Where it all started
Nerise was working in the Greater Kruger area at a safari lodge and during lockdown 2020 Mariska visited. The lodge received a family booking when restrictions for local travelled just eased and with a very small team of staff left at the lodge Mariska had to jump in and help Nerise. Nerise was the operations manager of the lodge and Mariska helped the chef with a completely new menu we created. The family started calling us the safari susters because we worked well as a team and gave them an unforgettable safari experience with bush dinners in the dry riverbed and sunset drinks in tree houses. Sadly the lodge closed down because of the restrictions on travel and Nerise lost her job.
And so we decided it was time to start our own business and throw together all our skills and training.
With our love for adventure, photography and designing Safari Susters was born and what a journey it has been!
Nerise
Guide, Photographer & Graphic Designer
Nerise is our expert guide and photographer, she's been doing it for 13 years after all! She is a qualified field and cultural guide and also did a year advance photography course in Stellenbosch.
She's lead many safaris throughout Southern and Eastern African countries.
She has also worked in Big Five areas, so getting on foot behind more dangerous animals makes her super excited.
She is also just as comfortable in the ocean with a PADI Divemasters under her sleeve for those Indian Ocean adventures.
She also loves cycling and her Land Rover, Kowalski is always ready for adventures.
Mariska
Videographer & Bag Maker
Mariska has traveled extensively in Southern Africa with her 4x4. She will keep calm when the going gets tough and knows how to change a tyre, clean a filter and charge batteries.
Both sisters lived a year in Botswana in the 90's when it was much rougher than it is now and learned some valuable skills on how to survive in the bush.
Mariska has also lived in the US, UK and Italy and has traveled widely abroad. For her, good food is always a priority as well as experiencing the bush in the most authentic fashion. She loves her small comforts and always tries to find off-the-beaten tracks.
She inherited the skills from our great grandmother, Ouma Pieta, and has started making bikepacking bags and accessories. She has a special relationship with her sewing machine and every bag is designed, developed and made by her! And that is how Pieta designs was born.
Petrus
Happiness Manager
Petrus is the Airedale Terrier that accompanies the sisters on many of their scouting trips. He keeps their spirits high and makes everyone happy around him. He is our friend, companion and we just love him.
