Field rangers on bicycles/motor cycles

[Mavusana]

These rangers are a different breed. Very very brave.

These goes to all the rangers.

And thank you to all for your contribution in sharing stories about brave rangers.
They are indeed women & men of Honor.

[AKadwa]

Is this thread only for bike rangers? I've come across foot rangers on my second last trip to the Kruger. They were in pairs stationed about 2kms apart from each other on the lookout for poachers. It was around the Talamti camp area. I was extremely proud of them and stopped at each group I saw to give them a drink. It was just great.
Congratulations to all the Rangers, you guys really ARE malking a difference.

[Blougansie]

Forgot to mention in my post that the selection process for these guys are really tough - I believe they must be able to run faster than a cheetah at full speed , be able to lay down more quietly than a tarentaal chick in the bush , stay on a bicycle beter than an oxpecker on a buffalo's back , shoot with greater accuracy than a spitting cobra , see beter than a Cape Vulture , hear beter than a Giant Eagle Owl and , on the odd occasions that they do have to take flight , they must hold in like Black Rhinos untill they reach designated ablutionblocks , and all the time while they are running be able to make like a
Praying Mantis !!!

[Bush Happy]

Other than being cheap, why do the game scouts use a bicycle?

You won't find a military unit on a bicycle now, would you? So why would you put a game scout on a bicycle?

1. Tracking is better done on foot.
2. You cannot really go off the roads with it
3. It does not offer the greatest speed.
4. You cannot carry a helluve lot on it.
5. It's not the safest in Big 5 country

I believe there are better alternatives

[DotDan]

Bush Happy... you answered your own question... it is cheap.

I know of a ranger around Tshokwane (wont mention his name) that gets on his bicycle every morning at 5 am, rides past various Lion prides and Elephants all the way down the gravel road, turns on the generator that provides the power for the Tshokwane picnic spot, rides all the way back and then starts with his daily duties, only to come back at around 5pm in the afternoon to do the same trip again.. He has been doing this for 45 years.

One interesting thing that I found out about this particular story was that he said that when he came across a Lion pride, he would get off and casually walk past the lions untill he is past them and then only get on his bike again. Lions like chasing things

[Massimo]

Think of the sighting of when you turning the corner and you have a ranger on a bicycle peddling as fast as he can with a pride of lions running after him.

" Peddle ranger peddle"!!

Very brave men! Im sure 45 years ago when he started he must have been a very scared ranger! i would!

[Kicker Cat]

For those who may not remember there was a bicycle advert many years ago with a person on a bicycle riding away from a chasing Lion - this was to advertise Raleigh Bicycles - can't quite remember the caption but is was something like "Only a Raleigh is good enough" (wording might not be correct but that was the picture) This add was also posted in several places in Kruger

With regards to riding the bike - most of those I have seen have a rifle with them.

In many reserves the rangers walk tracking everything from Lion to Black *** - without anything except perhaps a radio - those I spoke to tell me they prefer it that way and are not scared as they know how to handle the situation (I understand the rifles are more for poacher encounters than those with animals?????)

[Emily86]

The advantages are that they are cheap but also have a low impact on the bush, it gives them exercise and I think it's testament to the great skills and knowledge the rangers have, they do all they do without the daily must have that most of us take for granted as we trundle along in our 2 litre carbon seeping metal machines.

Long live the bicycle...

[ndloti]

At times the rangers cycle to a point along a road , and leave their cycles in a suitable location and foot patrol from there .

[Senyetse]

It does not offer the greatest speed.

It is a lot faster than walking especially when travelling along a road. Makes sense to me to use bicycles then. For instance, the ranger at Hippo Pools near Croc Bridge rides a bicycle along the road from Croc Bridge to the pools every day. I'm sure he prefers the bicyle to walking. I suppose it also depends om the ranger's role, those who do a lot of bush patrols walk through the bush so a bicycle does not make sense there.

They've been using bicylces for years, it works well.

[BunnyHugger]

Other than being cheap, why do the game scouts use a bicycle?

Hey BH. Nice initials there my fine fellow 'mite.

A bicycle is the most efficient vehicle ever developed. Not only are they efficient, they are silent and "green".

You won't find a military unit on a bicycle now, would you? So why would you put a game scout on a bicycle?

Military's loss.

1. Tracking is better done on foot.

You can go slowly or more quickly on a bike and you can track from the bike almost as easily as on foot.

2. You cannot really go off the roads with it

MTB (Or Moutan Bikes) can go almost anywhere. They are incredibly versatile.

3. It does not offer the greatest speed.

Faster than on foot most times. I can walk on a flat road at about 6km per hour at a brisk pace. I can ride at 30 plus on the same road. But that's just me. Others can go faster.

4. You cannot carry a helluve lot on it.

You'd be very surprised. Obvously one has to consider the weight of the bike as well, but if I can walk with a 20kg pack, I can ride with one too. Might make certain instances or places a bit tricky.

5. It's not the safest in Big 5 country

I believe there are better alternatives

If using a bike was less efficient than on foot, I think that the game scouts would rather walk.

For example. I live about 1.5 km from our local Spar. It s far more efficient for me to ride my bike than go by car. (Greener, saves petrol and I don't get water and rust build up in my exhaust.) Walking is just not on. Here I use my road racng bike.

A bit (lot) closer, is the local petrol station. Short walk throught the field. Also much more fun and efficient to go by bike. Here I use the Hybrid whch is a cross MTB and road bike. Sometimes I just go there to buy bread and smokes.

Without any disrespect intended, humans tend to be rather lazy creatures and we always find ways to do something more efficiently. So it follows that if they are using bikes, it is easier to do so.


Other alternatives are motor cycles but the cost is not just limited to petrol. There is the maintenance aspect as well. Then if there's a breakdown, can still push / carry a cycle. Bit (LOT) more of a challenge with a motor bike.

One can ride great dstances on a cycle. Just a few stops for lunch and overnight.

The big plus is the fitness that comes wth using bikes as opposed to other forms of transport.

And, if chasing a group of laden poaches, I can sneak up on them more quietly and quickly on a bike than on foot or motor bike.

But like that's just my opnion.

[wachinda]

Besides the hippo pools where else are bicycle still used in the park

[DinkyBird]

Field rangers use them a lot wachinda. One often sees bike tracks on the dirt roads, and passes these rangers along the roads.

[Crested Val]

Yes, I have often seen rangers on bicycles.

[anne-marie]

me too... usually by two... with a big gun


and sometime searching... for mushrooms