Qualified Trackers
History
Since 1985, Louis Liebenberg witnessed the steep decline in indigenous tracking skills in southern Africa.
As a means to identify those dwindling few with excellent tracking skills, and to help rebuild a body of tracking knowledge, Liebenberg designed and provided the first CyberTracker Tracker Certification in the Thornybush Nature Preserve near Kruger National Park in 1994.
Since that time, the certification system has become an international standard for wildlife tracking skills in an increasing number of countries.
Since 1994 more than 5000 CyberTracker tracker certificates have been issued to more than 4000 trackers.
This includes 20 Master Tracker certificates. Seven of them have passed away, but we know that there are more master trackers in the Kalahari who have not yet been evaluated.
In Memory of the Elder Master Trackers
The Master Tracker certificate was created in honour of the memory of the elder generation of indigenous hunter-gatherers of the Kalahari.
Some of the best Master Trackers, some of whom are no longer alive, included the late !Nam!kabe Molote (photo) of Lone Tree, Botswana, !Namka and /Xantsue of Bere, Botswana, /Dzau /Dzaku and Xa//nau of Groot Laagte, Botswana, Bahbah, Jehjeh and Hewha, Ngwatle Pan, Botswana, Tso!oma, Ganamasi and Mutsabapu of Old Xade, Central Kalahari, Botswana, !Nani //Kxao, Ghau ≠Oma and Tsisaba Debe of the Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia.
A distinction is made between the Indigenous Master Tracker and the Master Tracker.
The Indigenous Master Tracker was or still is a traditional hunter, using the persistence hunting method and/or the traditional poison bow-and-arrow.
The Master Tracker practise tracking in a modern context.
Master Trackers have been evaluated by Louis Liebenberg.
When a region has five or more Master Trackers, potential Master Trackers will be evaluated through a process of peer review and certified by the Certification Standards Committee.
Indigenous Master Trackers
The late /Ui /Ukxa, 2009, Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia
The late Dabe Dahm, 2009, Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia
The late /Kun //Xari, 2009, Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia
The late !Nate Brahman, 2010, Lone Tree, Botswana
The late Horekhwe (Karoha) Langwane, 2010, Lone Tree, Botswana
Quashe (/Uase) Xhukwe, 2010, Lone Tree, Botswana
Nxjouklau Kashe, 2010, Bere, Botswana
/Ui G/aq'o, 2017, Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia
/Ui /Kunta, 2017, Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia
#Oma Daqm, 2017, Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia
Master Trackers
The late Karel Kleinman (Vet Piet), 1999, Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, South Africa
The late Dawid Bester, 1999, West Coast National Park, South Africa
The late Wilson Masia, 1999, The Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa
Karel Benadie (Pokkie), 2007, Karoo National Park, South Africa
James Minye (JJ), 2008, Table Mountain National Park, South Africa
Lucas Mathonsi, 2014, Lion Sands Game Reserve, South Africa
Adriaan Louw, 2015, South Africa
Mark Elbroch, 2015, USA
Jonas Mhula, 2016, The Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa
Juan Pinto, 2016, The Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa
CyberTracker Certification Standards Committee
The Certification Standards were developed by Louis Liebenberg and the CyberTracker Certification Standards Committee. The Certification Standards Committee consists of Louis Liebenberg, the late Wilson Masia, Juan Pinto, Adriaan Louw and Mark Elbroch.
Initial Evaluators
Louis Liebenberg (1994, Southern Africa)
Mark Elbroch (2005, USA)
External Evaluators
Louis Liebenberg
Adriaan Louw
Mark Elbroch
Juan Pinto
Colin Patrick
Casey McFarland
George Leoniak
Senior Tracker Evaluators
Adriaan Louw (South Africa)
Juan Pinto (South Africa)
Colin Patrick (South Africa)
Alan Yeowart (South Africa)
Lee Gutteridge (South Africa)
Andreas Carl Liebenberg (South Africa)
Nate Harvey (USA)
James Steyn (South Africa)
Casey McFarland (USA)
Brian McConnell (USA)
George Leoniak (USA)
Kersey Lawrence (USA and South Africa)
David Moskowitz (USA)
Track & Sign Specialist Evaluators
Johan Fourie (South Africa - Retired)
Mark Stavrakis (South Africa)
Jonah Evans (USA)
Taryn Ingram-Gillson (South Africa)
José Galan (Spain)
Michelle Peziol (USA)
Matt Nelson (USA)
Marcus Reynerson (USA)
John Ryder (UK)
Renè Nauta (Holland)
Joshca Grolms (Germany)
Daniel Hansche (Germany)
Trailing Specialist Evaluators
Brian McConnell (USA)
Preston Taylor (USA)
Rob Speiden (USA)
The CyberTracker Tracker Community