About Us

OUR ORIGINS. OUR TEAM

Exploring Central and Southern Africa has exposed us to some of our planets most awe-inspiring destinations, where for the past 20 years we have led guided self drive adventures under founding company Bhejane 4×4 Adventures.

Our experience has connected us with cultures and communities very different from our own and whilst these places are destinations to us, we are mindful that others call them home. It is our responsibility therefore, to preserve these spaces, minimize harmful impacts and protect the fragile ecosystems that we enjoy sharing with you.

Founder

Frank Carlisle

Franks first experience with minimum impact camping was in 1991 when he started his career in conservation as a specialist wilderness trails guide in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi parks. The iMfolozi Wilderness area could only be accessed on foot and the overnight camps were completely mobile.
When starting Bhejane Adventures Frank introduced a variation of this principle into the way the company operates. It is now his privilege to be involved with the unique team that has put together the Biocamps concept.

Founder

John van den Berg

John has been involved in tourism since leaving school. He has had the privilege of working as a guide, host and manager in some of the most sensitive and pristine areas of southern Africa. He has been a director of Bhejane Adventures for a large part of that time and a lot of time spent in the upmarket lodge industry has added immense value to creating the balance between client comfort versus minimum impact to nature at our Bio Camps.

Resources & Logistics

Sanana Seforo

Sanana grew up in the Northwest Province and as a young man spent most of his life outdoors, first tending his fathers cattle and then working in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.

“Not long after joining Bhejane, the owners offered me a mentorship.  This meant greater responsibility and honestly, I saw a chance to help individuals from my own community”.

Sanana now heads up Logistics the division as a Bhejane Director providing mentorship and support to individuals who in turn are encouraged to do the same for those around them.

Reservations & Communication

Mary Jane Waite

By nature the Biocamp principle connects like-minded passionate people with one another and their natural environment, communication therefore integral to this connection.

With a decade of marketing under her belt and several years operating the Bhejane Adventures central reservations office, MJ’s knowledge of customer trends helps us stay ahead of the curve.

Head Chef

Vermaak Senosi

Vermaak has been cooking wholesome meals in the African bush since 1996! The number of happy clients and hours spent watching pots on the fire, not to mention the number of novice Bhejane Chefs he has mentored and trained cannot be counted – it is both a privilege and an honour to have him and his influence on the catering side of the Biocamp initiative.

Design Development

Paul Wigley

Paul grew up on the Wild Coast and his father taught him about sustainability and minimum impact, recycling long before anyone else was even talking about these issues. Paul has worked as an overland / canoeing / walking tour guide for many years. He has bought all this experience and a deep understanding for low impact construction to the Biocamp team

Construction Team

Rooijan Seforo

Like his older brother Sanana, Rooijan spent many of his days outdoors as a young man. His passion for adventure and his people pleasing attitude drew him into the Tourism Industry where he followed in his elder brother’s footsteps. Rooijan, or Red as he is affectionately known, makes everything possible on the ground and his broad smile and problem-solving attitude is so well known by all our clients.

Construction Team

Jomo Mooketsi

Jomo joined Bhejane Adventures from the North West Province as one of Sanana’s mentee’s.  Coming up the ranks, Jomo first pitched hundreds of tents all over southern Africa much like Sanana did, before Vermaak Senosi took him on a trainee chef.  Today Jomo is a valuable Head Chef on the Bhejane’s team.

Most recently, under the mentorship of Paul Wigley, Jomo’s natural construction skills have been pivitol in streamlining the construction of the Biocamps along the Garden Route

Volunteer & Social Development

Kieran Whitely

Kieran is a qualified social worker with extensive experience in community outreach initiatives and programs. Her role in the establishment of the Biocamps with emphasis on the importance of positive community involvement has been pivotal in laying the foundations for positive inclusion at each of our biocamp sites.

Firefly Falls

Chase Jordan

Owner of the Firefly Falls venue and camp, Chase has used many years of experience in lodge-based tourism and guiding to enhance the accommodation experience at Firefly. He brings enormous expertise and value to the Biocamp concept with his tourism and marketing ingenuity.

Inqua Trail

Justin Craig Barnardo

In his role as Senior Chief of the Royal Inqua Nation of Southern Africa and as Guide and Mentor, Justin curates the distinctive relationship between traditionally owned and culturally occupied land, waters and coastal seas lifestyle where fishing, farming and foraging in the shallow intertidal zone and inner wild lands is a fundamental covenant to his people.

Justin has lived and devoted his whole life to this coastal region which we know as “Robberg”

Reforestation Wizard

Hardy Loubser

After reading Dalene Mathee’s books Hardy fell in love with the Knysna Forest & today lives next to the Harkerville forest on a farm.  This is where he practices permaculture, forest regeneration & silvo pasture using his animals to improve the soil on his farm.  As a SANParks Honorary Ranger & freelance forest guide for Bhejane Biocamps, Hardy’s committment to the preservation and rehabilitation of the Forests along the Garden Route is legendary.

Founder & Artist

Julie Carlisle

Julie was born with a passion for nature’s colours and shapes, which through an ongoing love affair with our natural environment has enjoyed a career spanning over forty years in environmental and community programmes across Southern Africa.

Julie’s creative endeavours have included collaborations on a number of books where her  stunning illustrations have brought the author’s vision to life.  Most recent is the colloboration with Biomimicry Practitioner and author Sue Swain on children’s book (Fruzz and the Fabled Planet) which sparked a magical journey cementing a lasting friendship between the two.

Julie’s artistic expression is inextricably linked to her nature connection & particularly to the magic of light and shade found in ancient forests.