Born and raised in South Africa, Michelle has traveled across Southern Africa extensively. Exploring on both personal and professional trips, she has nearly 20 years of industry experience and joined Yellow Zebra in 2022.
A snapshot
Michelle was born and raised in South Africa. Growing up, she enjoyed an adventurous outdoors lifestyle and many happy family trips around South Africa and Zimbabwe. Her first ever trip to Zimbabwe was the catalyst for her love for all things Africa and her passion for travel.
Expert destinations
Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Recent travel experience
Michelle travels to South Africa annually to visit family, and her last trip was to Botswana with her 9-year-old daughter.
Michelle's most memorable experience
“It’s so difficult to select just one memorable experience, but if I have to choose one that I felt was really impactful, I would have to say the canoe trail I did in Mana Pools. The experience of canoeing down the Zambezi river, being eye to eye with wildlife from hippos to elephants and close to the beautiful sounds and sights of the river, was life-changing. Physically it was challenging, with tired arms at the end of the day, but truly a spiritual experience, and all worth it when enjoying a glass of wine while watching the sunset over the river.”
Michelle's biography
After her schooling, Michelle started her career in the hospitality industry, working in hotels while studying to obtain her International Hotel School Diploma. She later progressed into the travel industry, working in retail travel as well as for an event management company before starting her safari career with Wilderness Safaris in 2006. This is where her love for all things safari and Africa was nurtured, and she was fortunate enough to travel extensively both personally and professionally to many of the company’s camps to experience them first hand. Over the next 12 years, she tailored specialised trips for thousands of travellers to Southern Africa, ensuring high levels of service and professionalism. After moving to the UK in 2018, and settling in for a few years, it wasn't long before Michelle’s passion and love for Africa inspired her to get back into selling this very special place yet again.
"Yellow Zebra are genuine specialists; they know the African bush like the back of their hand."
Brian Jackman, safari expert for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast, and the BBC
'Europe's Leading Safari Tour Operator' at the World Travel Awards
8 years in a row, since 2015
"The people at Yellow Zebra have been very helpful setting up a new trip and crediting us from a previous cancelled trip."
Eric Bloland
"Incredibly responsive. I really appreciated the virtual meetings with our trip advisor to ensure we were working with a real person. We were able to discuss our interests and customize what we wanted to see in Africa - our input was used to craft and shape this once in a lifetime trip. We were al..."
Joline Brandenburg
"We had so many questions. Our questions were answered with patience and care. It really helped us make an informed decision as to where to visit and stay, as well as the activities we planned to do.
Excellent advice."
Julie
"We had excellent communication and guidance from YZ from the very beginning. We went in not knowing what we wanted to do at all other than go on a safari and Olivia gave us several different travel options to choose from. We settled on a safari in Tanzania. YZ booked us with fabulous accommodatio..."
Kelly Flynn Mushill
"We have booked multiple times with Yellow Zebra and have always enjoyed a first rate luxury safari.
And excellent customer service"