Meet the team
Garth Wolff
Owner
Garth Wolff (56) is a successful businessman and entrepreneur who founded his primary business, eTravel, in May 1999 and introduced the Independent Travel Consultant (ITC) model to South Africa. This model has since become a substantial part of the South African travel industry with over 250 ITCs now part of the eTravel family.
Garth has two main passions, both beginning at a very young age: aviation and the bush.
In 2015, Garth obtained his Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) and bought a Cessna 182 the same year.
Some of his first flights after obtaining his PPL brought him to Hoedspruit, where he subsequently built a house, and became involved with the Blue Canyon Private Game Reserve and acquiring property.
As with flying, Garth’s passion for the bush was instilled in him by his late father, at an early age with annual family holidays to the Kruger National Park. His fondest childhood memories are those of pushing a plastic train set in the sand at Satara Rest Camp, riding his bicycle around the camp and helping carve out the wooden doors of the Stanley Cottage which his aunt donated in the mid 1980’s.
The same plastic train set was used by his children and has been looked after over the years and will hopefully be used by his grandchildren in the future.
As the years passed, Garth’s love for the bush grew and so did the holidays to the Lowveld, ranging from camping trips in the Kruger to experiencing the luxury of private lodges in later years. Garth’s dreams have always been to fly, to own “a piece of heaven in the African bush” and ultimately to build his own lodge.
After many years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice, these dreams have finally become a reality.
Garth bought his first piece of land in the Blue Canyon Private Game Reserve in 2017 (Leopard’s Bend), followed by 2 more properties in 2018 (Bokmakirrie)and 2019 (Scheema) respectively and now owns over 3000 hectares within the 9600 hectare reserve.
Being a bush lover and developing a passion for all conservation, Garth felt that it was his responsibility to take the next step which has translated into Garth founding the Leopard’s Bend Wildlife Foundation to obtain funding to further protect the endangered species on the reserve.
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Neil and Jessica
Managers & Guide
As any good South Africans should be, Neil and Jessica were both gratefully introduced to the natural wonder of the south African bushveld at a young age through their families.
Neil, growing up in Johannesburg, spent most of his childhood outside immersed in anything that was green or that moved. Completing a BSc Honours at Wits University seemed obvious, having grown deeply fond of the natural world in all forms. Vacations spent collecting data for research fellows, to travelling around the country enjoying great and varied environments, all culminated in a career in game ranging, now field guiding and hospitality on a whole. 25 years later, having begun in the Timbavati, working through North West Parks, large hotel groups, and later setting up a number of exclusive and successful Lodges in various environments in South Africa, to now simply reclining back into the seat of a game vehicle and once again enjoying those intimate moments that sparked an initial interest, this is Neils story.
Jessica, having completed school, seized the opportunity to study Game Lodge Management at the Saasveld Campus of NMMU, in George, her hometown. Opening a career in Lodges throughout South Africa, Jessica enjoyed the diverse environments she worked in, as much as the lodges and places she would get to know so well over a career spanning 17 years. From semi deserts to lush lowveld bushveld, rugged mountain landscapes, Jessicas journey has persisted.
Our paths crossed in the southern Cape, and for the past 11 years have enjoyed our passion and interest in the bush together.
Jessicas favorite moment every day is sunrise. The awakening bushveld around us, the birds coming to life, their song rising in intensity with the sun. The cool morning air, warming with every minute and the prospect of a day with unknown happenings beckoning. This is her time.
Neil takes joy at dusk. The last light of the day, a final preparation for those who lay low at night. A dress rehearsal for those about to get going. The changing light; colour, and angle through the seasons, brings a different end to each day. The unknown, the secrecy of the happenings at night, the sounds and calls of creature’s unseen, the mystery of what will happen under the cover of dark, these are the moments Neil lives for.
“We appreciate every minute of every day we get the privilege to enjoy in the incredible surrounds we get to call home. There are moments to enjoy, moments of emotion, and so many moments to learn, none of which are ever choreographed. Coming full circle for us both, our return to the Lowveld is well overdue”.
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