African Encounter employs over 300 people across Africa - here we have selected a cross section of the people who make up our team.
Andrew Conolly
Chairman and Founder of African Encounter with wife Wendy
African Encounter is not just the ordinary tour operator. We are a community, conservation and environmental based tourism organization with total commitment and passion for the work that we are doing. I believe this passion, along with a great team spirit and a decent and honest business ethic, is what makes African Encounter unique. There are some wonderful, wonderful people within African Encounter who have committed a lot of time and energy to the organization, and who are hugely passionate about Africa. This continent truly is, without doubt, the most stunning on earth. So many people come here to enrich the lives of Africans, but leave the continent being greatly inspired and enriched themselves.
Kevin Liddle
Managing Director, African Encounter - Harare, Zimbabwe
Having been born in Africa I have been privileged to experience Africa’s beauty from a young age. I feel passionate about visitors coming to Africa and experiencing Africa in a way that benefits the continent and its people whilst at the same time broadening their own horizons. It is an honour to be a part of a dynamic organization that can assist you with exploring Africa. Before I joined African Encounter I studied at the University of Cape Town and spent a couple of years working for a multi national company. I live in Harare, Zimbabwe and am married to Mandy. We have two sons, Joshua & Samuel, who expend more energy in a day than I have for a week! I love boating and any kind of sports, whether playing or watching as spectator.
Sarah Graham
Project Development & Marketing Manager, African Impact - Cape Town, South Africa
I am a 4th generation Zimbabwean, and have a Marketing and Social Science degree of the University of Cape Town. The continent of Africa and the study of languages are my two real passions. With African Impact, I am involved with marketing and the developments of our projects. Getting sustainable and measurable results from our work in Africa, and being able to travel to different and intriguing destinations on a regular basis, has made me even more passionate about the work that African Impact is involved in.
Michael Massingham
Managing Director, African Encounter South Africa
I have been with African Encounter for 7 years now, which began with a career break in 2003. After finding out about African Encounter, I decided to travel up to Zimbabwe from Durban to volunteer for three months as an overland guide. I fell in love with the country, the work and a beautiful local girl! After a year, I moved to Cape Town to open African Encounter South Africa, which has been a wonderful experience. I love seeing people change and grow, and I love showing them our beautiful continent. African Encounter is an awesome company with young, passionate people who care about Africa, her sustainability and her people. It’s where you’ll feel most alive…
Barry Rawlings
African Encounter Overland and ACTS General Manager for South Central Africa - Harare, Zimbabwe.
Having grown up in South Africa, I fell in love with Zimbabwe as a student. After completing my Social Sciences degree at the University of Cape Town I worked in financial services before finally moving to Zimbabwe in 2005.
I am in love with Africa and count the opportunity to introduce others to this continent and its people an absolute privilege. I particularly enjoy the community and missions work we are engaged in, loving the rural area\s and out of the way places. African Encounter has afforded me the opportunity to not only make a living but pursue my passions at the same time.
I live in Harare with my wife and two sons.
Greg Bows
Project Development Manager, African Encounter – Cape Town, South Africa
I came to Africa for a gap year and never left! I just couldn’t help but fall in love with the Continent’s people and its wildlife. After travelling through Southern and East Africa, working on overland trucks and doing wildlife research in several game reserves, I ended up at Antelope Park in Zimbabwe. Here I learnt about the threat to the African lion population and the need to conserve this majestic species. After working with African Encounter’s Rehabilitation and release into the Wild Programme for several years I now run several projects with operations based in Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe, Livingstone - Zambia and St. Lucia - South Africa. I couldn’t think of doing anything more challenging, exciting, and rewarding.
Sean Anderson
East Africa General Manager, African Encounter – Limuru, Kenya
Whilst I am proudly Zimbabwean (my forefathers arrived in Africa in 1800), it is safe to say that for my family and I East Africa is now very much “home sweet home”. We found it all too easy to be completely captivated by the beauty, people, cultures and landscape of this very special corner of Africa, that seems to welcome every guest with the same warmth we’ve experienced. I have been privileged to be involved in some tremendously exciting work since we launched African Encounter in Kenya in 2005. I am more passionate than ever about discovering ways to not only offer an excellent service to visitors, but also to make a lasting impact in communities and contributing to the protection of the spectacular environment and wild places East Africa is blessed with. I studied Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town and worked in a variety of African Encounter’s operations in Southern Africa (mostly behind the wheel of a blue overland safari truck!), before making the move to Nairobi. Even our 7 month old daughter Talia has been dragged on safari around Kenya and seems to be a fast learner with those clumsy binoculars!
Louisiana State University transforms school in Cape Town
August 2010
LSU Study Abroad Trip - We recently had the privilege of hosting Louisiana State University (LSU) in Cape Town on a 16 day trip (14 days Cape Town and 2 days safari in JNB). We worked closely....
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