Chris Goodwin is the founder and owner of Active Africa and dedicates his life to having as much fun as possible. After 13 long years in the commercial catering industry, Chris realized that he had forgotten how to breathe. So in 2001, armed with a desire to enjoy his working hours, he took a deep breath and walked out of the office. Now, as he pounds the ground on a trail run, climbs a rock face or rides a bicycle, Chris enjoys every breath. As a result, he constantly inspires travellers on his tours with his energy, enthusiasm and pure enjoyment of life. Chris is a consummate organizer and loves the little operational details that go with managing or overseeing a tour.

Special talents:
Cooks like a demon!
Thinks he’s a photographer…

After earning a doctorate in molecular biotech, Jacqui served time in the corporate grind of big pharma before discovering tourism. Thanks to 20 years of travel as a guide, tour leader and trip designer, Jacqui can offer qualified recommendations to the finest destinations and informed insight on experiencing them. Jacqui has a passion for the natural environment and a genuine desire to blend information with experience. This keeps her returning to the road as a guide when not consulting, supporting or making tea for Active Africans.

Special talents:
Works while vampires roam
Remembers tons of useless information

Nicole is a born-and-bred Capetonian who was recruited as the first office-based Active African. Despite having no experience in tourism, her attention to detail and dedication to ‘getting the job done’ propelled her to become our group series manager. The world of travel is entirely new to Nicole, who took her first flight in 2019. Since then, she has visited the Drakensberg and has been on safari. Nicole is the office favourite amongst the guides, with her constant support during trips.

Special talents:
Never misses an i or a t
A 21st century Jane Fonda, sans leg warmers of course

Before working as a mountain guide, Michael enjoyed a rewarding career as a chef. However, the call of the outdoors drowned out the sound of extractor fans and an outdoor leadership course kick started a career in mountain and outdoor guiding. A familiar face on Active Africa trips, Michael is our resident epicurean guide. He has led Active Africa expeditions to Kilimanjaro and guides our active group series trips in South Africa.

When he’s not riding a bike or climbing a mountain, Michael enjoys sailing with his daughters and experimenting with new recipes that often find their way onto an Active Africa trip.

Secret facts about Michael:

• His nickname is Michel Ramsay Attenborough…. ask him about it
• Serves homemade ice cream midway through a hike on the mountain

Annie Uwase is our primary guide in Rwanda. She started working as a tour guide straight out of high school in 2013, an occupation which was not considered culturally appropriate for a woman. But Annie persisted, without the support of her family and relatives.

One of the country’s first walking guides, Annie shares her culture and traditions through close interactions with local communities. Annie was voted best female guide in Rwanda in 2018, an accolade she richly deserves.

In addition to guiding trips such as our Discover Rwanda program, Annie manages many of Active Africa’s administrative tasks in Rwanda. When she is not working, Annie spends her time with her husband Yves and beautiful baby daughter Ava.

Why we love her:
The glass is always half full
That wonderfully dry humour…

Laura Christie was Active Africa’s first guide and has been a regular fixture on our trips since 2015. Her interest in tourism started with experience in lodge operations with some of Africa’s premier safari operators. When she moved back to Cape Town, Laura gained her guide qualifications and led many of Active Africa’s multi-day walking and biking trips until a yearning for the bush took her back there in 2018, where she gained experience as a trails guide.

Sarah Nurse is an experienced trails guide, leading walking safaris in remote parts of the Kruger National Park. Her love for the outdoors and wildlife took her to the Scottish highlands on a rewilding project before returning to South Africa to complete an advanced field guide course. Sarah’s love for the bush and walking in particular, has taken her to exciting destinations in Namibia, South Africa and the Republic of the Congo.

Based in Hoedspruit, Laura and Sarah now manage and operate our walking safaris and hikes in the Kruger region, with an emphasis on wilderness bush walking.

Our hand-picked team of freelance guides boast a variety of skills and talents that we try to match with our travellers. Whether it’s a day hike on Table Mountain or a longer trip requiring personal attention or particular skills, we are confident that our crew is up to the task.

• Brigitte – our resident polyglot with fluency in 5 languages
• Craig – an experienced safari guide and lodge manager
• Colin – a popular trip leader and logistics master
• Leo – a life coach and rock climbing titan
• Jodie – a boulderer, dedicated to assisting youth at risk
• Kathy – has many years of experience as a camp counsellor
• Ian – has been guiding and leading tours since Noah stopped cruising.