If you have been an avid reader of our blog and monthlyWildlife Reports, then the name Saitoti Ole Kuwai won’t be new to you. He is a regular contributor to the bush ranger diaries fromSingita Grumeti, where he works as a field guide, and his photographs often feature in ourHighlights posts.
Saitoti is a proud Masai and grew up in theNgorongoro Conservation Areaof Tanzania, where he took his first steps towards his future profession by learning how to track animals from other tribesmen. He was inspired to follow a career inwildlife conservationafter seeing the effects of poaching first hand, and pursued his formal training before joining Singita in 2005.
He describes his work in the Serengeti as “an honour and a big privilege” and is completely dedicated to the protection and conservation of African wildlife for future generations. “My day starts in the dark; I always wake up at 4 o’clock. It’s early in the morning but you can still hear things like hyena and jackal calling and that tells me that the bush is awake.”
To Saitoti, game drives are like fishing, where the vast plains are an endless sea and you never know what you’re going to catch. He says: “What’s needed for you is the passion, the passion to wait.”
“I love to tell guests about the traditions, culture, customs and lifestyle of my tribe. The best thing about my job is being involved in ensuring the health and growth of the area’s wildlife. Living in close harmony with animals is important because through them we learn so much.” Watch the video to learn more about this dedicated conservationist:
This is the second in our#singitastoriesseries, introducing you to some of Singita’s team members. We previously featuredTime Mutema, a field guide atSingita Pamsushana Lodgein Zimbabwe. Browse our Vimeo channel for more about the people of Singita, interesting wildlife sightings and to see the inspiration behind all our lodges and camps.