Meet Desiré Saayman
Today we chat to our travel consultant, Desiré, who boasts over 11 years of experience in the travel industry. Find out more about her in our Meet The Team section online.
Q&A
1. What do you love most about your job? I am very passionate about travelling in Africa. It is such a diverse continent, filled with beautiful scenery, phenomenal game sightings and culture. I wholeheartedly believe that travelling to Southern Africa is the most profound experience anyone can indulge in. I love assisting people around the world making that dream to travel become a reality.
2. What are your top 3 destinations you have visited in Africa? Kruger National Park, Botswana and Mozambique. Combining all of them in one trip is the ultimate way to experience Africa – you get the best of both worlds on a bush and beach holiday. You can engage in amazing animal sightings and enjoy a few lazy, relaxing days on the sandy white beaches of Mozambique, Southern Africa’s premier beach destination.
3. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten on your travels? Beef belly …. indeed the strangest. At the time while on safari I was unaware of the dish I was eating. I thought it was calamari. A ranger corrected me and said you are actually eating beef belly. My bad! I would probably not have dished it up had I known.
4. What is your most memorable safari moment? My most memorable safari experience was by far witnessing a leopard kill. There is nothing quite like it – it’s a very rare sighting. My heart was beating so fast.
5. What is the one thing you have to take with you on every trip? A must have while travelling is a camera, big or small, but an absolute must for me is definitely sunscreen.
6. Where in the World do you still want to travel to? I would love to go Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, being so in love with nature and the wildlife myself. I would love to be able to tick Rwanda off my bucket list of destinations to visit.
7. If you could go on a dream safari with anyone at all, who would it be and why? Fictional/Real; Dead/Alive. I would have to say my soul mate and husband. I think when you engage in such a profound experience there is no better way of doing so than with your best friend and partner who has been there for you through thick and thin.
8. What is your favourite (city/beach) hotel that you always recommend to clients travelling to Africa? La Residence in Franschhoek. There is just something about this place that is so unique and special. With its trendy interior, being surrounded by vineyards and beautiful mountain ranges, it is hard to believe you are a stone’s throw from the bustle of Cape Town. I also love the barefoot luxury and the tranquility of the Azura resorts in Southern and Northern Mozambique – they are exceptional.
9. What are your top 3 favourite safari lodges that you always recommend to clients travelling to Africa? Royal Malewane, this lodge spells AMAZING. Everything – the luxury, comfort, service, food and game viewing – is top notch. I’d also add the likes of Londolozi and Lion Sands.
10. Where is your favourite place to eat in Cape Town? The Test Kitchen because I love fine dining, but I also enjoy Moyo for a bit of local flavour.
Contact Rhino Africa to talk to one of our expert travel planners and start planning your ultimate African adventure today!