on. From the shongololo trying to escape the ants nest, to the titanic battle between buffalo and lion. We just need to stop, look, and listen.
Is there a moment on safari that sticks out / you’ll remember forever?
This is impossible for me to answer, there has just been too many over the years, moments that have absolutely blown me away. I hope the surprises never stop.
What’s the most valuable thing you ever learnt from the bush?
It’s honesty. There is nothing like it, it is both predictable and absolute impossible to know what you might encounter next.
There is no cruelty, as we know it, in the bush. there is only survival and reaction to the environment. Every single being has a place and purpose. As a species we would do well in trying to understand that balance better, I think we would be better for it. It teaches us that if we don’t survive, nobody will do it for you. And you will never be done learning about it, it is just so intricate. We all have our place, and no matter how small you feel, you are important in the bigger picture.
What’s one thing guests are often surprised to learn about safari life?
That this is just “home” to us. I often get the comment that this is “the animals territory” and I don’t necessarily agree with that statement. I feel that we have gotten so far removed from nature, we forget that it’s also “our territory”. It is possible for us and the environment can life in harmony together, if we are willing to be custodians rather than exploitive.
Do you have a favourite animal sound or bird call?
Few things can compare to the roar of a lion right next to your car. The primal feeling it stirs in all, it is just undeniable.
What do you hope guests take away from a safari with you?
There is so much more to it than just the big guys. Stop and take it easy, try and look closer to how it all fits together in the most perfect puzzle.
Stop and use all your senses, there is so much the bush can tell you from the sounds and smells around you. We have become so entangled in the urban world, that we have forgotten the world is not 2 dimensional. We miss so much or the bush if we only use our eyes.
Clever critters. mongoose sighting near Nyala safari Lodge
What does it feel like going back to the city or when you’re away from the wilderness?
To be avoided at all costs, hehe. The city has just never been for me, people living and passing each other at an unobtainable pace. I understand that we can not all be as fortunate to have the bush as our office, so I count myself very, very lucky.
Explore the magic of the Balule at Nyala Safari Lodge.
Contact our reservations team directly to find out more.
Leave a Comment