With Tayla and Scott recently leaving our ranks, we’ve been busy scouring the land for bright, talented wildlife fanatics to join the team as presenters. And boy, did we strike gold! Our search has brought us not one or two, but THREE new faces who are currently with us as trainee guides. Better yet? We welcome back our beloved diveLIVE presenters Pat and Lauren who have swapped sand and surf for the bushveld and closed shoes as they return to the screen in the coming months as presenters for safariLIVE.
Let’s meet the new crew!

Jackie Govender
Jackie is a true melting pot of interests, talents and abilities and her background is no different. Raised between South Africa and Belgium, Jackie joins the team after years of experience in game ranging, lodge management and in the pharmaceutical industry. Her passion for wildlife bloomed while spending time at her parent’s game farm as a child and developed into a passion, in particular, for botany (for which she has a degree). Jackie has an incredible talent and passion for languages, music and traditional medicine and dreams of bringing the medicinal use of plants into the limelight.
She loves safariLIVE for its ability to broadcast the wilderness to anyone, anywhere in the world in a way no other programme can. Her biggest dream at safariLIVE? That in educating people about the African wildlife and the environment, people (in particular the youth) will be encouraged to support the conservation of our natural world.

Xoli Tlou
Xoli was born an raised in Siyabuswa, a small village in Mpumalanga, and is a proud member of the colourful Ndebele people. Having grown up in and around the bush, a career in guiding seemed like a no-brainer. Xoli got his wildlife ranger chops at the South Africa Wildlife College and had a stint as a ranger of the Sabi Sands, amidst hosting bush walks and environmental talks in schools around Hoedspruit. He joins our team with an insatiable passion for anything nature-related and has a particular interest in birding. Xoli dreams of opening up his own wildlife sanctuary one day and bringing “the wild” to underprivileged people in rural areas.
safariLIVE is the next chapter in his wildlife career, something he is incredibly excited about as safariLIVE is unique in its ability to let viewers feel as if they are sitting comfortably at the back of the game drive vehicle. Xoli aims to continually strive to be the best he can be during his time at safariLIVE hoping that his infectious love of nature and wildlife can be carried through to a global audience.

Trishala Naidu
Trish may be pint-sized, but she is a force to be reckoned with! Raised between Durban and Melbourne, Australia, Trish’s insatiable passion for wildlife has gone from the depths of the ocean to the dry grasslands of the bushveld and beyond. With a degree in environmental science, Trish has spent most of her career with the “Kwazulu-Natal Sharks Board” of Durban, researching shark anatomy and behaviour. She specialises in dissecting shark tissue that is sent all over the world and has published papers on shark attacks. She joins us in the bush armed with a keen interest in insects, geology and natural ecosystems. She also has a hidden talent for belly dancing and is a professional belly dancer in her spare time.
Forever curious, Trish starts a new chapter at safariLIVE, looking forward to bringing the wild to viewers that may never get a chance to go on safari. She believes that being live and answering questions in real-time are huge components of creating authenticity in the show. At safariLIVE she will endeavour to be an excellent guide that can bring the science of plants and animals to the audience and is looking forward to becoming as familiar with the terrestrial environment as she is with the sea.

Lauren Arthur
Next, we welcome back a familiar face at safariLIVE, Lauren Arthur, our spritely diveLIVE presenter who joins us from the Caribbean coasts to present live from the bush! Originally from Scotland, Lauren is a marine biologist with a degree in zoology and a boundless love for the ocean. Lauren has spent her professional life in the Maldives where she put her marine biology prowess to use, developing a particular love for manta rays. A self-proclaimed “mermaid” she spends more time in water than not, exploring reefs, caves and other pockets of the underwater world.
Lauren admires safariLIVE for its unique ability to allow people to immerse themselves in the real beauty of nature they may never otherwise get to see. In terms of swapping fins for hiking shoes? She’s looking forward to joining the safari, to expanding her horizons beyond marine life, to venture out and to explore a new ecosystem. In her own words, going “from lionfish to actual lions.” Ultimately, she believes, it’s crucial to educate people in the ocean and on land as the two are completely intertwined and the health of each realm is vital to the survival of the planet.

Pat Fitzgerald
Pat is a fresh-faced marine biologist from Australia who initially charmed us on the screen of diveLIVE with his in-depth knowledge of coral reefs, underwater mammals and love of the “Leafy Sea Dragon.” Growing up surrounded by ocean, freshwater and beaches, he describes knowing marine biology was his calling at the tender age of 4, before he could even read or write. After getting a Bachelor of Science in marine biology and aquaculture from Flinders University in Adelaide, Pat was hired back by the university to lecture and to conduct research in their laboratories. Soon after he found himself in the “hot seat” as a presenter for diveLIVE in the Cayman Islands.
Despite being nervous about leaving his underwater comfort zone, Pat is ready for a new challenge and to try his hand at the whole new terrain of the African bushveld. When he’s not busy free-diving with dolphins, he practices Muay Thai and playing guitar. His hope for his time on safariLIVE is to be someone who can, through his actions, make people care for and do more for the environment whether it be through research, hands-on work, teaching or standing in front of a camera.
I want to welcome Trishala Naidu to be a presenter, a guide on Safari Live. I am from Southern California, USA. I live within 2 miles of the original Disneyland in Anaheim. I am curious about the Shark papers she has published as Shark attacks definitely affect the beaches nearby in the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles down south to San Diego (USA side of the Mexico border). More specifically I’d like to know what the public and surfers can better know in order to avoid getting bitten by sharks. I wish Trishala the best in her presenting and guiding experience. Actually I would like to go on a safe safari where the leopards, elephants, etc., would be fun and a lot of enjoyment. Tips on which Guides or Safari’s would be very helpful along with Lodging accommodation recommendations. And the contact telephone numbers so that I could find out how much a Safari would cost. Thank you, and I’d like to see more of Trishala on Safari Live.
This is just my opinion as a frequent viewer and huge fan of SafariLive, as I have watched the two new guides, Lauren & Pat, I feel they lack the experience that the other guides have and knowledge of the bush, animals, birds, trees, etc., so it seems difficult for them to have any educational input for the viewers. I was watching Lauren today showing us a Kingfisher bird who was calling and she talked the whole way through about how important it is to stop and listen! You could not hear the bird! I was afraid it was going to fly away but we did get to hear it at the very end. Pat does the same thing and I don’t appreciate it when he calls Hosana “Hosey-boy!” When talking about the animals you are presenting please remember that the animal is the star.
Maybe it takes some getting used to on both sides, and I am really trying.
Welcome to the new presenters. What a fantastic challenge you are all having. Very best wishes to all of you in this new phase of your careers. I look forward to watching you all. Love from UK .
Welcome to all the new presenters. It’ll be great to see Lauren and Pat again — and above water! Now I have to go practice pronouncing Xoli’s name. 😊
I do hope they are eased into the drives one at a time since they will not have the knowledge of the present guides. Only 2 presenters left, but 5 are replacing them…..seems like overkill. There is not much going on right now in either the Mara or Djuma, (and I don’t get to see Steve anymore.)
Welcome to the Safari Live team. as a back seat driver am excited to see new faces on the drives. I wish all of you the best. (I still love the rest of the crew and their antics that keep me giggling.)
Tis good to see a few familiar faces as SL’s “new” guides/presenters😊 Welcome aboard! We look forward to your sharing your knowledge/experience with us, and vice versa 😉
I heard someone say that SafariLIVES is moving to Mondays. WHY? The whole idea was to give those of us who work all week and can’t watch on weekdays an opportunity to get caught up. If it is true that this catch up show is moving to a weekday, that stinks.
Loved Xoli’s interview drive, cant wait to see him on regularly
Congratulations to each of you, Jackie Xoli, Trishi, Lauren & Pat! We look forward to great adventures with all of you!! Welcome to the best family in the world called WildEarth/safariLIVE!
So excited we have new faces taking us on this wonderful journey..congratulations and the very best to all of you and wait until you see the Prince of D”Juma!!!!!!
A warm welcome to all the new presenters!
Can’t wait to meet everyone!! Looking forward to see what they will bring to our safari experience.
Congrats to the new presenters. But why so many?? Is someone else leaving??
We got to meet Jackie and Trishi just before our time with the SafariLive Experience was over. I can attest that they will be great. Very outgoing, too. Lauren and Pat were both great with their time at DiveLive, so with more learning about the on land parts, they will both do a great job, too. Sorry not to have met Xoli, but I am sure he is as good as all the others. Best of luck and good wishes for all the new members of the team.
Welcome to the team guys. I’m looking forward to seeing you all and hearing a little more about yourselves. You’ve taken a big step switching it up to share this awesome show with us.
Wishing all the new team every success at WE SL they have a hard act to follow, Tayla & Scott were top class so “aim high guys” and bring your talents to the world outside. Safariwildman
Welcome to the new SafariLive presenters. The range of talents will be an enriching contribution to the program. I wish newbies Trishi, Jackie and Xoli all the best in their new roles.
Can’t wait to meet them all sounds like a great mix of knowledge good luck to all of them when will they start??? And does that mean we are losing any more of out presenters???
What awesome news! Welcome to the new presenters, Jackie, Xoli & Trishala – looking forward to seeing you on camera! Wishing you all a fantastic journey ahead with the family at WE & SafariLive!
To Lauren & Pat – it will be fantastic to see you both “on the ground” at SafariLive & may the transition be a fun experience & adventure for you both!
Good luck ☘️