Meet the people

Kally Ubisi

Game ranger

Kally has lived and worked in the Kruger National Park for 23 years – half of his life. His father also works here – he’s been a driver since the Fifties – and Kally grew up in neighbouring towns. As a field guide and game ranger in the anti-poaching unit, Kally has moved all over the park, but in 2014 he moved to Skukuza.

“To live here, you must have a love of, and a calling for, conservation; if you want to make the big bucks, you won’t last a month,” he says. Of course, poaching is a sensitive topic, made more difficult when people you know are involved. “Yes, we are combatting an enemy in our midst,” Kally says emphatically.

He has many animal stories to tell: in 2015, for example, an innovative troop of baboons learnt to knock on people’s front doors. “The baboons watched the people, noticed them knocking and learnt that was how you get a door to open!”

Kally’s favourite time is the start of spring and the summer that follows. “Everything comes to life – the trees bud, the migrating birds return, colours call… Then it really does feel like summer.”