Who works for Real America?
When you travel with Real Africa you are in the hands of experienced professionals and African enthusiasts. We have all travelled extensively in Africa and are passionate about our work.

We regularly go back to visit new places, see old friends and check that our knowledge is up-to-date. In many places, we can recommend not only the best properties, but also their best rooms.

Our team:

Robert Ferguson
Robert has worked in special interest travel for 20 years, the last 9 of which have been spent running Real Africa. In Africa he has visited Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland. Most recently he has done inspection visits in South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius.   More >>


Paul Hickey-Fry
Paul our Sales Manager has worked for Real Africa for 9 years, and has worked in specialist travel to Africa for over 20. Recent trips there have included Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and Namibia.   More >>


Ruth Hardy
Ruth left university with a degree in Law (with European Studies and French), and then took a Masters in Tourism Management. Her work in travel commenced with Hyatt Hotels and later included a two year management training course with Saga Holidays.   More >>


Helen Botha
Helen has worked for us for over 2 years and before that lived and worked in South Africa for 18 years. During this time she built up an excellent knowledge of Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, including stays at many of the leading hotels and game lodges.   More >>


Kate Waiyaki
Kate has done all our lodge and camp reservations in Kenya for the last 3 years. Based in Nairobi, she checks availability and liaises with our UK staff in creating and confirming our clients’ itineraries.   More >>


Maggie Samson
Based in Arusha, Maggie does our lodge and camp reservations in Tanzania. Having recently visited over 30 lodges we use in the “Northern Circuit” area of the country, she assists our UK staff keep bang up-to-date with the latest changes and upgrades.   More >>


Guide profile: Samuel Ndungu
Sammy has been driver-guiding for us for 6 years and a guide for nearly 20. During this time he has visited all the main National Parks in Kenya many times, and quite a few of the out-of-the-way ones as well.   More >>


Heike Oelbuttel
Heike Oelbuttel has been in the travel industry for the past 20 years and started out as a Tourist Guide because of her foreign language skills. Cape Town is her home town and thrives on giving visitors the "insider" info. Namibia is her second home country and adores the deafening silence of the desert and the evening sunsets which are always different.   More >>


Lily Appleby Newby
Lily is the most travelled of us all when it comes to Africa. She's not an enthusiast but an addict! She has been to Kenya 9 times and Tanzania 10, the most recent of these being in September 2009 when she visited the National parks and lodges of Southern Tanzania.   More >>