As we gear up for the 2026 Rotary K2C Cycle Tour, it’s once again time to shine a spotlight on the incredible team standing between you and the wild. On 20 June 2026, these dedicated individuals will be your guardians and guides as you traverse the breathtaking landscapes of the Timbavati, Thornybush, and Kapama Reserves.
The 100km journey under the African sun is a formidable challenge, but you won’t face it alone. Your support team is there to share the grit, offer a word of encouragement during the tough climbs, and ensure that every “lonely patch” of the route feels like part of a shared adventure.
While each year brings new faces and fresh stories, the heart of our guiding team remains constant. Rotarian Wilna Mew, of the K2C Cycle Tour Committee, has once again hand-picked a premier squad to lead our six pelotons. These “magnificent men” are more than just protectors against the Big Five; they are your expert hosts, conservation ambassadors, and the calm voices of experience that make this exclusive tour possible year after year.
SEAN FAIRHEAD
2026 LEAD GUIDE
Sean is our ever-popular lead guide and will be riding with us in his fifth year on 20 June 2026. 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 5th 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.”
Ryno Vosloo
My name is Ryno Vosloo, and I’ve been guiding in the Lowveld since 2011 after leaving Johannesburg to follow my passion for the wild. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of being part of some of the top safari companies in the industry.
I’m currently based at Thornybush Game Lodge, where I serve as Lodge Manager and Head Guide alongside my wife, Cathrine. Together, we LOVE raising our two boys in the bush—an adventure in itself.
As your guide, my role is to ensure your safety while giving you an authentic experience of Africa’s wilderness. I take that responsibility seriously, but I also believe in enjoying every moment out there.
I’m proud to be part of this iconic event and look forward to sharing the journey with you—let’s make it unforgettable!
Kobus Burger
I am at my happiest when I’m in the bush—preferably surrounded by wildlife and on a bicycle—so the K2C event is a perfect fit for me. I live out my love for the bush as an Honorary SANParks Ranger, where I volunteer my time to support national parks through various initiatives. These include fundraising events such as organising mountain bike races through the parks (for example, the Marakele Big 5 MTB Challenge), as well as hands-on conservation efforts like regular snare removals.
From a cycling perspective, I’ve participated in most of the major MTB events in the country, including the Cape Epic (3×), Sani2C (5×), Wines2Whales, TransBaviaans, 360ONE, and the Desert Dash. I am also entered for the Andorra Epic in Spain.
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.
Rogan Fourie
I am currently the conservation officer/assistant reserve manager of Sandringham Private Nature Reserve (for the last 2.5 years). I recently completed my PHD in Zoology. Previously I ran my own trails company specialising in backpack trails in the greater kruger area for about 5 years. Before that I worked in KZN for Ezemvelo KZN wildlife based in St Lucia/Cape Vidal and also managed a private concession in the south of Hluluwe-Imfolozi. I have guided the Timbavati Traverse on several occasions, and this will be the first time guiding the K2C.
Ian De Weerd
Dave Robertson
I’m from KZN and started my career in conservation there, including 15 years in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and uMkhuze Game Reserve as a section ranger and conservation manager. I also took occasional freelance primitive trails for the Wilderness Leadership School. My wife and I left KZN in 2015 to work for African Parks and spent 9 years in Zambia and Malawi where I worked as a Field Operations Manager, and later Park Manager for Liwonde National Park. In 2024 we decided it was time to come back to ‘Mzansi’ and we are now in Selati Game Reserve where I’m the General Manager.
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”
