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 Annie Forsey
Before guiding I was in Public Relations for a diamond
company which gave me a detailed insight into the
diamond industry which was fascinating. I had lived
abroad for 30 years.
Upon returning to SA in 2000, I was taking
friends and visitors around Cape Town and enjoyed it so
much, I decided to look into a guiding course to improve
my knowledge and, subsequently, was offered a day’s
guiding which I took. I haven’t looked back since!
I particularly enjoy the interaction with people
and the pride I feel showing off my extraordinary
country! My special interests are definitely our diverse
cultures in South Africa, golf, wine and whales but, in
general, find every aspect of guiding a joy and a
pleasure! When I
have a spare moment I am an avid bookworm!
I also play golf and am a keen movie fan with a
bent towards art movies.
 Chris McWilliams
I tour mostly in the Western Cape where I am also a registered field guide. In my previous line of work I was a theatre manager, actor and journalist before running my own studio for eighteen years, creating stained glass and simulated stained glass skylight domes, windows and other features in exclusive hotels, shopping malls, corporate buildings and private homes. I enjoyed the creativity in my glasswork but I was quite isolated in my studio and I am by nature, a gregarious person. I visited many parts of the country doing my installations and, the idea of going into guiding came as an attractive choice in the end. I wanted to get out into the world, discover new things and talk to people. For relaxation, I read a lot. I like autobiographies, particularly books of an historical nature and on our wildlife and natural environment. One of my favourite pastimes is visiting our game reserves. I am happy spending endless hours studying animal behaviour, great and small. I enjoy walking on Table Mountain and hiking further afield in other ranges in South Africa. I love river and gulley fishing. I have a special interest in film and theatre but I also just enjoy a good movie! I enjoy the wide outdoors, discovering something new every day and listening to others telling their stories and relating their experiences, but most of all, seeing visitors happy, enjoying themselves and leaving, having had a great time.
 Marge Vermaak
I grew up in Zimbabwe. The opportunities I had teaching children of different cultures in South Africa has given me a personal understanding of the complexities of South African society. I was teaching in the Homelands (Transkei) and wouldn’t have been able to replicate the experience of creativity and flexibility when I came back to Cape Town, so I went into guiding. Guiding gives me the opportunity to interact, on an intellectual basis, with interested and interesting people. I love South Africa – both the fascinating history and the dynamic current happenings, and I consider it a privilege to share this with visitors to our country. I have a good in-depth knowledge of most aspects of South Africa, but I am especially interested in the social changes that have taken place in South Africa over the past few decades. I am a creative person so I use my time to write stories, put together information about the first members of my family to arrive in Africa and collate the photos & documents relating to those early days.
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 Bryan
Coppin
Prior to becoming a tour guide, I
was a Product
Manager for the
largest adhesive
manufacturer in
Africa. After 20
years in the
industry; I
decided it was
time for a
change. What I
enjoy most about
being a tour
guide is meeting
different and
interesting
people; touring
with me is
relaxed,
friendly, fun
and informative.
I can best
describe myself
as an "infotainer"
where your
interests and
well-being are
of paramount
importance. My
special
interests in
guiding include
South African
history and
wildlife. My
hobbies, when I
have a moment to
slot them in,
include reading
and watching
documentaries.
 Clive de Bruyne
By day I am a High School Social Science Educator (Geography and History). I got into guiding as I am strongly passionate about travel & tourism and love showing and teaching tourists about this uniquely beautiful and interesting country. The aspect I enjoy most about guiding is meeting different and interesting people from around the world. I have learnt a tremendous amount from vastly diverse and interesting people, this I find most rewarding. I also have the opportunity to discuss South Africa, its people, its history and its geography, my favourite topics! My favourite guiding topics are South African Geography, Geology, History and Anthropology. Many of my ex-clients feel like family and I have remained in contact with them. I enjoy nature and like to get outdoors as often as possible – cycling, hiking and general outdoor adventure sports. I also like to feed my passion for learning and enjoy reading any educational material.
 Ewalda Matthews
I was an English teacher in Spain. Then a karate instructor in Cape Town. I had three children so I was also a housewife. I became a guide because the work attracted me and there was a need for Spanish speakers because of all the Argentineans that were coming to the country at that stage. My hobbies are reading, hiking and writing. I know a lot about wine because we have always made our own wine and tasted a lot of wines from all over the world. I am happy to go walking or climbing the mountain with tourists.
 Thabelo Moji
I started my working career as a volunteer at the Fresh-Water Research Unit at the University at Cape Town under Professor Bryan Davis. I have a keen interest in environmental affairs and at that stage I was not sure whether I wanted to pursue a career in Environmental science. I then dabbled in the advertising industry for a few years. I joined The Bryan Slingers Partnership which is part of the Ogilvy and Mather Advertising Group. I did, however, miss the hospitality industry. I thus found myself back at The Africa Café where I worked on a full-time basis as a restaurant manager. After a while there, I realized I missed the lack of a challenge. I felt I was coordinating the same event over and over again. At the Africa Café all our marketing efforts were directed at the foreign market and this is where I started to develop an interest in tourism. Through conversations with foreign guests I also started to understand what they liked the most about the country and what they wanted to see. I qualified as a tourist guide in December 2002 and worked as a volunteer coordinator for The Cape Care Route at Cape Town Tourism. Here I learnt more about getting involved in disadvantaged areas from a tourism perspective. I really feel that I found my niche; I have the best job in the world! I love sharing my Africa and my culture with tourists.
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 Alan Bilbrough
I have a National Diploma in Nature Conservation and worked as a safari guide and game lodge manager for 6 years prior to deciding on a change in scenery. I enjoy interacting with people. The one thing I enjoy most about my work is meeting different people from around the world and learning about how life is elsewhere. I specialize in doing safaris and enjoy this most – tours to Kruger Park, Pilanesberg National Park etc. Bird watching tours too. During my spare time I enjoy wildlife photography, fly fishing, bird watching and sport.
 Clive Collier
I worked in the IT field before going into guiding. I especially enjoy guiding as this allows me to interact with different people from around the world. Within the guiding spectrum I enjoy wildlife tours. I am an adrenaline junky who enjoys hiking and long distance cycling, doing a total of approximately 5 000 km’s in long distance events. I have completed the Comrades Marathon (Ultra marathon of international note), 11 Argus Cycle Tours (the largest cycling event in the world!), the Midmar Mile (swimming event) and the piece de resistance, doing a cycling race in France, completing 1200 km!
 Gavin Spowart
I am a qualified South African Tourist Guide, my special interests are wildlife, history (in general), South African history. I was a general dental practitioner, in private practice for 33 years until I became tired of the daily routine, I still wanted to work with people, but in a different way, and also be able to indulge my passion for history. Guiding allows me meet people from different walks of life, and being able to share my knowledge about our amazing country. My special interest in guiding is Palaeoanthropology i.e. guiding in the "Cradle of Humankind. My hobbies include reading a lot, mainly history, especially Egyptology, and I build model ships, aircraft and armoured vehicles.
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 Cheryl Gibbs
I have been a Trans Africa Safaris representative in Johannesburg for over 15 years. I have an extensive knowledge in tourism administration & related industries. What I enjoy most about my vocation is the fact that I meet the most amazing people & enjoy the interaction where I get the opportunity to talk about our beautiful country. My hobbies are walking, reading & scrap booking.
 Fred Wollner
I am a qualified South African Tourist Guide and see my mission as a guide, friend and helping hand.
 Robin Binckes
I had my Own Promotions and PR Company for many years. From there, I moved into the corporate world and finally food retailing. I lost all my money, due to poor business decisions, and at the age of 58 had to re-invent myself. I had heard and become a friend of David Rattray and decided to model myself on him- History in story form. I am privileged to share the story of this country with interested, interesting and pleasant people. I enjoy our history across all colour groups as well as the diversity of cultures of South Africans. When I am able to put my feet up, I read History. Read History. Read History. Researching Historical events
with a bit of Rugby and Cricket viewing
in-between.
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