Every day brings a new challenge—whether it’s two white rhinoceros sleeping in the road blocking your path, elephants approaching to investigate the game drive vehicle, or the most real-life zebra crossing you could ever find. As rangers, we’re trained to handle all these situations with ease. But for me, having (very) young children in the back of the vehicle for the first time was a unique challenge!
Guiding with Kids: A Whole New Style
Usually, we have an age restriction of 7 years old for children joining a game drive, but on special occasions, such as privately booked drives, we make exceptions. Guiding with kids demands a completely different style, and it was certainly something I had to get used to. Before long, I learned to fire away with favorite questions like, “Who can spot the first big grey bum in the bush?” or “Whose dung is that?” I love the giggles and surprised faces every time I pick up dung to share something about it!
Organized Chaos and Creative Curiosity
Keeping things organized around small children can sometimes be a bit of a struggle. For instance, when we were watching baboons climbing trees, I suddenly felt the vehicle move from the back—only to find that the children in the last row were reenacting what we had just seen!
But the best part is always the questions from the kids: “Why are elephants grey?” “What is the bobble underneath the giraffe’s belly?” and “How does a lion roar?” They aren’t afraid to ask questions that adults might think are silly. In the bush, there are no stupid questions—especially from creative young minds who think outside the box.
A Plan That Works for Everyone
So yes, kids can be a challenge on a game drive, but here at Mhondoro, we always make a plan that works for everyone. For me, the animals we encounter are often easier to handle than the little ones, but those little ones sure make for some interesting drives!
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