Jean Toucher is the Safari Manager at Ghost Mountain Inn in Mkuze, Zululand, who not only skippers the unforgettable boat cruises and tiger fishing trips on nearby Lake Jozini\u00a0 – but also takes guests out on a wide variety of excursions including guided game drives, walking safaris and birding trips in Mkhuze and Hluhluwe.\u00a0 She also leads fascinating and authentic Zulu Cultural Walks as well as scenic hikes up to the top of Tshaneni (Ghost Mountain).\u00a0 She also loves to take the children out on grubby bug walks and Nature Treasure hunts as part of the kids programme.<\/p>\n
We decided it was time to get to know Jean a bit better with a quick Q & A session…<\/p>\n
Hi Jean.\u00a0\u00a0 Lets kick off our chat with an interesting fact about yourself? What made you want to work as a Safari Guide? How long have you worked at the property and briefly describe your studies\/career path? What have you done to make your mark on the property\/experience? Is there any exciting news or developments in the area you can share with us? What is your favourite thing about your job? Are there any real characters amongst your colleagues? What is your favourite animal & why? What is your favourite bird & why? Have you had any heart stopping moments? Do you have an amusing story to share about being out in the bush? What is your favourite time of day to be out on safari? When is your favourite time of the year in the Reserve? An interesting fact about the reserve that is not very well known? Who has been the biggest inspiration\/influence in your career? What is the best advice you recall? What is your motto in life? What is your favourite mode of travel? If you had a super power what would it be and why? What are your hobbies? How do you cope with the advances in technology? Do you tweet? What\u2019s your favourite movie of all time? What\u2019s your favourite programme on the TV right now? If you were a celebrity who would you choose to be and why? If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be? For more information on Ghost Mountain Inn please visit http:\/\/www.ghostmountaininn.co.za and follow them on twitter @GhostMtn.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jean Toucher is the Safari Manager at Ghost Mountain Inn in Mkuze, Zululand, who not only skippers the unforgettable boat cruises and tiger fishing trips…<\/p>\n
\nFor all I am very outgoing at work I am an intensely private and solitary person away from the hotel.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nI am a bushbaby born and bred what else is there?<\/span><\/p>\n
\n10 years. I have a Btech. Nature Conservation, FGASA levell III and a diploma in interior design to my name but along the way discovered that I love being a jeep jocky more than anything else<\/span><\/p>\n
\nI think that my work in expanding the interaction with present day Zulu culture and community involvement are what I am most proud of. My love of the property and the area is also something which I think shines through<\/span><\/p>\n
\nLions were reintroduced to Mkhuze Game Reserve in Dec 2013 after 44 years making it a “Big 5” game experience again, which is still very exciting for us. Twin elephants were also born to a herd on Lake Jozini where I do my boat cruises which is very special and rare and a real treat for guests to see.
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\nWhat three words would your friends use to describe you?
\nKind, bubbly and knowledgeable (but I think they\u2019re just trying to get on my good side for some reason)<\/span><\/p>\n
\nBeing out in wild, open spaces<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAll of them \u2013 you cannot do well in this industry and not be slightly insane<\/span><\/p>\n
\nElephant \u2013 intelligent and gentle<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHeuglens robin-chat. You only have to wake up to that call to know why<\/span><\/p>\n
\nInnumerable \u2013 most involving humans in one way or another.\u00a0 However a curious young hippo who got his head stuck between a post and the toilet on our small boat recently probable gave me my most recent adrenalin rush.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWe had some intrepid guests decide to go out exploring on their own recently only to have them return within minutes to the hotel with a scary story about being attacked by a gang of men dressed in black, with blacked out faces and big knives. I took me a while to realise that they were describing innocent sugar cane cutters on their way home from work. As we burn the cane before cutting the men were covered in black soot and carrying their cane harvesting knives. They kindly showed the guests how to use the knives when I took them out and introduced them.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nLate afternoon\/twilight<\/span><\/p>\n
\nMid to late September<\/span><\/p>\n
\nMkhuze Game Reserve has one of the most amazing hides where winter viewing is great throughout the morning.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nMy father<\/span><\/p>\n
\nMy Grandmother told me to always keep a smile on my face and eventually it will convince your heart that you are happy<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHave fun \/ help as much as possible<\/span><\/p>\n
\nBoat<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWould not want one \u2013 to be human is the best we can be<\/span><\/p>\n
\nReading and all things nature<\/span><\/p>\n
\nI don’t tweet – and my phone is only used to make calls.\u00a0 I even hate sending texts\u00a0 – but I do update our Ghost Mountain Inn Facebook page<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWalt Disney’s Fantasia<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAmerican politics on any channel is like a soapy addiction for me at the moment but I don\u2019t watch much.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nNone \u2013 the lifestyle is not one I would ever choose<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDark Chocolate or coffee = how about coffee filled dark chocolate
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\nThanks Jean for taking time out of everyday “Zululand Life” to chat with us!<\/p>\n