Lisa de Swardt

Meet Lisa de Swardt, Pulse Africa’s Jill-of-all-trades.

Born and raised in Kenya, Lisa has a deep seeded passion for all things African. Pursuing a career in the travel industry seemed an obvious route to follow and now, many years later, Lisa has evolved from consulting to marketing and all things IT.

Lisa’s Favourite Places: The Kenyan coast and Laikipia.
Top Travel Tip: Ask the locals where to eat, shop and watch the sunset.
Lisa Never Travels Without: Her many kikois
Her Favourite Pastime: Making jewellery

My Bucket List

• Self-drive from South Africa to Kenya
• Go on a camel safari in Northern Kenya
• Go to a yoga retreat on the Kenyan coast
• Sleep under the stars in the Kalahari
• Visit the rock churches of Lalibela
• Explore the markets of Marrakech
• Travel around the island of Madagascar
• Do a sailing trip on a traditional dhow off the East African coast
• Eat lobster at the Rock Restaurant in Zanzibar
• Learn traditional skills from the silversmiths of Ibo Island

Lisa Seinker’s

 Meet Lisa Seinker, Pulse Africa’s Southern Africa Travel Specialist.

Hailing from the vibrant city of Cape Town, Lisa maintains a deep affection for her hometown. Boasting a career spanning over three decades in the industry, she possesses unparalleled knowledge and expertise in Southern Africa. Lisa’s true passion lies in meticulously crafting unforgettable, bespoke experiences for her clients.

Lisa’s favourite place to visit: Cape Town

Top travel tip: Check your passport well in advance and make sure it has not expired.

Never travel without: Your camera, binoculars and some good books to read.

Favourite pastime: Tennis

My Bucket List

• Further explore the remoter parts of East Africa
• Experience the chimpanzees of Mahale
• Climb Kilimanjaro
• Travel all around Europe

WHERE CAN I GO?

Botswana

Blessed with towering elephants, zebra crossings and enigmatic landscapes, Botswana is one of the great safari destinations in Africa.

Kenya

​With hauntingly beautiful landscapes supporting an abundance of wildlife, impossibly beautiful weather and the most friendly, welcoming people, Kenya is the quintessential safari destination.

Madagascar

From the moment you arrive in Madagascar, a sense of the unusual envelops you. Explore one of the most biodiverse places in the world as most of what you’ll see here is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

Mauritius

Nowhere else can you indulge in flaky croissants for breakfast and seafood curry for dinner, or admire pastel-coloured Hindu temples on the road alongside French colonial mansions. With a hypnotic blend of Indian, African and French influences, Mauritius is a gem that enchants all who visit.

Mozambique

Mozambique is no ordinary holiday destination. It uniquely combines not only spectacular beaches, but also impressive colonial architecture and fascinating local culture.

Namibia

Namibia is a land of incredible contrasts and colours where dry, arid desert meets the roaring Atlantic Ocean.

Rwanda

Prepare to be left in awe as you adventure into mist-shrouded forests and lush tea plantations. Holidays in Rwanda offer a heart-stopping adventure and wonderful wildlife encounters.

Seychelles

When the going gets tough, the tough get going; whilst the rest of us conjure our ideal escape, dreaming of the Seychelles with golden beaches, secluded coves, and tropical coco de mer palms.

South Africa

From city getaways to safaris and beach holidays, South Africa is a world in one country, accommodating all types of travellers. Fondly known by locals as the 'Rainbow Nation', this is an extraordinary country to which you will want to return again and again.

Tanzania

The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across vast savannah, rain forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and great plains full of legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this exceptionally diverse African nation.

Uganda

Uganda is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa. With its dense misty forests, snow-peaked mountains, glassy lakes and sprawling savannas, it’s no wonder this beautiful country is dubbed the Pearl of Africa.

Zambia

A holiday in Zambia bursts with adventure and natural beauty. From awe-inspiring walking safaris and exhilarating white-water rafting, to seeing one of the world’s largest waterfalls, there are very few places left in the world where such wild experiences are still possible.

Zanzibar

The archipelago of Zanzibar comprises several islands in the Indian Ocean that bead their way down the shores of East Africa, just off the coast of Tanzania. This group of islands, surrounded by beaches that rate among the world’s most beautiful, will allow you to discover peace and serenity unlike anything you've ever experienced.

Zimbabwe

Bungee jump over Victoria Falls, white water raft down the Zambezi River, canoe beside fish eagles swooping over Lake Kariba or soak up the magic of the bush in Hwange National Park. A safari holiday in Zimbabwe piques all the senses.

WHERE CAN I GO?

Bronwen Dearham

Meet Bronwen, Pulse Africa’s Eastern and Southern Africa Travel Expert.

Bronwen has travelled extensively around the countries that she sells and has developed a special love for each of them.

She loves nothing more than sharing her passion for these countries with her clients.

Bronwen’s Favourite Place:Old Mdonya River Camp, Ruaha National Parki
Top Travel Tip: always smile and be nice.
Bronwen’s Never Travels Without: A good book and her camera
Her Favourite Pastime:waking up before everyone else and enjoying a strong coffee whilst listening to the birds chatter

My Bucket List

• Spend time in Katavi National Park for remoteness and large herds
• Walk in Kafue National Park
• Self-drive and camp in the Kgakagadi Transfrontier Park.
• Go on a night desert walk in Swakopmund
• Go on a canoe trip on the Orange River
• Camp in the Central Kalahari (Botswana)
• Visit and camp in Namaqualand in Spring
• Camp under the stars in the desert in Morocco
• Spend a night in a tree house in Hwange National Park and sleep under the stars
• Do a 4 Day Walking safari in the Kruger

Vanessa Massyn

Meet Vanessa, Pulse Africa’s Southern Africa Travel Specialist.

Vanessa was born and raised in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, which is one of her favourite places in South Africa. She spent her entire 20’s travelling the globe and in her thirties, she settled down and started working in the travel industry, which she’s been doing for the last 15 years.

Vanessa’s passion is travel and her favourite book is an atlas! She is raising a beautiful little girl and they live – together with their 3 dogs – in Johannesburg.

Vanessa’s favourite place: Prague

Top travel tip: Immerse yourself in the culture of the country you’re travelling in.

Vanessa never travels without: a good book, a diary and an open mind.

Her favourite pastime: writing, reading, gardening, cooking.

My Bucket List

• Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and sail the Beagle Channel in South America.
• Trekking through the Patagonian mountains.
• Experience the Aurora Borealis from Lapland or Alaska.
• Visit Iceland in the summer.
• Spend time on the Galapagos Islands.
• Go on a European Canal Barge Cruise with my best friends.
• Travel through Morocco, sampling the best in Moroccan food and buying textiles.
• Snorkel anywhere along the Great Barrier Reef.
• Experience the Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
• Island hopping in Croatia.

Kath Robins

Having stepped away from the travel industry for a few years, Kath Robins is returning to her passion. As an avid traveller with a now empty nest, Kath is looking forward to sharing and experiencing the destination expertise offered by Pulse Africa.

Favourite Place(s) :Seychelles and Yorkshire

Top Travel Tip :Expect the unexpected

Never Travel Without :A sense of humour and wonder, a camera

Favourite Pastime :Painting and reading

My Bucket List

• See the Northern Lights
• See a murmuration
• Experience the flowers in Namaqualand
• Guilet around Croatia
• Go Gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda
• Do a painting workshop in Florence
• Go on a cooking course in the South of France, Tuscany or Sicily 
• Experience even more of Africa and South Africa
• *all the above with family and friends to make it even more special

Bronwen Pearson

Meet Bronwen, Pulse Africa’s Eastern and Southern Africa Travel Expert.

Bronwen has travelled extensively around the countries that she sells and has developed a special love for each of them.

She loves nothing more than sharing her passion for these countries with her clients.

Bronwen’s Favourite Place: Old Mdonya River Camp, Ruaha National Park
Top Travel Tip: Always smile and be nice
Bronwen Never Travels Without: A good book and her camera
Her Favourite Pastime: Waking up before everyone else and enjoying a strong coffee whilst listening to the birds chatter

My Bucket List

• Spend time in Katavi National Park for remoteness and large herds
• Walking in Kafue National Park
• Self drive and camping in the Kgakagadi Transfrontier Park
• Night desert walk in Swakopmund
• Orange River Canoe trip
• Camp in the Central Kalahari
• Visit and camp in Namaqualand in Spring
• Camp in the desert in Morocco under the stars
• Spend a night in a tree house in Hwange National Park and sleep under the stars

Leandra Hanger

Meet Leandra Hanger, Pulse Africa’s Supplier and Rates Guru.

Leandra is our product and rates guru and coffee connoisseur. Her organisational skills are second to none and subsequently we have a highly sophisticated product information system. Not only does she negotiate some fabulous rates for our clients, but she ensures that the consultants are always up to date with the latest product training.

Leandra’s Favourite Place: South Africa
Top Travel Tip: Always trust to travel expert at Pulse Africa, and research your destination…this will prepare you to be blown away!
Leandra Never Travels Without: Passport, travel insurance, camera and bottled up excitement!
Her Favourite Pastime: Spending time with my family and sharing special memories with family and friend….over coffee!

My Bucket List

• Attend the Gorilla christening ceremony in Rwanda
• Head to Uganda to visit the organic coffee farmers in the Sipi Falls region, visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and attempt white river rafting on the Nile
• Experience a hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti
• Explore Southern Africa in an overland vehicle with my children, including trekking over the Lesotho mountains on donkeys
• Explore the coffee plantations of Ethiopia, taking part in their world-renowned coffee ceremonies. Learn more about their ancient civilisations and history
• Explore Reunion, from the rich and diverse marine life to the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes
• Fly to Antarctica and sleep at the South Pole

Nancy Wood

Meet Nancy Wood, Pulse Africa’s Marketing Guru and Africa Travel Specialist.

Our resident Canadian, Nancy Wood came to Johannesburg in 2001 for a 3-year posting … and never left! She has travelled extensively on the continent and offers a foreign perspective in planning African travel for her clients.

Nancy’s Favourite Place: Sabi Sands
Top Travel Tip: When deciding what to pack: Take half the clothes and twice the money!
Nancy Never Travels Without: A patient attitude- it goes a long way
Her Favourite Pastime: Dancing and tennis. Not at the same time

My Bucket List

• Sailing and cycling in Croatia
• Seeing the Cherry Blossom festival in Japan
• Trekking with the gorillas in Rwanda
• Viewing the Northern Lights and fjords of Norway
• Snorkelling in Cabilao Island, Philippines

Lia Tynan

Meet Lia Tynan, Pulse Africa’s Financial Manager.

Lia is our feisty, Greek financial manager. She works with our numbers all day, every day and ensures that every cent is where it should be. Her sense of humour keeps us all smiling.

Lia’s Favourite Place: San Francisco
Top Travel Tip: Pack light
Lia Never Travels Without: A face towel
Her Favourite Pastime: Shopping and reading a good crime novel

My Bucket List

• Visit Cuba
• Visit Rio de Janeiro carnival
• Go white water rafting
• Soak in a hot spring
• Learn how to swim

Claudine Rigney

Meet Claudine Rigney, Pulse Africa’s Admin Queen.

Our admin queen, Claudine keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Having worked in travel for many years she is au fait with the ins and outs of planning holidays and recognising the kind of support our consultants and our clients need.

Claudine’s Favourite Place: Makakola Retreat, Malawi
Top Travel Tip: Be on time….be courteous, have important stuff close by
Claudine Never Travels Without: A fab handbag & lipstick
Her Favourite Pastime: Making good memories…chatting away

My Bucket List

• Visit small towns across South Africa
• Go to Morocco to take in the sights and smells
• Experience East Africa’s bush and beach
• Have dinner at a long table with locals, somewhere in Italy
• Cruise on the Nile river
• Experience Madagascar
• Go shark-cage diving

Melanie Lowe

Meet Melanie Lowe, Pulse Africa’s Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Island Travel Specialist.

Melanie Lowe has been an enthusiastic traveller from a young age exploring a vast array of countries across the world and many throughout Africa. Melanie has an extreme passion for the African bush and is excited to share her experiences with her clients.

Melanie’s Favourite Place: Kruger National Park and Mozambique
Top Travel Tip: Never miss the opportunity to experience new adventures and local experiences
Melanie Never Travels Without: A good book and her camera
Her Favourite Pastime: Horse riding

My Bucket List

• Gorilla trekking in Uganda/Rwanda
• A stand up paddle boarding safari in the Okavango Delta (as long as I don’t fall in with the crocs and hippos)
• A diving adventure in the Red Sea
• A walk through the Avenue of Baobabs in Western Madagascar
• Visit the Amazon
• Hike to Everest Base Camp
• Go on a safari in Zambia

Sandi Elkington

Meet Sandi Elkington, Pulse Africa’s East Africa Travel Specialist.

Sandi Elkington has a passion and reverence for her work like no other. She is in charge of the East-African destinations, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the spice island of Zanzibar. Sandi has a genuine love for her job and Africa and brings this passion to the forefront in planning safaris for her clients.

.Sandi’s Favourite Place: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya
Top Travel Tip: Take a smile, good manners and general common sense. Learn a few local words before you travel. Oh, and tip your shoes upside down before putting them on in the mornings!
Sandi Never Travels Without: Her passion for adventure and fun
Her Favourite Pastime: Swimming

My Bucket List

• Visit Turkey and shop, eat and immerse myself in the culture, people, and landscapes
• A self-drive trip with my husband to Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, the Damaraland and Etosha National Park in Namibia
• To visit Israel and do a tour of the Holy Land, lie by the beach, spend time with my Israeli family, and eat delicious Israeli food
• To take my son on an extensive tour of Japan – we are both fascinated by the country, the culture, food, and the people!

Nicci Lenferna

Meet Nicci Lenferna, Pulse Africa’s Director & Group Travel Specialist.

Nicci Lenferna was the first to join Pulse Africa with Sandy Wood. Her attention to detail and lively attitude have earned her a reputation for major group event planning and coordination. Nicci plans small, medium and large scale private and corporate group trips around the world, all year long, each one boasting a unique success.

Nicci’s Favourite Place: Madagascar
Top Travel Tip: Visit fewer places for longer periods of time
Nicci Never Travels Without: A kikoi
Her Favourite Pastime: Exploring new destinations

My Bucket List

• Walk the Camino de Santiago, Northern Spain
• Explore the Amazon Jungle, Brazil
• Travel India in five-star luxury and experience her vibrant culture, magnificent palaces & culinary delights.
• Visit the Amalfi Coast in Italy for a hiking and food extravaganza
• Visit Japan to see cherry blossoms and enjoy authentic cultural experiences
• Explore the maze-like medieval quarters, medinas and souks of Morocco.
• Fly into Jack’s Camp Makgadigadi Salt Pans, Botswana for the Zebra Migration.
• Venture into the Bangweulu Wetlands in search of the elusive Shoebill Stork.

Sandy Wood

Meet Sandy Wood, Pulse Africa’s Managing Director.

Kenyan-born Sandy Wood has been at the helm of Pulse Africa since she started the business in 1991. Her expertise spans across all regions that Pulse Africa offers as destinations and she is constantly pushing these borders, exploring new regions and countries to offer her clients.

Sandy’s Favourite Place: Laikipia, Kenya
Top Travel Tip: Research the country you are visiting before departure
Sandy Never Travels Without: A sense of humour
Her Favourite Pastime: Entertaining friends at home

My Bucket List

• Visit Goa, Bengal and the tigers
• Dive the Great Barrier Reef
• Have cocktails atop Burj Kalifa, Dubai
• Swim at the foot of Victoria Falls
• Have a second honeymoon at Fundu Lagoon, Zanzibar
• Take a dhow on the Nile and stay at The Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote “Death on the Nile”.

Natasha Jericevich

Meet Natasha Jericevich, Pulse Africa’s Southern Africa Travel Specialist.

Natasha Jericevich has been an avid traveller her entire life. Encouraged to do so from a young age by her father, she set out exploring different regions of the world before settling into African tourism. Sincere and imaginative, Natasha is able to empathise with her clients, creating dream safaris they will never forget.

Natasha’s Favourite Places: Okavango Delta, Botswana & Seychelles
Top Travel Tip: Take the opportunity to experience new things
Natasha Never Travels Without: Her Nikon camera
Her Favourite Pastime: Photographing new places

My Bucket List

•  Visit Antarctica
•  Visit Argentina & Chile
•  Visit Venice & Rome

WHAT CAN I DO?

Beach

The palm-lined, white-powdery beaches of Africa are those that dreams are made of. Whether you’re looking for the perfect island holiday, or an adventure-packed water sports paradise, there is a spot for you on the continent.

Safari

East Africa is where safaris were born and the rest of Africa is where they have grown-up. Whether you are keen on day or night safaris, walking safaris,    specialised photographic or ornithological safaris, there is definitely a safari to suit you.

Animals

A trip to Africa is, more often than not, planned around animals. Be it the Big 5, the great migration, gorillas or lemurs, there is no question that the animals take centre stage.

Landscapes

Second possibly only to the animals, the landscapes in Africa are to be marvelled at. From jungles to deserts, mountains to oceans and the wide open savannas of East Africa, the enormity of these landscapes will leave you speechless.

Adventure

Africa is not short of adventure, in fact it is the ultimate adventurers’ playground. Whether you’re looking for water adventures, animal adventures or adrenaline pumping adventures, you’ll find something to thrill you in Africa.

Wellness

There is no shortage in Africa of world-class spas, golf courses or yoga retreats. If you’re looking for a wellness holiday, then we have a place for you.

Self Drive

South Africa is a country that lends itself to long, fascinating road trips. The landscapes are breath-taking and the routes full of interesting little stops. If you’re looking for a self-drive adventure, then this would be the place to do it.

Arts & Culture

There is no shortage of art nor culture in Africa. With over 3,000 tribes spread across 53 countries there is so much to see, learn and experience.

History

The history of Africa is certainly colourful. It begins with Ancient Egypt then the discovery of hominids in East Africa and continues with slavery, tribal wars, colonialization, and political unrest. The continent is a patchwork quilt of stories and legends like no other.

WHAT CAN I DO?