Samantha starts with a conversation. She’ll ask you what you’re imagining, what you’re picturing and sometimes simply what you want the trip to feel like. You don’t need to arrive with a destination shortlist or a perfectly formed plan. Give her the feeling, and she’ll start asking the questions that point things in the right direction. That instinct is backed by a long career in hospitality and nearly two decades at Rhino Africa, but Samantha wears her experience lightly. What matters to her is whether the trip works for the person taking it, down to the logistics, the little details and the things they absolutely do not want to compromise on. Originally from Port Elizabeth, Samantha now lives in Cape Town, but her heart still has a strong pull towards home. She makes regular trips to see her mum and younger sister, while her Cape Town life revolves around a close-knit circle of friends. She’s also the unofficial dog-sitter for the group and a very proud godmother to Maya. On safari, she’s a keen photographer, a self-confessed foodie and very happy when there’s good wine involved. She’s also a committed game-drive attendee. Spa treatment between drives? Absolutely. Instead of one? “Never!!!” Sam’s Safari Snapshot: - Secret Superpower: Spotting hidden wildlife in the thickets - Sundowner Pick: She’s ordering a fresh Paloma for the sunset stop - Soundtrack of Choice: Cicadas in the bush and fish eagles calling - Unsung Favourite: Zambia, especially the Lower Zambezi - Biased? Absolutely: South Africa – it is home, after all, and wildly diverse
