Peace
Our safari guide was very definitely a highlight of the trip. While somewhat reserved, he knew so much about the animals, trees, and birds that he was excited to share and he has a wicked sense of humor.
Peace has been a safari guide for more than 15 years and worked in Krueger before coming to Zulu Nyala. He obviously has a huge heart for animals and has found, or has had brought to him, orphaned cheetahs, cervils, giraffe, wildebeest, and even a python. Of his three children, two hope to grow up to be safari guides like himself (the third: a nurse).
His first career however was as a policeman in Johannesburg. Peace said his father was very opposed ton having a son work for the police. As a minister, he was worried about the violence and corruption that Peace would be exposed to. So Peace ran away from home, hid from his father, and joined the police force. And hated it. As an African, working in Johannesburg, police officers have a very difficult, very dangerous job. He must have been there soon before or shortly after the end of apartheid, which would have added to the dangers already posed in the huge city with massive unemployment and poverty. He couldn't leave the force though and explained that policemen can't quit - only a guardian can resign for you.
Peace's father didn't give up either. He looked for Peace for three years before locating him in Johannesburg. Without even talking to his son, he marched into the police station and resigned Peace from the service, much to his son's relief.
Peace returned home, with no job and no plans. A mentor, his elementary school teacher, enlisted Peace's help for odd jobs to keep him occupied and encouraged him to return to school and find a vocation. Peace enrolled in university and studied ecology and after graduation, he found his passion as a ranger.
Peace has been a safari guide for more than 15 years and worked in Krueger before coming to Zulu Nyala. He obviously has a huge heart for animals and has found, or has had brought to him, orphaned cheetahs, cervils, giraffe, wildebeest, and even a python. Of his three children, two hope to grow up to be safari guides like himself (the third: a nurse).
His first career however was as a policeman in Johannesburg. Peace said his father was very opposed ton having a son work for the police. As a minister, he was worried about the violence and corruption that Peace would be exposed to. So Peace ran away from home, hid from his father, and joined the police force. And hated it. As an African, working in Johannesburg, police officers have a very difficult, very dangerous job. He must have been there soon before or shortly after the end of apartheid, which would have added to the dangers already posed in the huge city with massive unemployment and poverty. He couldn't leave the force though and explained that policemen can't quit - only a guardian can resign for you.
Peace's father didn't give up either. He looked for Peace for three years before locating him in Johannesburg. Without even talking to his son, he marched into the police station and resigned Peace from the service, much to his son's relief.
Peace returned home, with no job and no plans. A mentor, his elementary school teacher, enlisted Peace's help for odd jobs to keep him occupied and encouraged him to return to school and find a vocation. Peace enrolled in university and studied ecology and after graduation, he found his passion as a ranger.
posted by Imle at 5:43 AM
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