As a child, Rondell Joseph loved exploring the natural world with his best friend. They would set out to discover trails, waterfalls, rivers and coastlines, often getting lost in the dense forests of Toco.
"We always managed to find our way back home and never said a word to our parents, because we sneaked away for most of those adventures. I never imagined one day I would turn this love into a business."
A father of three, Joseph, 34, now owns RSJ Tours and Adventures, a company he started three years ago. Along the way he included his cousin Gregory Primus, who is now his business partner. But Joseph is not satisfied, and believes there is still much more to explore and educate others about.
[caption id="attachment_1124520" align="alignnone" width="960"] A group listens as tour guide Rondell Joseph, at right, gives final instructions before hitting the trail. -[/caption]
Joseph and his team offer a variety of outdoor experiences, for groups ranging from as small as three to as many as 20 people, including both local and international visitors. He said they specialise in guiding hikers to some of Toco's most popular waterfalls.
One of their standout offerings, he says, is their Hike and Chill tour, which is a customised experience in which the team not only guides participants through beautiful locations, but also educates them along the way about nature and conservation practices.
In addition to the hikes, Joseph says his team works closely with local businesses to offer food and other complementary products to enhance the overall experience.
[caption id="attachment_1124523" align="alignnone" width="1024"] RSJ tour guides Rondell Joseph and Gregory Primus pose with a group of hikers before hitting a nature trail in Toco. -[/caption]
He is currently in the final semester of his certificate in ecotourism tour guiding at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), a programme, he says, will enhance his professional development, customer service, hospitality and tour-guiding techniques. Joseph is eager to apply the lessons he's learned to the business.
When Joseph is not guiding groups along the trails of Toco, where he still lives, he is busy saving lives on the northeastern shorelines as a lifeguard with the Ministry of National Security, a job he has done for the past 13 years. He describes it as a perfect blend of his love of nature and his work.
[caption id="attachment_1124519" align="aligncenter" width="426"] The RSJ Tours and Adventures team – Rondell Joseph, left, with business partner and cousin Gregory Primus.-[/caption]
"It has been especially beneficial when leading tours near rivers and waterfalls, where my life-saving skills ensure the safety of the groups I’m guiding."
Reflecting on being a lifeguard, Joseph says he did not choose it: it chose him. After he finished high school, a man from his village told him about a "life-saving course." Only after inquiring did he realise it was a recruitment drive.
Joseph credits his role as a l
