Itinerary Consultants Our ability to provide bespoke itineraries is largely due to our Specialist Consultants. Africa Bespoke prides itself on the quality of our Consultants. They all operate within the tourism industry and are highly regarded within their various fields and regions. Our Consultants provide Africa Bespoke with an access to intimate, reliable up-to-date knowledge of the various regions and specialist fields within Southern Africa. They have personal relationships with many service providers and suppliers, ensuring that our clients are given the best personalised service possible.

Tour Design & Planning Luke Powers Born and raised in Cape Town, Luke is passionate about traveling - in South Africa and beyond. He studied graphic design and has been involved in the travel industry for many years as a river guide. As a well-versed traveller, Luke loves planning journeys, adventures and holidays. He will assist you with putting together a fantastic itinerary for your visit to Southern Africa. His knowledge and experience in South Africa's travel industry puts him in the perfect position to be able to advise you on where to go and when. Luke quite likes browsing in any junk store, is a bit addicted to Milnerton Market, and loves a good cappuccino. When he is not in the office you will find him running around on a mountain or surfing somewhere along the Cape Peninsula.

Tour Design & Planning Carola Slatter Carola Slatter is a born and bred Capetonian. She studied at the University of Stellenbosch before taking her first appointment in the tourism industry. Carola's vast experience in tour design, incentives, FIT's and group series travel was gained through many years with Felix Unite Tours and also Sprinbok Atlas. Carola is very well traveled, has a precise eye for detail and loves good coffee and fine red wine. Not one with many vices, her one weakness is lemon meringue pie. She is the loyal mother of Megan, who is 3 years old. Carola refuses to change the exhaust on her rally-sounding car, despite much encouragement from her colleagues.

Tour Design & Planning Michaela Cramer German born Michaela´s lifelong passion for Africa was ignited instantly when she first came to South Africa in 1988. From then on she kept returning. Some rather daring hitch hiking trips around the country inspired the idea of settling in SA which she subsequently did in 1993. Starting out as a tour guide, Michaela has since worked at Felix Unite Tours as a tour consultant for a number of years, and most recently doing groups and incentives at M&M Solutions. In February 2008 Michaela joined the dynamic and growing team at Africa Bespoke. Living in Cape Town with her two daughters and loving every minute of it makes her an enthusiastic consultant. Her attention to detail and passion for people is truly felt by her clients. Oh, and she is a bit camera shy, so we had to go with the profile shot!

History & Battlefields Andrew Ardington Andrew grew up on a sugar farm in Zululand. Having obtained B.Sc. Agriculture at Pietermaritzburg University he spent two years working and travelling in the United Kingdom and United States before becoming a game ranger at MalaMala Game Reserve. In 1997 he moved to historical tourism, going into partnership with David Rattray of Anglo-Zulu War fame, he developed Three Trees Lodge at Spionkop, (specialising in the Anglo-Boer battlefield tours). Andrew has since move to Cape Town and is now a consultant at Africa Bespoke. His first hand knowledge of the Southern Africa tourism industry makes him an expert consultant.

African Wildlife & Photography Shane Doyle Shane grew up in Durban and aside from a five-year sojourn to the Transvaal Lowveld he has been educated and lived in KwaZulu-Natal. He obtained a B.Sc. in the natural sciences at Pietermaritzburg University whence he began working as a ranger at MalaMala Game Reserve. While in the bush he began his affair with wildlife photography and this has become his primary passion. Shane lives in Durban working as a freelance game ranger, photographer and photographic safari guide.

Greater Cape Town Paul de Waal Paul is a born and bred Capetonian who graduated with a civil engineering degree from the University of Cape Town. After working as a property developer for 5 years decided on a change in career and has been involved in toursim ever since. With his intimate knowledge of the Mother City, its people and its surroundings, Paul will ensure that your visit to Cape Town involves more than just seeing the standard tourist sights. His personal relationships with many of the top service providers will ensure that you enjoy the richest experience and best service possible.

Cycling Sally de Jager Sally grew up on a sheep farm in the Karoo. After completing her B.Com degree she took a few years out to cycle tour through Europe, Asia and Africa. After completing her London to Cape Town cycling trip, she was nominated as an Out There "Adventurer of the year" finalist in 2001. Returning home to Cape Town, she decided to make cycle tourism her career. Sally knows what’s its like to be a traveler and what makes a journey adventurous. She will arrange an itinerary to suit your requirements, whether it is a fully supported tour with backup vehicles and team, or simply to provide cycling options at the various destinations that you visit. She is qualified Nature and Tour Guide with the DEAT. Her passion for her country is bound to be infectious and her knowledge is astounding.

Adventure, River Rafting & Kayaking Andrew Kellet One of the country’s most skilled river explorers, Andrew has a no compromise approach to river running - small groups, professional guides and state-of-the-art equipment are the minimum standards to which he adheres. He is also recognised as a leading Swiftwater Safety and Rescue Instructor and is at the forefront of training river guides and rescue professionals in Southern Africa. Whitewater kayaking is his true love and he enjoys sharing his skills with his students. River and surf rodeo is what he does to relax and he is one of the top freestyle paddlers in the country. Andrew will guide you on a wide range of river adventures, varying from whitewater rafting to a leisurely multi-day trip down the Orange River or even sea kayaking on the West coast.

Hiking & Climbing Richard Behne Richard is a Capetonian, educated in Cape Town, where he obtained a degree in Environmental and Geographical Science from UCT. After further training as a teacher he worked as a high school teacher for a number of years before entering the mountain and tour guiding profession. As a qualified Mountaineering Instructor and Mountain Guide he has guided walks, treks and climbs throughout South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. While he has been spent much time on Mt Kenya and Kilimanjaro, as well as other exotic climbing destinations, his heart lies in the Western Cape of South Africa where the rugged fold mountains of the Cederberg, Hex River and Swartberg, amongst others, provide unparalleled walking and rock climbing, surrounded by the richness of the Cape Floral Kingdom.

Wine and Gourmet Caroline Jessie Caroline is originally from Johannesburg, now living in Cape Town. She is a qualified chef, having studied at the renowned Silwood Kitchen School of Cookery and has worked in some of the top restuarants in Cape Town and the Winelands with some of the top chef's in the country. Namely Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek, La Colombe at Constantia Uitsig and The Restaurant in Cape Town. With her intimate knowledge and experience of the restaurant industry in Cape Town and the Winelands, Caroline is the perfect person to put together a tour of the finest eateries for you.