Growing up outdoors, as a little boy I was given a fishing rod as a gift with which I took the first steps to a nearby canal. Armed with my telescopic casting rod, a bucket of bait and maggots or some bread, the first foundations of my interest in fishing were made. Throughout my youth I could be found outdoors, especially on or near the water. From the early start, all-round fishing for roach, bream or tench and the occasional pike or perch. Later on my interest switched to carp fishing and I did this quite fanatically for a while, until I discovered that predatory fishing, especially using lures, was much more active and fun.

In 2011, a long-held dream came true, this was a trip to Africa. A round trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town together with my mother. Meanwhile, we visited many national and private game reserves full of wildlife and beautiful nature. Until, at one point, I expressed to the tour guide that this was something I would like to do myself. “That can be arranged, there are training courses for this you can do,” I was told. After returning home, I started searching on what was possible. That’s how I ended up at the ranger and fieldguide course on Shamwari Game Reserve and in September 2012 I landed in South-Africa. As this is a private reserve and the training is in their facilities, it takes three intense months in which you are prepared to become an FGASA level 1 field guide, ranger and hospitality specialist. So you will be taught zoology, botany but also how to provide the best service to people who come to the reserve as guests. Add a wine tasting course and you are complete!