It is time to recognise the team who will guard and guide you during your Rotary K2C Cycle Tour through the Timbavati, Thornybush and Kapama Reserves on 21 June 2025.
If ever the imposing 100km distance under the African sun appears unbeatable, your support team shares the suffering and keeps you company when going through lonely patches.
Each year Rotarian Wilna Mew, a member of the K2C Cycle Tour Committee hand picks the committed team of guides that lead our tour and each of the 6 participating pelotons. These magnificent folk are not only there to protect you from the predators and other dangerous animals that you will encounter on the tour, but they are your knowledgeable, compassionate hosts for the duration of the day.
Well-known Hoedspruiter, nature guide trainer and writer on all things found in nature from dung beetles to pangolins and hornbills has this to say about guiding,” In the specialization of becoming a guide, you learn to keep your guests safe in the environment even when encountering dangerous creatures. The process for preparing for this, as you can probably imagine, is long and rigorous. It involves hundreds of hours of mentorship, learning to use a rifle correctly and safely, studying animal behaviours and practical and theoretical assessments. All this takes time, years usually and it should”
SEAN FAIRHEAD
2025 LEAD GUIDE
Sean is our ever-popular lead guide and will be riding with us in his fourth year on 21 June 2025. It is Sean who will brief you on the Friday evening to make sure that all safety precautions are adhered to, and the rules of the reserves are familiarized with, as it is a great privilege for us to be able to traverse these beautiful pristine estates.
Sean says “my parents are passionate conservationists, resulting in me being fortunate enough to grow up in remote game reserves in Northern Zululand, Botswana and Limpopo. A career in game ranging and reserve management means I have lived in the bush my entire life. I cannot imagine it any other way.
I obtained a diploma in Nature Conservation from Pretoria Technikon in 1996, with my practical year spent working in America – mostly Texas and Alaska.
After graduating I started guiding in the Sabi Sands gaining valuable close up understanding of animal behaviour, particularly the big and hairies who like to bite and trample.
My last 21 years have been spent in the employ of an organization with a strong conservation ethos, where I have been managing properties in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Greater Lakenvlei Protected Area close to Dullstroom, and more recently a reserve in the Northern Cape focusing on ecological restoration.
This is my 4th K2C and if you are riding in peloton 1, be sure the pace will slow a bit towards the end as I savour every last minute of a day I look forward to all year.
CARL DU TOIT
“Hi, I’m Carl du Toit. A fifty-year-old student of life, nature, people and all that is fascinating about the wonderful world around us. I am a very keen, if somewhat excessively competitive, sportsman, enjoying Trail running, Mountain biking and Scuba diving in my spare time. Birding was my first love as a child, which sparked my interest in many other wonders of nature.
Born and raised in Pretoria, I realised early on that I wanted to experience more than what city life could offer, and I was fortunate enough to find my happy place in the Lowveld in 1997, where I could bird and walk and just be free and curious in nature, to my heart’s content. I met my lovely wife, Julia, here in the same year, in what is today part of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Together, we lived and worked in the Safari industry in Greater Kruger, the Pilanesberg and the Waterberg, then walking trails in Manyeleti, before returning to Hoedspruit, and Thornybush. Here we later had two boys, Conor born 2008, and Ronan born 2010. Becoming a parent, the most primally gratifying experience of my life, brought about significant changes to our lifestyle and we opted to move to Hoedspruit Town, where I entered the construction industry, designing and building beautiful homes for families like us, who longed for a slower, more peaceful life in nature, but with the conveniences of schools, doctors, shops etc. not too far away. The Global pandemic of 2020 had significant impacts on our life, and we opted to move to Hout Bay, Western Cape during 2021/2, for better opportunities and schools, where my family still happily resides. However, my heart still longed for the Lowveld and truly wild places, so I was delighted to find an avenue for me to return and work there, while simultaneously creating the opportunity for my family to have the best of 2 worlds; the Fairest Cape and all its charm, but also the Bushveld, where their-, and our journey began. It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that I enter this new chapter in our lives.”
WILLEM NORTIER
“I am a passionate 36-year-old outdoor enthusiast having worked 14 years full time in the conservation industry. I studied game ranch management but as the rhino poaching crisis developed, I ended up more on the security side of things.
My career started at Moholoholo, then I moved on to Umbabat and Sabi Sand. I currently work as the Operational Manager for Bhejane360 which is a specialized wildlife protection company. My responsibilities are to protect Londolozi, Makalali, Sandringham and the farming community outside of Hazyview called Kiepersol.
I have always enjoyed cycling and was privileged to be able to regularly train and ride on all the big 5 properties that I was involved in. I look forward to spending some two-wheel time with you!”
DAVID CONRADIE
David Conradie grew up in the Free State, in Odendaalsrus where he went to primary and senior school. After school he moved to Pretoria and studied Btech Nature Conservation at TUT, the old Pretoria Technicon. Later he got a position with Natal Parks board, in a game reserve called Ndumu Game Reserve. He worked in and around Ndumu for about 4 years and then left for Pongola to do farm management for a further 3 years.
When he came to the Lowveld, he worked in Thornybush at two of their lodges Monwana Lodge and Serondela Lodge.
When the kids came into our lives, we decided it was time to move back to town and I started a construction company. We’ve been going for the last 8 years constructing new houses in and around Hoedspruit area and then also doing renovations at lodges.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have been doing the K2C since commencement and I haven’t, missed one yet. I’m very blessed to have the opportunity and looking forward to the next one”
MURRAY REID
My name is Murray Reid, I am currently the Warden, General Manager of Olifants North Game Reserve, part of Balule Game Reserve. I started my conservation career journey as a field guide after receiving my diploma in nature conservation. This path took me to Sabi Sands where I met my wife, Robyn-Lynne, and on to Ndumo Game Reserve and Madikwe where our first child was born.
My first reserve management position was on Glen Harry Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape where our second child was born. At this point we had to make a call about our kids’ schooling, and opting to not send them to boarding school, we moved to George in the Western Cape where my wife and I started our own businesses. But after 15 years, the call of the bush became too strong and we took an opportunity offered to us to manage Lissataba Game Reserve back in the Lowveld. From here we moved onto the position at Olifants North.
During my time in George, riding my MTB in the Outeniqua mountains became my release and connection with the environment. I found myself spending more and more time on the bike and started taking on some of the local MTB events, including: Attakwaskloof, Karoo2Coast, Hell and Back, etc. as well as some of the road events like Argus and The Herald. I also found myself part of a mountain rescue team, and this led to trail running and some of the local trail events as well, Meiringspoort, The Mutt, etc. I finished a few local triathlons but found they weren’t my cup of tea.
My interests remain anything related to the natural environment, birding, hiking, MTB, etc. With both my sons at university now, I have found I dropped off my training and focused on my work, but this is something I want to remedy in the next few years
HOWARD SPENCER-WILSON
I was born and grew up in Johannesburg and after school, I went on to do my Military service.
My immense love of nature directed me to do a Diploma in Nature Conservation and I proudly obtained the FGASA Trails qualification.
I am married with 2 adult children. For the last 26 or so years I have been living and free-lance guiding in the Lowveld. During the last 17 years, I have mostly focused on primitive backpack trails in the KNP and combining this with a few cycling events such as the Tour de Tuli, Timbavati Traverse and also manged some cycling events in the KNP.
JAMES WALKER
James Walker is a seasoned guide and manager with a deep passion for conservation and the outdoors. As a Director and Manager of Walkers Plains Camp, a luxury safari lodge in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, James brings his extensive experience in hospitality and guiding to deliver exceptional experiences.
James’s guiding career was shaped by his time at AndBeyond, where he completed their rigorous guides training program and went on to guide in some of South Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations, including Phinda Private Game Reserve, Ngala Private Game Reserve, and the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
As a Lead Guide for the K2C cycling tour, James combines his love for cycling, people, and the natural wilderness to create unforgettable adventures with his guests. His infectious enthusiasm, expert knowledge, and warm hospitality ensure that every experience is not only memorable but also deeply personal. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for sharing the beauty of the African wilderness, James is dedicated to crafting unique and inspiring experiences that leave a lasting impression.
RIAAN BOTHA
I’m a 33-year-old professional field and trails guide with a passion for birding, photography, and everything related to the skies. My life has been a blend of exploration, discovery, and adventure. From the town of Centurion to the dense wilderness of the Lowveld, I’ve had the privilege of turning my love for nature and the outdoors into a fulfilling career. Today, I find myself living and working in the heart of the bush, constantly learning, guiding, and dreaming about new horizons.
I grew up in Centurion, a bustling town that, at the time, felt like the perfect backdrop to an adventurous childhood. However, my journey into nature began when I went to boarding school at Affies. The discipline and structure of boarding school were an essential part of my upbringing, but it was during those years that I started to develop a deeper appreciation for the world outside the classroom. My love for nature and the great outdoors blossomed in those formative years, and I knew early on that my future would revolve around it.
After finishing school, I pursued a diploma in Nature Conservation, which set me on the path to becoming a guide. My practical year, which brought me to Hoedspruit and the Lowveld, was a turning point in my life. The beauty and wildness of the region captured my heart, and I knew I had found my place. This area has become my home for the past 13 years, and each day I am still in awe of its untamed wilderness and diverse wildlife.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work at various lodges in the Lowveld, taking on roles both permanent and freelance. Every experience has shaped me as a guide and deepened my love for the region. Whether leading a group on a walking trail or sharing my passion for birding, my goal has always been to create memorable and educational experiences for others.
While working as a guide, I began noticing the helicopter pilots during rhino dehorning operations. Their precision and skill in the air intrigued me, and with aviation already running in my blood, I decided to pursue my own flying dreams. I obtained my Private Pilot’s License with the aspiration to one day secure a commercial license. I’ve always believed that combining my love for the bush with the freedom of flight will open up new dimensions of adventure and exploration. One day, I hope to be flying over the Lowveld, taking in its stunning vistas from above, just like the pilots who inspired me.
Currently, I am based in Thornybush as a field guide, doing game drives and leading trails. I can’t wait to explore Thornybush and the other reserves on my mountain bike. For now, I’ll have to settle for my indoor trainer, where my bike is currently mounted.
Some comments shared by the riders in the past events:
“The guides were exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate; sharing their insight along the way. Additionally, the support staff were always on hand to assist, making sure we were well cared for throughout the journey.”
“Riders appreciated all the riding tips, encouragement (towing)/pushing) given by the support riders”
