Get to know Jabulani’s new Ranger, Tylor and explore the wilderness through his eyes.

We all have different connections to nature and the animal world. Can you describe yours?

When people come to the bush it’s because they love nature. There is an indescribable connection you get being in the bush and becoming one with the land and its inhabitants. People who love nature get accepted by nature in a way… As a guide, I love being that connection between humans and nature.

How have you developed your understanding of the South African wilderness?

Since I was a young child, I’ve been out in the bush learning and asking questions constantly trying to figure out what is actually going on within our natural world. Extensive training and learning how to actually observe behaviour of animals has given me the knowledge that I have today.

What are the moments of living and working at Jabulani that mean the most to you?

All of our staff are amazing people inside and outside of work and we really do get along like an extended family. I think this rubs off on others, guests or new staff members alike, as the team make everyone feel at home.

Watch Tylor’s introduction here >

What unusual things do you love about the wilderness?

The unpredictable behaviour of the natural world. As a guide, you don’t really know what is around each corner and this adds to the excitement.

How do you handle fear in the wild in yourself and guests?

Confidence is key! It’s important because if there is one individual in an entire group who stays level-headed and cool-minded, it settles everyone else. The experiences and knowledge that all of us have are also essential in handling fear, as we have been in many of the scary situations before and know what to do and when to do it.

What are your five important rules to life in the wild?

Be situationally aware at all times.
Never go anywhere without your guide or another person present.
Tune in. You’d be surprised at how nature gives to you if you allow it to.
Go out not expecting anything. That’s how everything stays interesting, from a bird to the largest of mammals.
Respect nature as at the end of the day nature will always win.

What inspires you in life and work?

Waking up in the morning and not knowing what you’re going to experience definitely keeps everyone on their toes. The reactions of our guests to different experiences is often priceless and definitely inspires me in my career.

Best meal and drink on the menu at Jabulani?

Sous vide kudu risotto and the homemade lemonade

How do you believe you can help make the world a better place through experiences and places like Jabulani?

By giving people these experiences it enables them to gather a better understanding of how different elements in our natural environment work together in many ways and helps all of us at the end of the day. I’m a firm believer that if you have passion for something and share it, you can pass it on to others. The Jabulani elephant herd is an amazing source of inspiration to people and sharing experiences with them, witnessing them in nature and learning their stories, people get a broader look into elephant behaviour and can better spread the word about elephant conservation as a whole.