About Us
Albie Venter
Co-founder, Africa Unlocked
Contact Albie here.
Albie studied Nature Conservation in Cape Town, and has been involved in professional wildlife guiding, wildlife management and eco-tourism for the past twelve years. He has been a member of the Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) throughout his career, and holds both Level 3 and SKS-DA (special knowledge and skills –Dangerous Animals) qualifications in addition to Bronze Level Guiding Certificate of the Kenyan Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA). Albie is a registered Field Guide Assessor for FGASA and Birdlife South Africa, and conducts regular guide assessments for these two organizations.
An avid Conservationist, he earned his stripes as a wildlife guide in the pristine Lowveld region of South Africa’s Limpopo province adjacent to the internationally renowned Kruger National Park, later moving on to manage Game Lodges and Safari Camps in both South and East Africa with his wife Freda. Guiding has taken him to many Southern and East African countries and regions - from the rugged Cederberg Mountains of South Africa’s Cape floral kingdom interpreting the ancient rock-art of the legendary Bushman, to leading walking safaris amongst the wildlife herds of East Africa in pursuit of big game.
Albie is a keen photographer with photographs published in several nature based magazines including Africa Geographic, Getaway, Southern African Country Life and East African Travel News, while several of his articles have appeared in Africa Birds and Birding. In addition he received a highly commended certificate in the 2008 Fuji Wildlife Photographer of the year competition - South Africa’s premium wildlife photographic competition. He was also the winner of both the 2008 Africa Geographic “Caught in the Act” photographic competition and East African Travel News’s "Expressions of Africa" competition.
As a photographer he is keenly aware of the effort required to create a great image, and with this in mind is able to anticipate the best possible photo-taking positions for his guests. He also hosts Africa Unlocked photo-safaris, demystifying the complexities of sophisticated digital cameras for their owners.
Albie nurtures an interest in all aspects of wildlife, from invertebrates to the big and hairies - but birds hold a special place in his heart.
Freda Venter
Co-founder, Africa Unlocked.
Contact Freda here.
Freda studied teaching in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal and at the University of South Africa, and subsequently started specializing in teaching children with learning disabilities.
In 2004 she joined husband Albie as manager of several up-market lodges in the South African Lowveld, where se ensured that every facet of the guests’ experience was attended to at the highest level.
In East Africa she assisted with the establishment of a luxury tented camp in the northern reaches of Kenya’s spectacular Maasai Mara region. Testimony to her eye for detail and behind the scenes know-how, the camp featured in the Africa Geographic publication Safari in Style - East Africa in 2006.
Her passion for teaching undiminished during their East African sojourn, she started Naibor Adult Education, an informal school under the Maasai Mara Acacias where she taught adult members of staff to read and write.
She co-founded Africa Unlocked, and is responsible for office management, administration, bookings, and guest liaison.
Greg du Toit
Specialist Photographic Safari Guide
Greg, a professional wildlife photographer guides our specialist photographic safaris. He is a qualified Nature Conservationist and one of the most imaginative wildlife photographers currently operating in Africa. His work features regularly in publications such as the prestigious BBC Wildlife, Africa Geographic and Getaway magazines. He is also a contributing photographer to Gallo Images/Getty Images internationally.
Since starting his conservation and tourism career in 1996 as a wilderness trails guide in the Timbavati nature reserve, he has lived and worked in some of the most pristine and wildest corners of four different African countries.
A 16 month intensive photographic project documented life on the shores of inhospitable Lake Natron in Kenya’s southern Rift Valley. This led to the Africa Geographic cover story in February 2006 as well as an article detailing the precarious lives of nomadic lion outside protected areas, which will appear in the June 2009 issue of the BBC Wildlife magazine.
The first portfolio ever published on Ruaha National Park in Southern Tanzania, which featured in the March 2008 issue of Africa Geographic, came after his 22 month project deep in the heart of this remarkable wilderness.
Skills developed over the past decade (exclusively as a result of in-depth experience) are now put to good use when anticipating wildlife action and positioning photographers in search of decisive images.
Greg’s passion for Africa is channeled through his raw and timeless photographs, conveying intimate interactions with the natural world. It is through this he wishes to convey the beauty of Africa and securing its future