About us

The name Bush Junkies came from a poem Roger once wrote...

BUSH JUNKIE

The flat black vein points Needle sharp to the distant haze And draws me till I run to the wild lands Where human voices do not stir, And I, like some junkie, Get my fix from the slow creep of dawn, The rough saw of the passing leopard, And the wild song of the fish eagle.

But is this life? Is it? There, On the other side of the hill, Where, always beyond our gaze, The sun shines brightly On lilting, grassy fields? Or do I pursue a shadow, A flight of fantasy? Perhaps.... And yet I will be less If I do not.

Bush Junkies is owned by Roger, while Tony owns Bush Junkies in Bloemfontein. Roger and Tony met while traveling through Zimbabwe many years ago and have remained friends ever since.

Roger trained as a high school Geography teacher at the University of Cape Town and has spent a total of 27 years in education, including 6 as a high school Principal. He fell in love with the bush after his first visit to Mana Pools (a very remote game reserve in northern Zimbabwe) - a place where you feel almost as much a part of the food chain as you do a tourist. He first qualified as a field guide (level 1) with the Field Guide's Association of SA and later qualified as a National Nature Guide (level 4) and is licensed to guide in all 9 provinces of South Africa. He has traveled extensively throughout the Southern African region and even done an overland trip through Malawi up to Tanzania and Kenya. Roger specialises in wildlife safaris and loves to explore the less frequented areas of southern Africa when possible. He has undertaken numerous safaris over the years to all parts of the sub-continent and is able to put together an itinerary for almost any interest, any region and any budget.

Tony worked for many years in two of the luxury lodges of the Sabi Sands: Sabi Sabi and Singita. Today he runs Bush Junkies, Bloemfontein and specialises in Bloemfontein city tours as well as numerous day trips to places like Kimberley and Lesotho. He is also able to provide transfers from Johannesburg to Lesotho and the Free State. Apart from his knowledge of wildlife and birds gained from his time in the game lodges, Tony has developed an interest in the history and culture of the region and undertakes many tours to sites of historical or cultural significance. His enthusiasm and excellent preparation have won him a regional Lilizela award for tour guiding. He has also studied and obtained the same qualifications as Roger and is a National (level 4) Nature Guide.