Sussi Galley - Managing Director

Having grown up in Sweden with a Swedish father and English mother, I didn’t have my first introduction to Africa until 1989 when I visited Zimbabwe. That was IT for me and after ten years running Livingstone Safaris in Zimbabwe, I moved to Cape Town in 2000.

I was genuinely bitten by the “Africa Bug” and want to share this experience with you. I am passionate about the African bush, the wild animals and, most important of all, about hospitality and people. My daily challenge is to perfect the art of preparing highly personalized travel plans. Each itinerary is an individual; a personal creation and a genuine expression of my own exploration of African travel and adventure. My modus operandi is to bring to others the pleasures of the safaris that I have been privileged to enjoy.

Part of my job is to travel extensively in Africa every year to check on old destinations and try new ones. As travel products never stand still for long, I understand the importance of being first to identify new travel trends that affect our clients’ safari experiences. There are too many amazing experiences to choose one specific highlight, but staying in a beautiful private villa in the bush in the Greater Kruger area with my husband and children, was a recent one!

Together with my like-minded, passionate and clever team, I invite you to come and share Africa with us!

Amy Edmonds - Product Manager

I joined Livingstone Safaris in October 2004 because I loved the idea of working in a more relaxed, personal office environment. A couple of the highlights of working at Livingstone Safaris are our fantastic team dynamic and the fact that I am always learning and experiencing new things.

I am a naturally inquisitive person and that is one of my main reasons for loving the travel industry. I am passionate about my career; calling it a “job” really doesn’t make sense as mostly it does not feel like work at all! Keeping my finger on the pulse of all the fabulous places and people that make our clients dreams a reality is where I feel most alive. This “behind the scenes” work helps to ensure we are able to provide all our clients with the best holistic travel experience, from the very first point of contact. Client liaison is an important aspect of my day’s work and one that I relish.

My career has allowed me the privilege of visiting exotic and interesting places. My favorite destinations thus far are Namibia, Malawi, Zanzibar, Botswana and Mozambique. Being a ‘water-baby’ I adore destinations sporting sun, sand and sea…my best experience to date has been frolicking on the islands in the Quirimbas Archipelago off the Mozambique coast in July 2006.

My passion for travel is due to the deep sense of satisfaction I experience when I can help make someone’s dream holiday a reality.

Tara Beckett - Travel Planner

I have always loved travel so I decided to study tourism after matriculating. I am an outgoing person who loves interacting with people accepting the challenges that arise in seeing to it that their holiday is a success! It gives me personal satisfaction to see a job well done.

Fortunately, I work for a boss that encourages all the above qualities and this is a true motivation to do better. Over and above all the personal rewards I experience in being able to follow my chosen career, I have the added benefit of being able to travel to the destinations of my dreams. Since joining Livingstone Safaris almost two years ago, I have been privileged enough to visit the Cape Winelands, The Eastern Cape, Sabi Sands Wildtuin and Madikwe Game Reserve. My favourite experience to date would be my stay at Savanna Lodge in the Sabi Sands whereI was lucky enough to view the big five on my very first game drive!

I am truly blessed being able to work in an environment that is highly professional and very rewarding. I continually strive to fulfill my professional requirements and as a result experience a great sense of achievement and job satisfaction.

Bronwyn Leo Symes – Travel Planner

I have dreamt of traveling the world for as long as I can remember. This is something that I feel I inherited from my mother and I have always been thankful for my amazing life and every experience that has brought me thus far. I went to college in the United States; whilst there I accidentally fell into hospitality; there and then I decided to take this gift handed to me and I ran with it.

After September 11, I returned home for a moment but that travel bug started to bite and I decided to leave and work on a cruise liner. I met my husband there and about 3 years ago we decided to return to South Africa. After all of this, to say I have been “bitten” by the travel bug is an understatement!

Reaching a benchmark in hospitality, I was craving a change. This is what made my decision to make the leap to travel so easy. Marrying the two together was a natural progression. Looking forward, I feel will take me that much closer to my dreams. I love to travel, learn about new cultures, meet new people and experience things that make my five senses feel alive!

I have just recently joined the Livingstone Safaris family and I am truly excited to travel, learn and be exposed to my vibrant country after such a long absence. I am thankful for the opportunity afforded to me, to now help create memorable and life changing experiences for others.

Let the adventure begin!

Lucille Cockroft - Accounts

I joined the Livingstone Safaris team in July 2006 and haven’t looked back since! I feel extremely fortunate to be working for a company that provides so many opportunities.

I enjoy the fact that I am encouraged to grow in every possible way; it is also such a pleasure to work with such unique personalities! I have always enjoyed visiting different places, a "bug" that I inherited from my mother and as a young child I dreamt of traveling abroad.

I have since changed my mind, deciding that it would be in my best interest to experience and learn as much about my home country first... then take on the world!

 

Karin Wernstrom - Travel Planner

Having traveled the world and seen over 40 countries, it was South Africa that really got me hooked. This was after a 3 month long overland trip by bus from Cape to Cairo. I have now lived in Cape Town for over 5 years with my South African boyfriend and my cute little cat Mtoti (sweetness in Zulu). Needless to say, I’m here to stay!   

After all my travels, I started working in the travel industry in my home country, Sweden and did so for many years until I got an offer to join a South African company in Cape Town. I worked here for a year and a half before returning to Sweden.  I soon found out my heart was left in South Africa!   

A couple of years later I got an offer to return to South Africa and work in Cape Town again; this time for a Swedish company specializing in group and incentive travel. After almost 4 years, I felt I longed to work with private travelers and small luxury boutique hotels again. I was lucky to have the opportunity to join Livingstone Safaris in July 2008 to do just that!  

My favourite destination, besides South Africa, would be Mocambique´s archipelago with its white beaches and crystal clear water. To see the mountain gorillas in Uganda is also one of my most treasured experiences.