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Kutullo dreamt of becoming a field guide

Kutullo´s dream of being a field guide became true after his internship with us

Living by the Olifants River, Kutullo always wanted to become a field guide. In 2012, his dream finally started to come true when he volunteered for Outreach Campaigning at DAKTARI. By meeting people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, he learned a lot about what being a field guide would entail. Moreover, there was a pivotal moment in his experience when he saw a book that he remembers to this day. "When I saw the mammals ID book, I felt like, 'Wow, now I'm going to start learning everything about animals.'" From that point, Kutullo began studying different animals and their behaviors. By going on bushwalks with Ian, the co-founder of DAKTARI, and on long dog walks with the volunteers, he started to get introduced to nature and the field guiding career. After finishing his time at DAKTARI, Kutullo started working in a lodge in Karongwe Game Reserve, where he has been since 2017. He works as the manager of the lodge and a field guide. However, this was not enough for him. Together with the owner of the lodge, he decided to create an NPO called “Ditoro.” The purpose of Ditoro is to provide people from the villages with the opportunity to become field guides. They assist during the process by funding self-study materials and supporting them through any doubts or inconveniences they might encounter. When asked for advice to give to the young people from the village who also dream of becoming field guides, Kutullo said: "If you really want something, you have to commit and be disciplined. Discipline makes you go a step further, and commitment helps you keep your focus on the goal. Dedication and interest are what made me become a field guide." DAKTARI has a Youth Development Program to help lower the high youth unemployment rate in the country. The goal of this program is to recruit local youth to work at DAKTARI to gain valuable experience, build their CVs, and apply for jobs. During the six months of work, they also learn about various topics such as saving money, climate change, and wildlife crime. At DAKTARI, we support local youth by giving them opportunities to learn, grow, and think about the future.

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