( CNN ) -- Deep inside the South African Bushveld , a thunderous lion roar pierces the air as a parade of elephants ambles quietly through the flat terrain . Somewhere in the distance , a herd of leopards lurk in a dense riverine flora , while a group of giraffes stretch their long necks to munch on tree leaves . In the middle of it all , Renias Mhlongo feels at home . `` That 's where I was born , right under that tree , '' says Mhlongo , as he points out to a large ebony tree amidst the wildlife haven of South Africa 's Kruger National Park . Mhlongo , 49 , is one of South Africa 's very few senior trackers , honing the traditional skills of trailing animals in the Londolozi game reserve . He works with fellow South African tracker and game ranger Alex van den Heever , trying to preserve the ancient tracking skills before being lost to modernity . Read more : South African comic duo stir up stereotypes . Over the years , the two men -- one black , one white -- have forged a strong friendship and working relationship that 's taking them from tracking Londolozi 's wildlife to traveling the world as international spokesmen for South Africa 's bushveld . `` It 's the connection to nature , to wilderness , '' says van den Heever of the deep bond he 's created with Mhlongo . `` That 's the first thing people relate to but then I think people know South Africa 's history -- they know the troubles we 've come through and when they see two guys , one black , one white , that have connected on such a deep level , they like that and that shows South Africa has a lot to offer , '' he adds . Armed with uncanny intuition , Mhlongo spent all his childhood in the bush , herding and protecting his family 's cattle from the lions , often on his own . Growing up there , he got to listen to , read and understand the signs of the bush in a way that few can . `` When I grew up here , I sit quietly , listening to the different sound of animals , the sound of grasshoppers , the sound of the lion -- all that is part of my growing in nature because here , we do n't have cell phones here , which makes me connect to the nature , '' says Mhlongo . `` If you come from a town , it 's very difficult to spot things ... but I was born here and I use my passion to listen to everything , to try to spot something , '' he adds . See more : 'Green Nobel ' winner fights to save Africa 's rainforests . Today , Mhlongo and van den Heever use their vast knowledge and experience to pass on their Bushveld wisdom to younger generations . Together , they have started a tracker academy offering a year-long course in the skills Mhlongo learned as a youngster . `` It seeks to restore the indigenous knowledge that was once a part of our landscape , '' says van den Heever . `` There 's only four or five authentic , genuine Bushman trackers left , so it ( tracking ) is dying and if you consider the formal qualifications , there are only 19 senior trackers in South Africa -- of which there are only five senior tracker evaluators and only three master trackers left , '' he adds . `` So the bottom line is we 're losing them and within 10 years if nothing is done we could have seen the last of the traditional trackers . '' Read more : The Africans giving aid to the world . The two men also hold training workshops and travel the world to give talks and coach people on what they can learn from the South African bushveld , as well as encouraging conservation . Mhlongo says he is passionate about teaching his valuable skills to aspiring trackers . `` It is very important to share the knowledge with other people , to give them the same skills like we have , '' says Mhlongo . `` The tracking skill is something dying because no one wrote books on how to track animals , so we try to bring it up again . ''
Heever and Renias Mhlongo den Renias Mhlongo are Africans game rangers and trackers . They teach new generations the tracking skills being lost to modernity . The only three men have formed a strong friendship that cuts across cultures .