Spotlight On Kelatlhegile Monnaalehuma (KT)

What is your role here?

I am the head waiter.

How long have you been working for Royal African Safaris?

I began working with Adam and Shane Hedges in Botswana in 2010.

 How did you come to work here?

I used to work at a hunting camp, but when hunting was closed in 2008 I started looking for another job.

Where are you from?

I live in Maun with my wife and children.

Tell us about your family?

Keotshokile is my wife and we have been married for 15 years. We are a family of five, two girls and one boy. The firstborn is at the University of Botswana and she is studying to become a nurse. The second born is at Sedia Junior school and the last born is in Standard 1 at Mathiba Primary school. We have been saving up for our first born to go to university for a long time and we hope that she will achieve great things in her life. I am teaching my youngest boy how to take care of nature in the same way that I am. He is developing an interested in nature and one day he may also join the safari industry.

Is there something you are passionate about besides safaris?

I have a farm in Matsaudi village 20 km north of Maun. Every year during the off season, November through to February the rainy season comes, which is the best time to plow. I farm sorghum, mealies, watermelon and sugar cane. I am doing this to help feed my family during the off season. I have managed to buy a water pump and am now pumping water from the river when the rains fail us. This has allowed me to supplement the food for my family during the off season. As I am the father of the household it is my responsibility to provide for my family, which is why the farm is my priority during the off season as it is a reliable way for me to produce food. Farming in Botswana is a challenge as we are continually faced with human wildlife conflict with elephants as they come in at night and eat all of our crops.

Any hobbies you pursue?

I am so passionate about gardening that even at home I have a large garden that I really enjoy taking care of. This brings me happiness and joy to live in a place surrounded by plants.

If you could be any African wildlife species for a day, which one would you choose and why?

If I had a chance I would be a zebra as it is one of the most proud and respected animals in Botswana; it is represented on our coat of arms and it is the name and symbol for our national football team.

Have you ever had a safari guest who had a particularly funny or memorable reaction to an animal?

Not a guest, but Shane Hedges (RAS Partner) started having a conversation with an elephant one day while we were loading our truck. He was talking to him about how he was not allowed to eat the leftover vegetables from a safari. I had never seen anyone talk to an animal like this. The elephant seemed to disagree with what Shane was saying as then he charged us away and went straight for the vegetables anyway. After about 30 minutes we managed to get him out of our loading area and continued loading the truck.