Sawubona Africa – How To Be An African Safari Guide!
Africa goes under your skin! The wide landscapes, the exciting wildlife and the warmth of the people are just one of a kind. You can have the most amazing time on this spectacular continent if you have the right guide to take you around. You want someone at your side who knows Africa like the back of their hand. Truth be told - a tour guide can make or break your experience. But who are these elusive, in-tune-with-nature, wildlife-wrangling, knowing-every-pothole types of people? What is life as a tour guide like? What should you know about travelling to Africa? Today is your chance to get some insights from one of the best. Meet Jan Mecklenburg, a previous tour- and safari guide, born and bred in South Africa. Read more about his life, experiences and invaluable travel tips.
You can leave Africa, but Africa will never leave you! This is double true for a full-blooded safari guide. I met Jan back in 2009 in Cape Town during my first role in reservations at Jenman Safaris, a local tour operator. I was in charge of planning private and group safari trips for overseas customers. Jan was the most popular tour guide in the company, with his open and friendly demeanour, paired with extensive knowledge and a true passion for his job. You just knew that when Jan was leading a trip, everything would run smoothly with happy customers enjoying their African experience.
Jan's Background
Born in 1975 in Johannesburg to German parents, Jan holds a German and a South African passport. His passion for the travel industry runs deep in his family. His parents worked for Lufthansa and had successfully applied for a three-year project contract in South Africa. Even though the choice of destination was initially accidental, the planned three-year work placement turned into the best 30 years of their life.
Jan and his sister grew up speaking three languages – English, German and Afrikaans. While South Africa was going through the height of the Apartheid era, the siblings went to one of the few fully integrated schools where kids of all races and religions were welcome.
After his graduation, Jan decided to enrol in a three-year course to become a licensed tour guide and completed an additional diploma in nature conservation. A tourism certification followed as well as a level 2 field guide course. With the breakdown of the Apartheid regime, South Africa could finally open its doors to the world. Jan took the opportunity to explore South Africa’s neighbouring countries and quickly became addicted to life on the road. Once the travel bug had bitten, he couldn’t stop exploring. Between 1998 and 2010, Jan travelled to 22 countries in Africa. During this time, he also met his wife in her native Zambia and they became parents of two beautiful boys.
Is it all over now? Hell no! On request, Jan still guides private groups throughout Southern Africa. He last travelled to Cape Town in February 2022 to catch up with his contacts in the travel industry and to plan his next trips. If you are interested in booking a private tour with family or friends with Jan as a tour guide – please get in touch! Slow Trail Travel is happy to facilitate a trip with Jan and help you to plan your African adventure!
Enough with the introductions, let's hear it from the man himself!
2. Which country or area in Southern Africa is your favourite?
“It’s impossible to pin it down to one country only. There are so many stunning and unique places in Southern Africa alone it is hard to choose a favourite. Personally, I always feel like once you cross the Zambezi River, heading North into Zambia, the ‘real’ Africa begins. Yet, another country on top of my list is Namibia. With its mostly arid landscapes and deserts, Namibia couldn’t be more different compared to Zambia. However, it has its own unique magic I simply love. If you travel with kids, South Africa is definitely the best destination to choose. There is so much to see and to do, it never gets boring. South Africa is stunningly beautiful and offers something for every taste.”
3. What was your most memorable experience on tour?
“The most nerve-wracking experiences I ever had as a tour guide, took place while I was completing my trail ranger certification at the edge of Kruger National Park. I had a group of eight tourists when we literally walked into a lioness with her baby. We stopped in our tracks and stood as still as we could. The lioness warned us with a whipping tail and loud roar while her baby stumbled out of the nearby bushes right into our direction. The lioness pounced, stirring up dust as she ran straight towards us, stopping only about 15 meters right in front of me. I stood still with my rifle cocked before she – thank goodness – turned and walked the other way. As we slowly retreated backwards, we walked straight into the rest of the pack of lions. Three big males got up to inspect the situation a bit more closely. We once again had to slowly retreat backwards until we had enough distance from the pack to flee.
We made it back to the camp, pumping with adrenaline, happy to be alive. When we saw the camp manager, he took one look at us and said with a smile – Welcome to Africa! No doubt, he knew exactly who we had just encountered!”
4. Do's and Don'ts for first-time Africa Travellers
DO's:
- “Be open and friendly! Greet strangers with a friendly ‘How are you?’. Mingle with the locals, start a conversation and maybe even share your sandwich or give away your Coca Cola. Sharing is part of most African cultures, a welcoming gesture showing respect. Be part of the experience instead of only looking in. If you interact as an equal, you’ll have guaranteed some of the most authentic encounters, creating some of the most precious memories.
- Show interest and go local! Explore the local markets and shops, away from the well-designed, tourist-friendly establishments. Put the camera away for a while and dive into the local life. Do as the locals do. Again, you’ll get to know local life on a whole different level.
(Ha, don’t I always tell you? GO LOCAL!). - Tipping! This always turns out to be a difficult conversation on every tour. Different nationalities have different customs when it comes to tipping. Tour guides do not earn high salaries, most are freelance guides and there is no security in case something goes wrong. Tour guides spend 24 hours with their customers, they answer every question and tend to every need no matter what time. Often they also drive the long distances and/or cook all the meals. It is an all-consuming task and tips are simply part of a guide’s salary, just like commissions are in sales jobs. A rough guideline is to plan about 10 EUR / USD per person per day as a tip. The money goes a long way, flowing back into the local communities, feeding more people than just the guide’s immediate family.”
DON'Ts
- “Don’t be silly and listen to your guide! Tourists often underestimate the dangers of Africa and act as they would at home. When you are staying in the bush, you do not leave the camp to go for a walk or even a run. If your tour guide tells you to not leave the camp area, he or she does so for good reasons. It means that it is too dangerous to walk on your own. I had a guest before who decided to leave the camp to go for a run. It ended with an entire army of people, including a K9 unit searching the bush at night. Luckily we found him eventually drinking tea at a local family’s hut. The same applies in the cities! You do need to stay vigilant to avoid dangerous encounters. If your guide advises you to not go for walks in the dark, to not wave around the money you just drew from the ATM and to not walk with an expensive camera around your neck – just don’t do it! It is in your own best interest.
- Do not constantly comment negatively on the local way of life! Have an open mind and take it all in. You don’t have to live like the locals do, but accept different ways of doing things, too. There is no need to non-stop dissect what the locals do or how they should be doing it better. It will not change anything, but if it doubt ruins the experience for everyone involved. It is ok if you don’t understand it. Isn’t this why you chose to travel? To open your mind and learn different ways of life?
- No rest for the wicked! If you want to see animals, you have to get up early! Don’t be that person who is always late in the mornings and stops the rest of the group from starting their game drive. A few minutes can make all the difference between experiencing incredible sightings or not! Dawn is the time when most nocturnal animals are ending their hunt and are most active. Missing this precious small time frame can prevent you from having some amazing experiences.
5. Why is Southern Africa one of the best travel destinations?
“South Africa’s slogan ‘A World in One Country’ is 100% true. You couldn’t find a more diverse country with so many different cultures, landscapes, animals and also cuisines. It is such an exciting mix, paired with so much beauty – you have to see it to believe it. The entire region is just breathtakingly beautiful and offers so many highlights, you could spend years exploring every nook and cranny. With so many different cultures, religions and races it would be delusional to think that there are no conflicts. Yet, people seem to navigate the challenges of life together graciously. You’ll find that people don’t take themselves too seriously and encounter every situation with a good portion of humour. The area has a long and interesting history, which you really only understand once you speak to peopl and hear their stories.
The best place to be in Africa is around a campfire, having a braai (a BBQ) and drinking an ice-cold Windhoek Lager. There are few things in life better than this!”
If you are interested in exploring Southern Africa either on a group trip, a guided private tour or individually on your own, get in touch through our contact page! We are happy to help you plan your ideal African adventure!
A big THANK YOU to Jan for sharing his story and insights. We hope you enjoyed today’s insights into a tour guide’s life.
Personally, I have never felt more exhilarated and fundamentally free than exploring Southern Africa. It is a magical experience that is hard to describe. Hopefully, you feel the inspiration and we’ll see you on the road!
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Have a fabulous week and until next time!
