Rhino Peak Challenge

I am a son, brother, husband, and father.

Although I’ve never formally been diagnosed, I’m pretty sure I have some form of functional ADHD. I can’t sit still for long periods of time and need to keep my mind busy with a multitude of things. As a result, I wear several hats:

1. My main source of income comes from my own business, africaMASSIVE. In short, we do conferencing, events, and travel, with a focus on ecology related and academic projects. Website: https://africamassive.co.za/
2. One of my main passions in life is trauma medicine. I am a first responder in the greater Midrand (Johannesburg) area and also share the knowledge as a Stop the Bleed instructor (https://www.stopthebleed.org/) which is accredited through the American College of Surgeons, and is owned by the American Department of the Defense.
3. Sharing the spotlight with trauma medicine, is my passion for security and law enforcement. I am currently the SCF/CPF Operations & Patrols coordinator for Midrand Sector 5. We report to the Midrand SAPS Station and are their partners in policing. In addition, I am Head of Security for my neighbourhood, Barbeque Downs, in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, which has several thousand residents. In past years, I have also served on Anti-Poaching Units and led Farm Security (Anti-stock Theft) teams.
4. Last but not least, is my love for everything living and found in nature. Whether it’s diving the ocean, spending time in the bush, or walking pangolins going through rehabilitation, I want to see/help/save everything and anything!

I have been active and done sport from the moment I could walk. For me, besides the obvious health benefits, sport teaches discipline and allows you to meet many people from all walks of life. In high-school, I did almost every sport our school offered, and by the end of matric, was part of several 1st teams. I also represented KZN in some of these sports. Nowadays, I do whatever I can to stay active… From hiking, rock-climbing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, to golf, padel, and swimming (to name a few), I’m keen to do it!

I’m a proud mom of two, happily married, and passionate about all things Africa. I’ve spent the past 19 years in the travel industry—14 of those with Go2Africa—where I’ve had the privilege of crafting unforgettable journeys for clients across this incredible continent. Travel isn’t just my job; it’s a way of life for my family. Whether I’m planning a once-in-a-lifetime safari or setting off on our next family adventure, I’m constantly inspired by Africa’s wild beauty, diverse cultures, and the meaningful connections we make along the way. Being part of the Rhino Peak Challenge gives me the opportunity to give back to the wilderness that gives us so much.

I’ve always had a strong connection to sport and the outdoors. Throughout my school years, I was highly active and competitive, particularly excelling in swimming, netball, water polo, and athletics. Sport was a major focus for me during that time, and I thrived in the team environment and personal challenges it brought. Since leaving school, I’ve remained committed to staying fit and strong through regular gym sessions and strength training. I’ve also pursued my love for the outdoors with experiences like hiking Lion’s Head, completing the Otter Trail, and trekking to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda. Being active in nature is where I feel most alive—it fuels both my body and my spirit.

I am passionate about the work I do in conservation, in particular expanding and protecting areas to create safe space for wildlife to thrive.

I consider myself adventurous, rather than sporty. I enjoy hiking, horse riding, sailing – anything that gets me out and about seeing new places.

Born in Zimbabwe, raised in Joburg and East London, with pitstops in Tanzania, Stellenbosch and New York — Cape Town is where I’ve finally found home. I love travel, adventure, trying new things, and find joy in pushing myself outside my comfort zone. I feel most alive when I’m surrounded by nature, the ocean, or dogs (preferably all three). I’m an avid tea drinker, big foodie, self-proclaimed carrot cake queen, and believe that nothing beats a good playlist, and the smell of the sea. I have an irrational fear of fish and water where I can’t see my feet. Thankfully, during RPC, I won’t have to face either.

I never quite clicked with traditional sports growing up, but I’ve danced since I was three and recently fallen back in love with it. These days, you’ll find me switching between my running and dance shoes. I’ve completed multiple half marathons and recently challenged myself to the UTCT 35km. Movement has become a celebration, and I’ve fully embraced being a “yes” girl when it comes to a challenge. After all, being able to move our bodies is one of life’s greatest privileges.

I am a mother of 4 boys. I love to do things that make your adrenaline pump. Challenges are always something I like to take on—just to see if I can do it and push myself.

I love nature. Taking photos of nature is one of my biggest hobbies.

Sports have been one of my favorite things to do since my school days. K-Way 4 Peaks was my first big race, followed by the Two Oceans 21km.

This year, just to prove to myself I could, I completed the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon. It was tough—but worth the pain. The proud feeling afterwards is the best. All just to say: I DID IT!

I was born in Johannesburg but became a proud Capetonian around the age of 6. After a cancer diagnosis, my family moved to the U.K., but we were fortunate to return 5 years later and continue enjoying all that South Africa has to offer.

I earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree and later discovered my love for content creation during an internship at a luxury safari company. Since then, I’ve pursued writing and social media, perfectly aligning with my passion for travel and Africa.

Outside of work, I’m a coffee enthusiast, love hiking (especially when there’s coffee involved), and enjoy spontaneous adventures—bungee jumping included, despite my fear of heights!

I’ve been passionate about horse riding since the age of 3, competing in Western Province events and the South African Championships in KZN. After losing my horse, I turned to running. I’ve now completed several half marathons and find running therapeutic—it helps me clear my mind while reflecting and problem-solving.

I’m someone who loves travel, adventure, and the natural world — I’ve been lucky enough to explore the Amazon jungle and I’ve watched birds of paradise perform their mating dances in the forests of West Papua. I’m passionate about wildlife, staying active, and living a healthy, nature-connected life wherever I go. I am also very keen on giving back to the natural world from which I get so much joy.

I think I peaked athletically when I made it to the semi-finals of my hockey club beer pong tournament back in 2002. Haha, but in all seriousness, while I may not be in the same league as some of the ultra-runners who’ve tackled this event, health and fitness have always been an important part of my life. Whether it’s time in the gym, a run, or anything that gets me moving, I’ve always found joy in staying active. I naturally prefer being off the beaten track — give me a trail run over a road run any day. Some of my most challenging (and memorable) experiences have been the three Mnweni Marathons I’ve completed. It’s a truly magnificent but demanding event, where I’ve faced it all: breathtaking scenery, snow, rain, sun, and ITB.

Originally from Durban, I grew up in Pretoria (fondly known as the Jacaranda City) where I completed both my high school and university education. My journey took me across the world to the United States, where I gained invaluable experience through a hotelier internship at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida. Upon returning home, I immersed myself in the African bush, joining Singita Private Game Reserves as a relief Camp Manager. That experience deepened my connection with nature and conservation. Eventually, I followed my dream to Cape Town, becoming a Western Cape Tour Guide and later an Africa Safari Expert. Today, I curate luxury safari itineraries across the continent, having explored over 10 African countries. Beyond my professional life, I’m a proud wife and mom, deeply passionate about health, wellness, and personal growth.

My health and fitness journey has been one of resilience, transformation, and deep personal growth. While I enjoyed sport during my school years, I never truly excelled or felt confident in my abilities. It’s only now, in my 30s, that I can proudly say fitness and wellness have become central to my life. For years, I battled with body image and carried the weight (physically and emotionally) of failed diets, quick fixes, and negative self-talk. But everything changed in October 2023, when I decided to stop chasing shortcuts and start showing up for myself. With the guidance of an incredible personal trainer and the daily support of a powerful community of women; especially my best friend and colleague, who is also joining me in the Rhino Peak Challenge; I committed to real, lasting change! Today, I’m consistently running 10km distances and building strength through weight training. I feel strong, capable, and grounded. I’m not chasing skinny – I’m building strength: for my daughter, for my family, for my future, and most importantly, for myself.

I’m a hard working, single mom who loves to take on challenges in both my work and personal environments. I have 2 little princesses who rely whole heartedly on me and because they are watching, I will move mountains and make things happen. Tell me I can’t … and I’ll prove you wrong! Conservation is extremely close to my heart. Being in an industry where I am able to share the importance of conservation and saving the incredibly unique aspects of Africa truly brings me much joy! I have been blessed with exposure to numerous rare and wonderful African experiences and my dream is to share them with my children and my awesome clients, conserving all we can for our future generations. Join me on this journey and help me raise funds for this worthy cause.

As a child, my parents would take us hiking every weekend in the Kogelberg Mountains above Kleinmond. We absolutely loved it and as a teenager, we enjoyed a little wooden cabin in the Cederberg Mountains (I have to confess, not much hiking but more sleeping was done). Currently, I am based along the Garden Route and exploring the George mountains have brought back this childhood passion of hiking. I have also been a runner throughout my life – not a very good or dedicated one but I do love a good run. I’m out to conquer the 6 peaks in George (a personal goal) and then onto the Rhino Peak Challenge.

I’m a very busy mom of 3. I embrace living life to the fullest, experiencing new things and trying something at least once! I am a passionate animal lover who has far too many pets but will never say “no” to caring for more. I have such an interest in the environment so much so that my husband and I own and operate Alien Tree Solutions. When I am not working or taking care of my family, I am usually walking up the mountain and spending time in nature – it refreshes the soul.

I have always enjoyed maintaining a level of fitness and health, more recently with hiking – I find it both challenging and therapeutic.

I am married with two daughters. I run a 2nd generation family business and whilst I care and worry about the environment my income is based on consumerism which means that I have to constantly search for new business opportunities. This has always concerned me as a linear economy is not sustainable. I have tried over the years to adopt a more circular system without much success. That said I am passionate about sustainable living and I’m trying to show my daughters that we need to change our lifestyle as the consumer-this will drive business to change.

Just an average joe….over the years I have hiked, been a lifesaver (for the red speedo) studied martial arts, cycled, run etc. I’m active most days of the week, enjoying boot camp, tennis, padel and intermittent running. I try and maintain a balance between strength, flexibility and endurance.

I grew up in Pretoria and come from a family that loves Africa and loves to travel. I have worked for the EWT for 9 years and am extremely proud to be part of an organisation that works day in and day out to save species, conserve habitats and benefit people. After over 50 years of conservation impact, we are taking on a bold new strategy. We have identified nine priority landscapes across East and southern Africa that will benefit from targeted conservation action, to become a haven for conservation, climate change adaptation and ecological resilience in a rapidly changing world. I love being outdoors and enjoy running to stay healthy. I have a beautiful eleven-year-old boy, and I hope to instill my sense of hope and appreciation for our beautiful country in him.

Rhino Peak Challenge 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and a few half-marathons.

I am an avid long distance and trail runner with a passion for conservation and the outdoors.

19 comrades. A few 100 milers, some ultra trail events and more than 110 marathons / ultra distance races.