Benoni’s own lion whisperer

“I love being in the bush – every day you wake up not knowing what to expect.”

Robynne Kotze and her fiancée, Kyle Burger, with Rufus - after removing his radio collar in October 2015. This darting operation was captured on an episode of Safari Brothers, which aired on Nat Geo Wild in November last year.

“I enjoy that one minute you can be sitting quietly at your camp site, waiting for the sun to set and two minutes later, you’re in the car chasing a pack of wild dogs that are hunting impala.

“After a day or two you can be completely switched off from the outside world, immersed in the wilderness, connected to God through the quiet and the peace and the beauty of what’s around you.

“It’s so spectacular to find the lions – in the middle of nowhere – and know that you’re the only people around for a few kilometres; it’s just you and them.”

Blondie, one of the study males, after wading through the water in the floodplains in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Lions in this area wade across water and even swim across channels on a regular basis in this wetland environment, according to Robynne Kotze.

Another famous Benoni girl

Robynne Kotze and her team were featured in an episode of Safari Brothers, which aired on Nat Geo Wild in November last year, wherein they performed a darting operation on one of the lions they study – Rufus.

Click here to watch the video

Kotze studies the ecology and behaviour of lions in the Okavango Delta, Botswana – and she’s from Benoni.

The zoologist was born on November 23 1988, in the Life the Glynnwood Hospital.

She attended Tom Newby School during primary school, after which her family moved to Tzaneen, in Limpopo, where she attended Merensky High School.

While in Benoni, Kotze’s family stayed in Airfield, Northmead and finally Farrarmere, before changing provinces.

“I can’t say that I would ever live in a city again, but my family now again lives in Benoni so I’ll definitely return on a regular basis for visits,” she said.

This video was posted on the Looking for Lions Facebook page:

Road to zoology

The nature lover is now busy with her PhD through the University of Cape Town.

It’ll focus on several aspects of lion ecology in the Okavango Delta.

“Wetlands present a unique habitat for lions and using GPS data collected from collared animals, I hope to determine how much the flooding in wetlands affects aspects of their ecology and behaviour such as habitat choice, movements and home range size,” she said.

“I’ll also look at spoor surveys as a means of assessing and tracking changes in lion population size, in this environment.

“The last aspect of my project will be focused on the movements of sub-adult males which, at the right age, will disperse out of my study area in search of new prides.”

While working in the bush, Kotze completed her master’s degree through the University of Witwatersrand, on lion demographics and social behaviour in the Okavango.

“I’ve always aimed to be a zoologist – never anything else – and had my heart set on working with big cats for as long as I can remember,” the former Benonian said.

“Straight after school I started on a BSc in zoology, at the University of Pretoria – and stayed there until 2010 to complete my honours degree.

“Under a local research organisation, I started research in Botswana on lions in the western Okavango Delta in 2012 and I’m continuing this research today, under the Looking for Lions Conservation Project.”

Kotze hopes to continue her work on the lions in the Okavango Delta and use the knowledge she’s gained over the past few years, to contribute to the conservation plans for these lions in the future.

“Cadey, the first lioness we collared as part of the project, with two of her cubs. Collars are fitted with the assistance of a veterinarian, and with enough space between neck and collar to prevent chaffing or discomfort.”

Every job comes with its difficulties

“One of the most difficult aspects is being separated from friends and family, especially when you’re working far away and in remote places for a few months at a time,” the researcher said.

“Camping and living out of a Land Rover while moving around the bush, also means that you forego certain privileges – like running water and a hot shower at night – but it also makes you appreciate these little things when you do have them.

“You’re also at the mercy of the elements while camping – so whether it’s pouring rain or 45 degrees heat, there’s no escape. That can make life a bit difficult when you’re in the middle of nowhere and working long days.”

Anyone who wishes to follow the lion project, can follow Kotze’s Facebook page called Looking for Lions, or follow her team on Instagram @looking4lions.