The perfect combination of experience and passion.
Natasha Iles
I started in the travel industry in 1995 working as a Leisure and Corporate Travel Consultant in Cape Town. In 1999 I left Table Mountain, the Penguins and wine farms behind and headed inland to work as a Safari Consultant in Johannesburg. I was very privileged not only designing and Taylor-making Safari Packages to Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa and Malawi, I was also able to travel and assist with groups in Chobe, Zambia Solar Eclipse (21 June 2001) and Kruger Park Solar Eclipse (04 Dec 2002).
This made me realize I loved personally meeting Guests from all over the World and in June 2005 I traded my office desk for an all terrain 4X4 and joined AfriFriends – Unique African Journeys. As a Journey Specialist, I bring considerable experience and as an active professional Tourist Guide, I share with our guests the diversity of our beautiful country, the cultures and my passion for its wildlife.
André Ballot
In my many varied pursuits finding a meaningful career, I opted on following a dream and in 1990 started a career in tourism. As National Tourist Guide, travelling in and around South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, I came to understand the importance of identifying new travel trends, destinations and experiences which are individualized and tailored to guest’s needs and interests.
In 2005 I established AfriFriends – Unique African Journeys and asked Natasha to bring her vast experience to the table in designing private, flexible and individualized tours. Each tour that we design or guide, has ‘that personal touch’. It is extremely important to me that our guests return home with experiences that will remain with them, telling stories about the places and animals they've seen, that they will become as passionate about Africa as I and return to answer ‘the call of Africa’ again and again.
