Trust Mathebula, 34, knows what it’s like to dream with nothing behind you. He grew up in Hlalakahle, a small village in Mpumalanga, where poverty shaped every day.
“I grew up in a very poverty-stricken village. We had no water, no proper food, and no resources for school. I had big dreams, but they seemed unachievable because of my circumstances,” he said.
As a child, he walked miles to school without shoes or a proper uniform. Today, he’s working to make sure other kids from similar backgrounds don’t have to face the same barriers.
In 2024, Mathebula funded and ran the first phase of a free career guidance program for township learners while working as a guide at Kwalata Game Lodge inside Dinokeng Game Reserve, north of Pretoria.
The program introduces young people to careers in conservation and gives them practical insight into the industry.
“I want to guide my village toward better education, health, and financial stability, so future generations don’t struggle as I did,” he says.
Right now, Mathebula works as a freelance safari guide in Kruger National Park and runs an airport and lodge pickup service. The work supports eight households, but he says it’s not enough to build what he really wants to create a bush camp.
“The bush camp will provide a safe and supportive environment for children to learn and grow, with a focus on conservation, sustainability, and life skills. Education is the key to unlocking a brighter future for my community,” he believes.
With help from Irish volunteers, Mathebula is raising funds to get the camp off the ground. He says the goal is simple: to give kids from poor regions access to education and job opportunities in conservation they wouldn’t otherwise have.
“With one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, I feel responsible for helping my community break the cycle of poverty,” he said.
Tourism is a calling, not just a job
Being a safari guide was Mathebula’s childhood dream, and he calls it a calling. He’s worked at some of South Africa’s biggest lodges and reserves, and he recalled his biggest milestone being a tour guide that went viral with an elegant video at Kapama in Hoedspruit and lodges in the far north of Kruger National Park. The video reached over 10 million views around the world.
“I enjoy and love being a tour guide. It’s a job that needs a love for travel, a desire to share that with others, and the ability to adapt to different people. But more than that, it’s about respect for the bush.”
He says safety comes down to discipline: follow the guide, stay quiet, avoid direct eye contact, and never turn your back on an animal. “Walking against the wind direction reduces danger because animals can’t pick up your scent. Walk in single file and use hand signals.”
One of the rewards of the job is meeting people from around the world. “The biggest tip I’ve ever received in my career was R150,000 from overseas guests after a successful Big Five sighting in the Kruger National Park.
Building a legacy
Mathebula wants to do a media course to improve his photography to enhance documenting his work.
“ I have travelled to reserves in Botswana, Lesotho, and Tanzania, and one day I will own my game viewer and game reserve. But the immediate focus is the bush camp.”
He added that he doesn’t want future generations to struggle the way he did,
“I’m determined to make a difference and create a lasting legacy. I hope you’ll join me on this journey and support my mission to transform my village and create a better future for all,” he said.
*To support the project, contact Mathebula directly on +27 60 656 1744
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