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Why us?
Years of collective experience in the tourism industry and a love of the country provide a filter for the gimmicks, the dodgy, the unsuitable and the rip offs! What remains are the best properties, transport and people in the business.
We carefully incorporate these gems into an itinerary perfectly suited to each client’s interests and requirements; drawing on long standing relationships in the industry to secure the best rates and most special experiences possible for our clients.
Always a positive sign, our business has been built on word of mouth and we have a remarkably loyal client base. We strive to build relationships with our clients so that they leave not only as friends and ambassadors of Southern Destinations, but of South Africa as a destination as well.
Our association with Travel Smart gives us huge leverage and access to wholesale accommodation rates. Our itineraries are therefore lean and mean, adding lots more value to your holiday. Find out more about Travel Smart…
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Neil Ratcliffe
Neil’s “never give up” attitude is an inspirational driving force at the helm as he competently steers the SD team through the administrative hoops such as our IT systems, telecoms, finances, legal issues, operations, strategic planning and PMS ! He represents SD and plays an active role in the TravelSmart consortium. He has extensive knowledge of Southern Africa and has recently been in Zambia and to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. He is a member of Royal Cape Golf Club, has played on courses throughout the country - very badly. He has completed ‘Iron Man SA 2005 and 2006’ and when not out barefoot waterskiing, he is sitting about lazily waiting for his wife, Georgina to produce their first child!
Contact Neil on neil@southerndestinations.com |
Liesl Matthews
Tour operator extra-ordinaire…! No stone is left un-turned, no ‘t’ uncrossed when Liesl is in charge of especially the most complex tour arrangements. Originally from Johannesburg with many years experience in event management and advertising, Liesl is the matriarch of our Southern Destinations family. She is an accomplished multi–tasker and dynamically juggles management of the tours division and operations with building strong relationships with agents and suppliers. When she’s not researching new destinations and inspecting new accommodation places(in detail), she is laughing out loud with friends, Jason and their son, Ben…and dying her hair flaming red!
Contact Liesl on liesl@southerndestinations.com |
Vanessa Ratcliffe
After school in Pretoria and an arts degree at Cape Town university, Vanessa (known to her friends, family and many happy past clients as Dort) became a professional traveler, spending time in Europe, America and Africa before settling into a short career in the corporate world of Advertising. Her feet soon got itchy and she set herself up as a freelance tour guide in 1996 because she “likes to travel, speaks French, is a people person and is a passionate ambassador for everything South African”. A year later she founded Southern Destinations. Vanessa is interested in wine (the Diploma is on the wall), and snow skiing (the love of her life is in the Alps). She also founded Mandela Park Mosaics, a sustainable employment project.
Contact Vanessa on vanessa@southerndestinations.com |
Lise Kargaard
Lise is highly experienced in the travel industry and is extremely well traveled. She therefore has many valuable connections in all travel spheres. Lise’s knowledge of the wine industry is extensive too. She has a wonderful dry sense of humour, loves photography and enjoys eating left overs for breakfast.
Contact Lise on lise@southerndestinations.com |
Jason Powell
Jason is well known for his waffle making skills - the office girls are looking forward to sampling his wares! He also posesses a well stamped passport from his travels around the world. Jason knows all the best spots and secret hideaways. With his enthusiastic approach and easy going personality, Jason is a breath of fresh air when planning your holiday.
Contact Jason on jason@southerndestinations.com
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Debbie Vogel
After completing studies at Stellenbosch College, Debbie decided to see the world. She worked her way through an impressive number of cities in South Africa and the UK (and an impressive number of jobs for that matter!). Debbie comes from a service background and is perfectly equipped to make sure that your holiday is seemless and superb when she puts together all the details and documents for your safari.
Contact Debbie on debbie@southerndestinations.com
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Charles Ratcliffe
Born in Cape Town, to environmentally conscious parents who traveled intrepidly in Southern Africa with kids in tow, Charles says his childhood “was like paging through a copy of National Geographic”. Charles has a diploma in Nature Conservation, did a stint as a game ranger, and has a Masters degree from the University of Cape Town. Charles’s personality, good manners, passion for wildlife as well as excellent street sense in the urban environment make him a first class guide. He is also a keen golfer and excellent fly fisherman. So great is he that clients have been known to want to take him home with them as a souvenir! When not on the road, he spends time with his brand new daughter. |
Anne van der Meulen
One of our favorite specialist wine guides, and ab-so-lu-tely passionate about South Africa, Annie has a truly special sense of humour. She has been guiding, enlightening, entertaining and taking extra special care of visitors to SA for the past 12 years. She’s happiest when showing off the beautiful winelands and arranging private tastings and cellar tours. When she’s not looking after our VIP clients, assuring they get the most out of their time here, she spends time in her garden with her husband and the dog inbetween completing her degree in International Politics and South African History at the University of Cape Town |
Tim Meadows
Born and bred in Cape Town, Tim is a true local. A love for people, a talent for networking and a strong commitment to social upliftment make Tim invaluable when special interest groups need culturally interactive experiences organized. Tim’s other passion is golf and he an accomplished golfer and experienced golf tour host. |
Mark Murison
Mark has been looking after our guests for many years. An ex-ranger, he has grown roots in Cape Town and loves it. He jumps at the opportunity to drive visitors around the nearby winelands. Mark is a very versatile guide, has a broad general knowledge and a wide range of interests and talents. When not going the extra mile of our clients, Mark likes to cook, walk mountain trails in the Karoo, go fishing in the Eastern Cape, visit family in KwaZulul Natal, watch sport and go out dancing! |
Murray Angus-Leppan
Murray has a BA (Hons) degree from Natal University and pursued a career in acting in Johannesburg before following a philanthropic calling to an adult education learning centre in Langa Township in Cape Town in the late 80’s. Changing direction again, Murray spent several years working on a wine estate - hence his excellent nose and passion for good wines. Now entrenched in the tourism, industry, Murray is the perfect person to showcase the landscape, people and history of the Cape and its vineous treasures |
Peter Veerapen
Peter is a 5th generation Capetonian, descendant of political exiles from India in the 17th century on his father’s side and French Huguenots on his mother’s. With an inbuilt intimate knowledge of all four corners of Cape Town, Peter is the perfect person to take you off the beaten track and behind the curtains of the social fabric of the Cape’s communities. Peter’s approachability, sensitivity to visitor needs and easy going nature make him a popular choice for our VIP families. Nothing is ever a problem when Pete is your guide, he has an answer for every question and tells wonderful stories. His range of special interest and general knowledge include history, wine, and sport (golf in particular) |
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