Transfrontiers Wildlife Walking Safaris</a>

The Transfrontiers’ Team is dedicated to making your wildlife walking safari and game reserve visit in Greater Kruger National Park an unforgettable game viewing experience

Transfrontiers’ Team of Wildlife Safari Guides who reside to be in the game reserve amongst the big 5 and spend most of their lives in Madach and Tusker (our tented bush camps) deserve a lot of credit for the success of Transfrontiers, always looking after our guests and their safety in sometimes very harsh conditions. They’re lots of fun and all share one great love: the bush. Our current guides are Jo Schoen, Georgie Thomas, Phil Bennett, Tom Binfield, Isaack Nkuna, Stephen Kapp, and Heather Scarlet Kapp. Each of them is dedicated to making your wildlife safari in the Kruger National Park Game Reserve and unforgettable experience filled with game viewing opportunities. Click here to meet each of our guides individually.

Ingrid Geertsema

Ingrid Geertsema, Marketing and Relief Operations Manager

Born in the Netherlands, Ingrid grew up living in the Hague for 26 years. Her desire to travel was strong even in high school, after which she struck a balance of traveling Europe and working in the Netherlands to pay for her travels. In 1996 she decided to go back to school and studied Communication Management at the University of the Hague, where she also joined an exchange program with the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay (USA). Two months after getting her degree in 2000, the travel bug once more hit home, and Ingrid traveled to South Africa for a holiday. This time, there was no returning home. Working as a tour guide for Baobab Reizen for three years, Ingrid traveled extensively throughout Southern Africa before she finally settled down in Hoedspruit in 2003 where she joined Transfrontiers. Having worked in the safari and lodge industry for nearly 4 years now, Ingrid understands the varying needs of independent travelers that come to Africa on holiday, to work, study, or sometimes fulfill a dream. Ingrid combines her love and passion for travel and Africa with a personalized approach and a 100% commitment to not just meet but to exceed the expectations of all who walk with Transfrontiers.

Heather Kapp

Heather Kapp, Reservations and Operations Manager

Born in Kenya, Heather has always loved Africa. After spending most of her childhood between the UK and Monaco, she eventually decided that Africa was her real home. After earning her BS with Honours in Biodiversity Conservation and Management at the University of Kent (Canterbury, England), she found her ticket back to Africa when registering as a “Professional Field Guide and Lodge Management” student at the Bush Academy.

Having dedicated herself to a life in conservation, Heather has successfully passed the FGASA (Field Guide Association of South Africa) practical and theory exams for Level 2 and Tracker Level 1, as well as the theoretical exams for Levels and Trails Guide.

She first started working as a guide in the Waterberg at Entabeni Safari Conservancy. She joined her husband, Stephen Kapp, in his southern African wanderings–freelance guiding and managing lodges–in the Saint Lucia Wetlands Park. Heather has recently shifted out of the bush and into the office so to use her organisational skills and love for the industry manage Transfrontiers’ reservations and operations.

Stephen Kapp

Stephen Kapp, Tented Bush Camp and Operations Manager

Stephen has spent his whole life in the bush. He grew up on a small farm in South Africa’s Limpopo province where he learned to love nature at an early age. At an unusually young age, Stephen took on the responsibility of running his family’s business, through which he developed skills in maintenance and managing a team of employees.

After working as a mechanic for two years, Stephen decided to shift careers and pursue his love for nature. After completing a Nature Guide Training course, Stephen successfully passed his FGASA Level 1 and Trails Guide (theory and practical) exams.

After a few of years guiding close to home, Stephen worked as a freelance guide and manager for luxury lodges in the Greater Saint Lucia Wetland Park and Waterberg region. After meeting and marrying his wife, Heather, he relocated to the Lowveld and joined the Transfrontiers team. His days are now focused on bush camp and staff management as well as general farm maintenance. When he has the opportunity, however, Stephen is in Madach and Tusker leading walking safari trails.

Maggie Messitt

Maggie Messitt, Owner and Business / Financial Manager

American writer and editor Maggie Messitt has lived and worked in the South African Lowveld since 2003. While first traveling through Southern Africa to write and explore, Maggie fell in love with the Rainbow Nation’s land and people. As a result, she quickly returned to further her experience as a journalist on the African continent and continue the adventure she started as a backpacker, eventually, owning and managing Transfrontiers.

In addition to running Transfrontiers, Maggie is freelancing as an International Correspondent and hard at work on her second book — a multi-threaded narrative illustrating the complex story of today’s African elephant. She is also the Founding Director of Amazwi, a non-profit media arts organization for African women, and the editor of its publications.