SFISO THABETHE

Sfiso, our experienced guide from Northern KwaZulu Natal tells us a little bit more about his upbringing and why he joined Sunway Safaris.

I grew up in a very rural area called nHlonhlela mKhuze village, which is the small villiage that is facing a hill called Tshaneni or ghost mountain.  In 1984 the battle of ghost mountain took place right here, where I grew up.

When I was at high school at Lifalethu high, we as the students decided to form an environmental club, because local people were doing a lot of poaching and so as the youth we decided to tell them about the importance of saving wildlife. mKhuze Game Reserve helped by providing us with the relevant training for this. That is where I started to really enjoy guiding after seeing guides at mKhuze telling guest about wildlife, but that was not enough for me since I am more a cultural person and I always wanted to share my culture with people.

I then received a learnership to study guiding that included culture and wildlife. After finishing that I worked for a cultural tour company to improve my knowledge. After 5 years of seeing my progress in guiding I had decided to approach Sunway Safaris owner, Shaun Jones, since I use to do village tours for their groups. My qualification was not enough, so I had to do another guiding course with The Gield Guides Association of South Africa, and get registered with Department of Environmental Affairs And Tourism. So now I am happy to work as a mobile safari guide.

CAPE TO VICTORIA FALLS GRAND EXPLORER: "Thanks for a wonderful holiday. I just came back from this great tour and I would like to thank Sfiso and Meike for their great contribution to this special adventure. We got so much great Information from the two of them. I also want to mention the cooking - always very good and different - especially the wraped chicken was quite something. Sharp sharp.." Anja, Germany

SOUTH AFRICA RAINBOW ROUTE: "It is very important for us to contact you in regards to the Rainbow route we have just finished. We had a really wonderful great time on your Tour. Everything was excellent from the accommodation to the programme, your vehicle and perfect guides. They both are totally qualified persons and worked very well together. It’s my 3 trip with your agency and I am still surprised and satisfied how good your product is and will recommend to all our friends. Sfiso is a great, Pavarotti´Opern singer which we enjoyed very much. His voice made our holiday very relaxing and Farai was always so interested by us, always helpful and friendly And he always made the most delicious dinner. Every meal was something new from different chicken menus homemade bread and great game meat always with fresh vegetables. When I got nervous or panic they both kept me calm and explain me in a clear manner the situation. We would like every time when we return to travel with you and especially with Sfiso+ Farai" Elsässer Bernd + Anti Sigrid

CAPE TO VICTORIA FALLS GRAND EXPLORER: "I have just returned to NZ from my Cape to Vic Falls accommodated tour. I would like to report how pleased we were with our guides. Sfiso Thabethe and Paulus were very good. They certainly tried to make sure we were safe and well taken care of. Excellent meals. Very safe driving. Lovely sense of humour both of them, and just genuinely nice guys. When we had our American dollars stolen, they tried very hard to assist us to obtain American dollars in Victoria Falls. We are very grateful." Gail Powell, New Zealand

SOUTH AFRICA RAINBOW ROUTE: "So I'm back from my trip with Sunway, the South Africa Rainbow Route. I really had a blast, so I wanted to thank you for this wonderful journey. Our guides, Paolo and Sfiso, were very friendly and very professional. Sfiso was a very good driver, as well as a very good cook, and Paolo impressed everyone with his amazing knowledge about the wildlife and the African flora (and he's a good cook too!). We were lucky with our encounters, but they both made our trip even better." Guillaume Nouyrigat, France

ZIMBABWE BOTSWANA GAME TRACKER: "This was a trip of a lifetime and I cannot thank you enough for providing it it for me,  I wish your company every  success because you truly deserve it. I already plan to to come back next summer on another tour of yours, so I will be back in touch.  Both of my guides (Both called Sfiso) really made it so memorable and I wish them both much success with your company because they deserve that.  They were both very professional, helpful, kind, happy and fun!" Margaret Waratzl, USA

BOTSWANA WILD PARKS: "Sfiso looked after us very well, with good humour, great help, stories, wildlife and local information. I had a great time. Thank you!!" Peter Mowbray, Australia

ZIMBABWE BOTSWANA GAME TRACKER: "As a family of 4 we travelled the Game Tracker Accomodated tour last year in August guided by Sfiso. This journey was an unforgettable experience because Sfiso made it special. He isn't only a great cook (which of course is something very important),he has as well a wide knowledge about history, culture, and of course all animals and plants. Very impressive. Enjoying this funny guy, he organised the tour (and the clients) very well and with a lot of patience, and every evening we were very curious to listen to his stories while sitting around the camp fire. We will never forget the wonderful time together. Thanks Sfiso !!!" Family Kedem from Germany/Israel

NAMIBIA & ZAMBEZI NBa15  "Herewith we would like you to thank you for the beautiful trip we did last weeks with your organisation. It very well organised through a country we will never forget anymore. Unless it was sometime a bit long and bumpy traveling in the bus caused by the roads, which were not all in a good condition, we had the time of our life and the team spirit was great. With the two enthusiasts guides, Chris and Sufiso, they made the tour complete! They were the engines to succeed this trip and they did it very well and they were very involved and take good care of all of us. Very positive! Thank you for organising this trip for us. We will remember you!” Ans & Roel Knape, Holland

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