Mahlometela

Ralf Kalwa is Ecological Consultant at Malelane, a position he has held since December 2001.

He established Rhengu Environmental Services in the Malelane area and is trails leader for the Lebombo Eco Trail. Prior to holding this position, Kalwa was Manager: IEM: Kruger National Park from 2000-2001 and Senior Section Ranger: Kruger National Park from 1994-2000. “Every ranger in Kruger gets a Shangaan name, given to him by his staff and fellow field rangers,” says Kalwa. “Mine is Mahlometela… the man who sees everything.”

I think it all began sometime in the early Sixties, when I grew up in the hub of industrial South Africa, the Vaal Triangle. The towns in this booming world of iron and steel, oil and coal, were my first home – but dad did not come to Africa from war-torn Europe to spend all his time in the urban hustle and bustle of the Transvaal. When it was time to go on a holiday, we became part of the traditional July trek