Key Staff

The tourism is a line of work where, knowing the company is very important, equally important is knowing a little about the people in that company; their skills, qualifications and experiences. We at Footsteps in Africa believe in building relationships with the trade.

The following is a short profile on each of the key Footsteps in Africa staff.  

Anthony Cavill-Taylor - Managing Director
Renier Lombaard - Accountant
Gerhard Slabbert - Director

Peter Sandenbergh -Owner - Lodges of Botswana and Delta air

Pat Rogerson - Reservations Manager
Rihann van Wyk Sales & Marketing, South Africa

Karis Christophers – Reservations

Neeltjie de Graaff - Bower - Professional Guide

Ren 'Reaboka Mbulawa' - C.E.O  Mapula Lodge

Anthony Cavill -Taylor
Managing Director

Anthony was born and raised in the small farming community of Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Growing up so close to the Kruger National Park, nurtured a passion for wildlife and sowed the seeds for a career in tourism. He studied law at the University of Pretoria but decided to rather pursue a career guided by his passion.

Anthony has been involved in many aspects of tourism in Southern Africa during the past 16 years - tour guiding, owning and managing a luxury guesthouse, tour operating, camp management in Botswana, product management, sales and marketing. These experiences have set the perfect foundation for Footsteps in Africa.

He is married to Elize who is also involved in tourism and they have twins Isla and Aiden. The Cavill-Taylor family lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Gerhard Slabbert - Director

In 1970 Gerhard completed a BSC and a year later completed his Honours at the University of Potchefstroom.  Gerhard has owned and operated several very large businesses in South Africa all in the Pharmaceutical and Health Care line. Gaining national business awards and a professorship in 1999.

In 1997 Gerhard leapt at the opportunity to become involved in Deception Valley Lodge, after visiting the Central Kalahari. Gerhard has always been involved in Deception Valley Lodge but in 2003 saw Gerhard take a very active role in the day-to-day operations applying years worth of business expertise and swiftly brought about several changes to Deception Valley Lodge. It was during this time that Anthony Cavill-Taylor and Gerhard formally started doing business together. These changes has seen Deception Valley Lodge grow in popularity and widely regarded by the tourism trade and competitors alike as one of the top lodges in Botswana. 

Early in 2007, Gerhard decided to join forces with Anthony Cavill-Taylor and Footsteps in Africa was born. Gerhard with his acute business acumen and years of experience in large business ventures is a important part of the Footsteps in Africa team.

When not at Deception Valley Lodge, Gerhard spends time at his “second” home in Johannesburg. Gerhard, is married to Annelize, from this marriage two children Katinka and Jacobus were born.

Peter Sandenberg - Owner - Lodges of Botswana and Delta air

Peter Sandenbergh grew up in South Africa, but has spent his adult life in

Botswana. As a child he spent a great deal of time in the bush, principally

at Mala Mala, then a game farm owned by his god-father, Urban 'Peter'

Campbell. His own father, Col JAB Sandenbergh, had succeeded Lt-Col James Stevenson-Hamilton as warden of the Kruger National Park in 1946.

When Mala Mala was sold and became a commercial concern the family began to holiday in the Okavango.

Sandenbergh was smitten and moved to Maun at the age of 22.

After living there for several years a chance conversation with the late

Lothar Swaboda resulted in him spending every last cent of his savings to

buy Delta Camp, on the edge of Chief's Island. The following year, 1984, he

conceived and built Oddballs' to cater to the many people who wanted to

visit the Okavango but could not afford the prices charged by the luxury

lodges. In 1986 he started Delta Air, an air charter company, with one

aircraft which he has gradually built up to the current fleet of eight.

Sandenbergh has always run a low-impact operation, using local people as

guides and wherever possible in his operations. Traditional wooden mekoro,

the dug-out canoes of the swamp, solar power, the eschewing of generators,

and activities based entirely on walking and mekoro are all hallmarks of his

operation. Interaction with the locals, including visits to the local

village, Sedibana, are encouraged.

Buildings are designed and build to blend

in with, rather than impose upon, their surroundings, and their open-plan

nature fosters a feeling of being in, rather than adjacent to, the natural

world.

Patricia Rogerson - Reservations Manager

Patricia was born in sunny Johannesburg, South Africa.  When she grew up she decided to follow her passion for a career in travel.  Patricia, known as Pat, has been in the travel industry for the past 8 years mainly dealing with Botswana. 

She started off in 1999, at Desert and Delta Safaris, having the opportunity of getting to know several Botswana camps ands lodges.  Pat has been married to Andrew since 2005.

Rihann van Wyk - Sales and Marketing South Africa

Rihann van Wyk, started his career in Tourism by studying Nature Management, followed up working at numerous private game lodges.

During the early part of 2007, Anthony offered Rihann a position at Footsteps in Africa. Being involved with Footsteps in Africa from its very inception has provided Rihann with  unique skills and insights to the tourism market. 

As Footsteps in Africa expanded and required the full time services of a dedicated South Africa sales and marketing manager, it was obvious that Rihann would take over this role and so doing lighten the load from Anthony. Rihann first hand knowledge of the Greater Kruger Park area has proved very valuable with the expansion of Footsteps in Africa into taking on a Kruger Park client. 

When not travelling the length and breadth of South Africa or Internationally, Rihann enjoys the comforts of home. Rihann is based in Johannesburg.

Karis Christophers – Reservations

Karis's  passion for nature and travel began when she went on a camp counseling trip to Malaysia. Malaysia, a land of diverse cultures and environments where man and nature live in harmony. When she returned she had her sights set on getting involved in the tourism industry.

She started her career in travel in 2000 and worked for Rennies Incentive in the marketing department and helped out the consultants when things got busy in the reservations department. Her interest in the operational side of tourism grew and she left Rennies Incentive and started working for Islands in Africa as a safari's consultant ,and than moved into the reservations department.  

Karis left Islands in Africa in December 2007 and joined Footsteps in Africa as a reservations consultant. Karis just recently moved down to Hoedspruit and now lives in the most sunny and most  beautiful part of the Limpopo with her fiancé Clayton.

Neeltjie de Graaff - Bower - Professional Guide

Speaks the local language (Naro), Afrikaans, and English fluently.  A native Motswana(citizen of Botswana), Neeltjie grew up on a cattle ranch where she and the San Bushman children shared the pleasures of a free childhood in a natural environment. 

After attending college in Pretoria  then went to Maun where she received her professional guide's license and has been working in the industry for over eleven years.  She has worked with outfits such as Birds Safaris in the Delta, Kwara Camp, and Ker & Downey Safaris. 

With Neeltjie's vast knowledge of culture, the animals, and the country, she will guide you through a magnificent experience, observing the interaction of the world's oldest people with nature in the ancient Kalahari and the Okavango Delta in Botswana.   Neeltjie is married to Tiaan Bower and they have two daughters Anri(4) and Nelien(3).  Two girls can speak Naro almost better than mom!

Ren 'Reaboka Mbulawa' - C.E.O  Mapula Lodge

Born 13th February 1975 in Maun/ primary schools around Maun/Grew up in the North West District in areas around the Okavango Delta(i.e went to Gumare Primary school)/ Junior Secondary school at Ngami C.J.S.S around the Lake Ngami/Senior secondary at Maun Senior Secondary/Went for national service at Shoshong Village a tradition rich village were David Livingstone once resided.  

Has a Bachelor of arts Degree in Humanities,with majors in Wildlife and environmental studies,History,advanced map interpretation and Geography.   Has a certificate in Integrated Strategic Planning(southern African Wildlife College) in S.A near Kruger National Park-did his practical at Kruger.   Has 'TEAM LEADERSHIP' certificate from the Human Resource Management Consultants Botswana,in connection with The Department of Wildlife And National Park   Worked as a Park Manager Chobe/ Savuti area for four years(1999 to 2003)- innovated the fire block burning strategies/contributed to the elephant ecology study /contributed to the Rhino re-introduction/Introduced the Savuti signage product/Headed the construction of Savuti Airstrip under the strict directions from the Vice President Ian Khama Seretse Khama.

 Ren is married to Connie(ex-Linyanti explorations) .The couple has a home both in Maun and Kasane.They have Three daughters,Rachel(studying in Malaysia), Sabrina( Okavango International,Maun English Medium)and  Katlo also at primary level in Maun.   Ren has always had passion in wildlife and conservation since early age.Since Primary to the University he was a member of the wildlife club.This explains a carer in Wildlife and the pursuit to venture in to Tourism.He is workaholic and believes in unlimited perfection.Ren joined Mapula lodge as operationa manager April 2007.