Our Guides

Howard has been in the tourism industry since 1979 when, as a young mining engineering student, he guided tours for the Crown Mines’ Gold Mine Museum. Later, he joined the Wilderness Leadership school as a part-time field guide, taking tours to the Pilanesberg, Timbavati, and Nylsvlei while completing his studies. After 10 years of working with Anglo American as a mining engineer, he left the industry to set up Conservation Corporation (later to become And Beyond) with three colleagues. Here he helped to develop the Phinda Resource Reserve and initiated the first public/private partnership with the SA National Parks Board for an operating lease over Ngala Game Lodge in the Kruger National Park. He then went on to set up the Maputo Elephant Reserve Project in Southern Mozambique, as CEO of Blanchard Mozambique Enterprises. In 2014, Howard qualified as a Cultural Guide, and has been taking tours in and around Johannesburg for the past decade. Howard has a love of geology and paleontology and is the specialist guide for the Human Origins tours which explores the exciting homonim fossil finds in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site. His love of people and easy-going nature along with his wealth of knowledge and ability to weave it into captivating stories, makes him one of the most sought-after guides in Gauteng. It is not surprising then that he was rated as one of the top 5 guides in Gauteng by Tripadvisor. TESTAMONIALS - Dear Howard, I’m just returning to Los Angeles after our most memorable trip. I can’t thank you enough for your guidance and unmatched expertise during our time in Johannesburg. You so elegantly contextualized our art excursion with your knowledge of South African politics and geology (and so much more) and created such a solid foundation for us. And you made it fun! Our trip out to the Cradle was a day none of us will soon forget. We feel very privileged to have experienced all that we did, many of it in large part to you… [Ann Philbin: Director Hammer Art Museum] - Billed as a Joburg and Soweto tour, this was so much more. Howard, our guide, delved into the cultures, the economics, the politics, the geology and of course the very real people that formed and defined not only the great Joburg, but also South Africa. The breadth and depth of Howards knowledge is jaw-dropping; but the thing that really captured us was his ability to weave this knowledge into an incredible captivating story. (“JOBURG & SOWETO – A TOUR LIKE NO OTHER; APR 2016; TRIPADVISOR”) - My wife and I recently had the pleasure of spending the day with Howard, who is by far the best and most knowledgeable guide we have ever had on any trip, anywhere in the world (and there have been some great ones). Polymathic, passionate, facts-based and a lot of fun, Howard fielded my scattershot questions on topics like the modern social, economic and political context underpinning what we were seeing, while also managing to open our eyes to the incredible paleoarcheaology and geology of the region. Every piece of information Howard shared opened a new door to so many questions, which he fielded with patience and detail. We need a year more with Howard. (“THE BEST GUIDE EVER; OCT 2017; TRIPADVISOR”) - The Malapa tour with Howard was a life changing experience. Howard has an excellent knowledge of the area as well as the plant, animals, birds, trees, flowers, grasslands and the geological formation of the Highveld. It is an unbelievably beautiful area and everyone should experience this tour at least once. It has made my husband and I debate the relevance of time and how old the earth is. Thank you Howard for a very entertaining day. (“MALAPA TOUR; FEB 2017; TRIPADVISOR”)