LEARN ALL ABOUT THE BENGAL TIGER
5 May 2025LEARN ALL ABOUT THE BENGAL TIGER
5 May 2025I AM DONOVAN CROSS
Wild Eye's Newest Guide
Donovan Cross recently joined our incredibly experienced and professional guiding team and brings a wonderful amount of experience and expertise.
Growing up I was fortunate enough that my parents took us on a safari at least once a year. My mother often reminds me of how I could point out and identify different animal species even before I could construct proper sentences. I also couldn’t fall asleep without a wildlife documentary playing in the background. It is safe to say that I fell in love with the bush from a very early age and that love, and connection has gotten stronger and deeper as time went on.
My very first memory of a wild animal was when a monkey stole a banana out of my hands when I was 5 years old. Although in that moment it felt like the scariest encounter ever, it made a lasting impression, and I since have had multiple way more scary encounters.
It wasn’t until I was late high school that my parents took me to a private game reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park called Timbavati. This was the first time I saw a safari guide and tracker in action. On our second day the guide and tracker tracked a pride of lions for probably a good 3 hours before we eventually found them sleeping in the dry riverbed. I remember thinking that how on earth can a job exist where you get paid to track lions. That sounded too good to be true. I had to find out for myself so ever since then I knew I had to work in the bush.
My parents, being the responsible people that they are, insisted that I first go to university and get a degree behind my name. So after school I went to study a BCom Marketing Management degree. Everything always happens for very good reason as it was also during my student years that I met my now wife. As soon as I completed my degree, I went to do the ranger training course hosted by andBeyond.
I started my guiding career at Forest Lodge on Phinda Private Game Reserve. This was a dream come true, I found it so rewarding to see the impact a safari has on people and it was such a privilege to be the person to facilitate this experience.
After two years of guiding at Phinda I transferred to the iconic and probably one of the most well-known (with good reason) game reserves on the planet- The Sabi Sands. I was based at Kirkmans Kamp as well as Tengile River Lodge. Because the Sabi Sands has such consistently good game viewing it naturally attracts a lot of passionate photographers. After so many people shared their beautiful images with me, I felt that it was time to get a camera of my own and well the rest is history… once that bug bites it never lets you go.
After I experienced the thrill of guiding at Phinda, the Sabi Sands as well as stints at Ngala Game Reserve, I realized that Africa still has so much more to offer. This is where my Wild Eye journey begins. Not only will working at Wild Eye afford me the opportunity to travel the world, but I can also do so by taking like minded people along and share my passion, stories and love for nature wherever.
MY FAVOURITE SAFARI MOMENTS
THIS IS DONOVAN CROSS
WHAT I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT
To explore new areas where I have never been and share these magnificent places with like minded people. To help create itineraries that will change the way people see the world and create memories that will last a lifetime.
So come and join me as we explore the Red Lechwe’s galloping through the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta, or as we feel the earth shake as thousands of Wildebeests graze the plains of the Masai Mara, or come and track some Gorillas families in Uganda with me, or let’s just have a drink under the stars of one of the darkest skies in the world in the deserts of Namibia. Don’t hesitate, coming to Africa will be one of the best decisions of your life.
I find purpose in educating people about wildlife and the most iconic wildlife destinations, as this contributes to conservation. Creating memories, chasing sunsets and building lasting relationships with like minded people is what fulfils me.