Leaving the city and returning home gave him an exciting new career...

When 47-year-old Wonder Boy Sibuyi left school he did what most young men raised in far-flung rural villages do... He headed for the bright lights of the big city, in this case Johannesburg. 

Born in the small village of Thorndale, not far from the Manyeleti, "Wonder" (as he is affectionately known) took up a trade as a builder, working as a contractor for seven years in the distant Highveld with his cousin, who's based there. "I then moved into plastering and spent another two years doing that in and around the Randburg and Honeydew area," says the cheerful and happy-go-lucky Wonder.

"I wasn't happy and decided to come home to Thorndale. I had many friends and family members working in the Sabi Sand at safari lodges and became interested in learning about tracking," explains Wonder. "I got the chance to go to Londolozi to train as a tracker, so spent seven months there before getting my certificate. During that time, I found I absolutely loved the bush and especially tracking."

For Wonder, discovering his "superpower" as a tracker opened up a whole new career horizon for him and he soon found himself "temping" at Pungwe as a tracker, coming into the camp on as needed basis. After four years as a temporary tracker, he became a permanent member of the Pungwe team.

"It was a wonderful day, the day I started working here full-time," says Wonder. "It was like discovering a big new family I didn't know I had. I love the bush so much, and just love being in it every day for my work. It's a blessing, and one I am very grateful for."

Wonder gets up at 05h30 every day to prepare the game viewing vehicle for guests, putting blankets on seats in the winter and rain ponchos in the seat pouches in summer, making sure everything is ready for the morning game drive. He then waits for guests and helps with morning coffee around the fire before heading out into his beloved Manyeleti to track and find elusive big cats and other incredible wildlife. "After the morning drive I clean the vehicle and then have a rest until 14h30 when I start the process again for the afternoon/evening drive," he explains.

At home in Thorndale, Wonder is father to two daughters aged 19 and five and two sons aged 11 and 3 months. His job at Pungwe has secured his family's future and he's very happy that he left the concrete jungle to return to his roots in South Africa's beautiful Greater Kruger.

"When I think about it now, Johannesburg is another world and very far away from where I am now," says Wonder. "Every day in the bush is another chance for me to learn. You are always learning as a tracker, always discovering new things. I would love to train to be a guide some day, but for now I love being in the 'hot seat' on the front of the vehicle, looking for tracks."

Wonder's favourite thing in the Manyeleti is birding. "Even when there are no mammals around, there are always birds," he laughs. "My favourite bird is the pearl-spotted owlet - I can do it's call very well! And my favourite mammal is the painted wolf (African wild dog) - I love how clever they are and how successful they are as hunters."

Now that lockdown restrictions are easing and more and more guests are returning to Pungwe, Wonder and the rest of the Pungwe team are more relaxed and looking forward to what the future brings. "It was hard during lockdown, we didn't know what was going to happen and if tourism was going to open up again," he says solemnly. "Tourism is very important to us in the communities around here, so thank goodness our guests are coming back now, because we have missed them very much."