I first met Ann when she was just fourteen years old. Even then, one truth stood out clearly: she fiercely wanted to become a game ranger when she grew up. Her unwavering dedication to that dream is something I have always admired most about her. That vision—combined with her ability to bake the most delicious chocolate brownies on earth—foreshadowed the incredible woman she would become.
Today, it is absolutely thrilling to watch her blossom into the owner and founder of Chef on Safari, achieving her childhood goals and so much more.
Looking back, I now realize that Ann spent her entire youth preparing for the exact business she runs today. As a teenager, she spent hours sketching and studying her favorite wildlife. She constantly baked fresh muffins, whipped up homemade lemonade, and crafted treats for her friends. She managed busy restaurants, mastered the art of hospitality from the ground up, and used her camera to preserve our favorite memories. Ann loved planning elaborate birthday celebrations, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary milestones.
While her homepage proudly states an impressive 21 years of experience, as one of her oldest friends, I argue that Ann has actively lived and breathed hospitality her entire life.
From Trout Farms to Bush Camps: Natural Guiding Instincts
One of my earliest memories of the young Chef on Safari takes me back to her family’s trout farm in Dullstroom (Emnothweni), Mpumalanga. As a city kid from Johannesburg, the absolute beauty of the landscape struck me instantly. More than that, I felt an immediate, rare sense of safety. Ann’s natural confidence and deep knowledge of the land anchored the entire experience. She looked after me, allowing me to simply ease into the adventure as she showed me around. Today, her safari guests experience that exact same warmth, safety, and hospitality.
Even as a teenager, Ann possessed skills that set her apart. Though I don’t personally eat fish, I remember watching in awe as she confidently caught, gutted, cleaned, and cooked fresh trout—not your average repertoire for a teenage girl!
Later that same year, during a school camp in the Magaliesberg, Gauteng, Ann’s bushcraft skills saved the day. While the sanctuary was entirely new to me, Ann knew the terrain inside out. She provided our shelter, expertly set up our camp, and cooked incredible meals over an open fire, single-handedly ensuring we didn’t starve.
One sunny afternoon, she volunteered to guide a friend and me on a nature trail through the veld. Her knowledge of the local wildlife was astounding. She even knew exactly how to handle a wild encounter when a troop of baboons appeared across a stream. (Though my friend and I bolted back to camp before we could hear her instructions—adult baboons look giant when you are small!)
Expert Game Guiding and Magic in the Bushveld
Almost all of my memories with Ann tie back to her passion for hosting and guiding. She is an exceptional driver, and being a passenger in her vehicle is always an adventure.
In our early twenties, I joined her for a series of game drives at a reserve in Bela-Bela, Limpopo. She was working as a private guide at the time, and it was the first time I saw her kitted out in her professional game ranger gear, commanding an actual safari vehicle. She was brilliant. Thanks to her tracking instincts, we stood mere meters from some of Africa’s largest and most endangered animals.
We watched a crash of rhinos cooling off under a ridiculously small tree, and during an early morning drive, a majestic herd of elephants surrounded our vehicle to browse on the leaves above us. Watching that gorgeous elephant family radiate pure magic and love—and getting so close to a tiny baby elephant—is a memory I will cherish forever.
Ultimately, Ann is a master driver who knows exactly where to find the wildlife you want to see. Those raw tracking skills make her the ultimate bush guide.
Crafting Memories: Food, Photography, and Event Décor
Years later, Ann managed a restaurant in my old neighborhood, where she introduced me to the wonders of deep-fried Camembert. I still want to cry with delight just thinking about that perfect combination of a crispy, crumbed exterior and a warm, gooey center.
Ann also has a gift for placing herself—and her guests—in front of the most mesmerizing sunsets Africa has to offer. She captures that distinct bushveld magic beautifully through her camera lens. You only have to look at the Chef on Safariwebsite and social media pages to see her ability to facilitate and capture lifelong memories.
If you are an aspiring wildlife photographer, Ann easily elevates your safari experience by sharing her deep knowledge of both animal behavior and camera mechanics. Likewise, if you want beautiful, Instagram-worthy shots of your custom private dinners, she happily lends her food photography expertise to perfect your feed.
Today, Ann brings her brilliant eye for décor, her appreciation for fine wine, and her love for celebratory styling straight to your private catered events. The gorgeous, bespoke birthday cakes she creates now are beyond description, earning my highest possible praise.
A World of Culinary Inspiration Brought to Hoedspruit
This trip down memory lane reminds me just how extensively Ann has traveled. Through her journeys across the UK, Greece, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania, she has accumulated a vast wealth of international food and travel culture. Every single trip reignites her adventurous spirit—a spirit she openly shares with her guests today.
Writing this story allows me to escape into memories of Ann’s delicious food, her flawless wine recommendations, and her welcoming smile. In fact, I am now packing my bags and booking a trip to Hoedspruit to experience firsthand how she has perfected her craft.
Thank you for the lifelong memories, Ann—I will see you in the bushveld again soon!
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