Orlando Chauke
LIMPOPO – FOR those who have been to the Marakele National Park in Thabazimbi, the name Sydney Mikosi might ring a bell; he is the man who, from the whiff of an elephant, can tell that one has just crossed your path or is still lurking in the bushes.
“I have been working with animals for quite a long time and I know how to track some of them by merely catching a whiff of their smell from the blowing wind,” he explains.
“An elephant’s smell is distinct, I can’t really explain it, but it’s kind of like a rotten tree.”
Mikosi, who is originally from the royal family at Gondeni la ha Mabilu village in Venda, started his work as a guide at Mabula River Lodge in 2007, where he did his training before he moved to Marakele National Park in 2009 as a senior guide and promoted to head guide in 2011.
He is currently one of Marakele’s most experienced and respected guides who brings plenty of fun and learning to every adventure that he undertakes.
“An hour drive with him will make you fall in love with natural habitants in the park and give you a better understand of their beauty and their importance in the ecological environment,” says Didi Baloyi, one of the tourists who rode with Mikosi during a recent game drive at Marakele.
“He’s knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and courteous and has a passion and enthusiasm for his job,” adds William Smith, another tourist.
Beside being a guide, the 33-year-old wants to become a regional activities coordinator, a position which is offered only at SANParks and requires one to be responsible for controlling field guides of one or more regions in SANParks.
“I want to have my own guys and groom them to be the best guides in my region,” he says.
