ORYX Photography: Photo Tour Leader: Gregory de Klerk

As a young boy who was raised in Durban, Greg found his passion and interest in all aspects of the natural world. To escape the metropolitan and suburban blur of everyday life, his family would frequently take trips to various national parks in South Africa. Birding only featured after his ninth birthday, starting as a family hobby, and developing into a passion and eventually a career.

On completion of his high school education, Greg followed his passion, studying Game Ranging and Lodge Management. This gave him direct access to the natural environment which had captivated him from a young age. He thrust himself headlong into the tourist industry as a guide, for more than a decade, at a few well-recognised lodges on the western border of the greater Kruger National Park.

It was here in the Savanna Biome that his passion for birding, fauna, flora and photography flourished. As a member of the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA), Greg challenged himself with their courses, achieving a Level 3 guiding qualification and he is currently completing his Savanna Specialist Qualification. He also had the privilege of working closely with his habitat manager to re-introduce and study the endangered Cheetah and to help in the protection of the currently under threat Rhinoceros. The culmination of his passion for both guiding and birding resulted in Greg becoming a Tour Leader for Rockjumper Birding Tours.