Field Rangers

Trevor Liebenberg is head ranger at Lion Sands and brings with him a wealth of experience. Originally from Johannesburg, Trevor has been at Lion Sands since May 2003 and is now pretty much part of the furniture. Trevor knows the bush inside out and has a range of wildlife qualifications which make him one of the best in the business - he is certainly the right man to manage our team of dedicated rangers.

Sydonea Hlatshwayo is assistant head ranger at Lion Sands and has steadily risen through the ranks after beginning his career with us. And it looks like he may well be staying with us for life! Sydonea is extremely motivated and passionate about his job - his enthusiasm for the bush and its assortment of plants and animals are sure to delight many a guest.

Allan Ronchini has been a field guide since 1993 and as such he is Head of Training for our very dynamic guiding team. He is certified by FGASA (Field Guide Association of South Africa) to evaluate and assess field guides practically. Allan joined the Lion Sands family in 2001, something he describes as a dream come true!

Edwin Pierce is the Chief Ecologist at Lion Sands and plays a major role in maintaining our role as a pioneer of conservation, especially important in this day and age.  Edwin has a B-Tech Degree in Nature Conservation and is ideally qualified to ensure an effective balance between the commercial and ecological objectives of Lion Sands.

Hailing from the coastal city of Durban, Landon has wanted to work as a ranger since he was a young boy - looks like he got his wish! A senior ranger on the reserve with  FGASA Level 3 SKS (Special Knowledge and Skills), Landon started his career on a small reserve in the Eastern Cape before joining Lion Sands in 2002. And like most of our staff, he isn't looking to go anywhere, anytime soon.

Enock Temba is a senior ranger and has been with Lion Sands for over 8 years. Enock is passsionate about the bush and is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide who has been entertaining guests for many a year, with hopefully many more to come!

Gawie Grobler is a Senior Ranger and has been working at Lion Sands since 2005. Gawie is a birding expert and his knowledge of the various species enthralls our guests. He has acquired his Special Skills Set (DA) and is working on his SKS (Birds) qualification.

Stanley is an experienced guide from Zimbabwe, who has been in the industry since 1999. He has worked in Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park and the Matopos (all in Zimbabwe) before crossing the border and joining Lion Sands in 2006. Stanley loves the bush, especially birding and tree identification!

Simon Mbambo was born in the area and has been working in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve since he was 18! He joined Lion Sands in 2002 and hasn't looked back since. Born and bred in the bush, Simon is an excellent guide who specialises in birding.

Originally from Bermuda, Talley joined us in 2008 to realise a life long dream of working in the African bushveld. Passionate about the local flora and fauna, Talley particularly enjoys getting to know the individual characteristics and behaviours of our resident lions and leopards.

A real livewire, Diederik is one of the more recent members of our team and has added a new dimension to Lion Sands. While he lists his favourite animal as the elephant, Diederik is especially interested in birds and plants, and boasts an excellent knowledge of the bush.

With a passion for wildlife and the outdoors, Benry has always been destined for a career in guiding. Fascinated by the smaller and more unfavourable creatures like snakes and spiders, Benry appreciates all aspects of nature and has learnt that anything is possible in the bush! 

Spending much of his childhood on his grandfather's game farm, DJ has the bush running through his blood. He studied Game Ranch Management and has been guiding since 2007. DJ is looking to specialize in wildflowers and bird guiding and is passionate about photography and film.

Like many members of our team, Brandon has always wanted to be a game ranger - and so we obliged! Hailing from the hub of Johannesburg, Brandon is something of a photography fanatic and is somewhat obsessed with the leopards on the Lion Sands Reserve.

Kurt started guiding in 2004 and has been with Lion Sands for over 2 years. After studying Nature Conservation, Game Ranging and Lodge Management, he decided to take his expertise into the bush. Kurt has a keen interest in mammal behaviour, as well as insects and birds and a strong passion for photography.

Originally a tracker at Lion Sands, Michael has completed the necessary qualifications and is now one of our most popular rangers. The fact that he started as a tracker helps him understand the animals better and if anyone knows where the animals are hiding, it's Michael!