Today we celebrate Women’s Day, and the incredible women on our guiding team at Thornybush. We sat down with Tracey Bruton, our Safari Guide of the Year Finalist and Guide at Thornybush Game Lodge to ask her a few questions on what it’s like to be a female guide in this seemingly male-dominate world of Safari professionals. We hope her story inspires young women who dream of a life in the wild.

Tell us how you got into guiding. Did you grow up in the bush?

I grew up in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape and moved to Cape Town at the age of 12. Although I didn’t grow up in the bush, I spent a lot of time out in nature on camping trips and excursions to wild places in Southern Africa. My love for wildlife and the outdoors grew from a very early age.

After school I studied a diploma in Nature Conservation, but then studied and worked in Film & Television Production in Cape Town for several years. I eventually decided that the city wasn’t for me and I signed up for a guiding course and moved across the country to the Lowveld. That was ten years ago, and I am so happy I was courageous enough to make that big life change for the better.

What did you study? Are you still doing any more advanced qualifications?

I am now a FGASA Professional Field Guide (Level 3) and Trails Guide, working towards my Professional Trails Guide qualification. After achieving this, I plan to move on to work towards my FGASA SKS (Specialised Knowledge and Skills) Dangerous Game qualification, and perhaps SKS Birds and SKS Wild Flowers in the future too.

How many years have you been guiding at Thornybush Game Lodge?

I have been guiding at Thornybush Game Lodge for the last 3 years and have been lucky enough to be teamed with one of the best trackers in the reserve, Orlando Mawelele, who has been at Thornybush Game Lodge since 2002. We have a strong bond which is very important with guide and tracker teams to give our guests the best possible experience.

Thornybush Nature Reserve has a special place in my heart. I have guided in the reserve for almost 5 years, and it has been very rewarding to get to know some of the special animal characters in the reserve and follow their life stories. The reserve has a vast array of fauna and a diversity of habitat which makes it an exceptional reserve for game drives and bush walks.

What are some of your best moments guiding at Thornybush?

I have had so many incredible moments guiding in Thornybush and sharing sightings and the magic of nature with my guests. From watching tiny cubs exploring their new world, to witnessing incredible moments and watching different species interacting, many memories come to mind.

My favourites are having the privilege to witness the characters I have got to know going through the trials and tribulations of life, as well as seeing the seasons change and how the landscape, flora and fauna changed with it.

Do you find any challenges being a woman in this seemingly male-dominated world?

As a female guide, there were challenges in the beginning of my guiding career with regards to being compared to the many males in the industry and being doubted to be as competent, but as I climbed the qualifications it became less of an issue for me. I am as competent as any guide at my level, and I actually enjoy being a bit of an underdog! I can shoot a rifle as good as any guy, (if not better) and can change a tyre. I have actually found that lodges value having female guides as part of their team as we are often more compassionate to guests, and to be honest, we can multitask better! 🙂

You are a qualified walking guide correct? Tell us what you love most about it.

I am a qualified FGASA Full Trails guide and doing bush walks out in the reserve is my absolute favourite thing to do ever! It makes me feel so alive to be walking along game paths where elephants, lions and leopards to name a few have been walking before for perhaps thousands of years. It is such a privilege and almost a spiritual activity.

What made you enter Safari Guide of the Year? Please take us through the process of being chosen as a finalist.

I was nominated into Safari Guide of the Year 2024 by two well established and respected guides in the industry, and I was contacted by the event organisers to find out if I wanted to take part in the competition.

My immediate thought to myself was – “No … I can’t do it … too much pressure … I’m not good enough … I’m not ready” – but an hour later I was accepting the nomination. I am so honoured to have been nominated and even with my huge self-doubts, I took on the challenge as an incredible learning experience.

After an interview process, I was then chosen as one of the five finalists!

The week-long competition, held in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, was such a wonderful experience, and everyone, from my fellow finalists, to the sponsors, judges and organisers were so kind and humble. Even though I didn’t win any big prizes, it was an incredibly valuable experience that has built up my confidence and motivation to better myself as a guide.

Do you have any big dreams for the future?

My dreams for the future definitely involve still living in the bush, however perhaps more in the conservation or anti-poaching side at some stage. I feel so passionate about our wildlife and the plight of endangered animals and threatened habitats that I do want to make more of a direct difference on the ground.

Do you have any advice for women wanting to get into guiding?

My advice for women (or anyone) who is thinking about getting into guiding is don’t have any doubts about yourself or if you can make it in this industry. You can and you will! Just follow your passion and push to get qualified. Once you are qualified, continue to push to the next qualification and better yourself as a guide. Guiding is so rewarding and being able to live in the bush is such a privilege.