Profile photo for Janneke Van Schalkwyk
1156 messages
active 15 hours ago

Janneke Van Schalkwyk

As a country girl from South Africa, I have a deep love for the diverse tapestry that makes up our beautiful region of Southern Africa. South Africans are not just people to me; they are a part of my bones, shaping my perspective and appreciation for the rich cultural mosaic that defines us.
My upbringing instilled in me a love for the outdoors, a passion for experiencing new things and places, and a deep appreciation for good food, wine, and the joy of sharing these experiences with loved ones. These values have guided me throughout my life and fueled my enthusiasm for sharing the beauty of Southern Africa with others.
My goal is to provide guests with recommendations that showcase the best of Southern Africa while reflecting the warmth and hospitality that are synonymous with our region. I believe that by sharing my love for Southern Africa and its people, I can help travelers create unforgettable memories.
I am excited to continue my journey in the tourism industry, where I can combine my passion for Southern Africa with my desire to create meaningful connections with travelers from around the world.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Places: Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route, Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls, Namibia.
Activities: Adventure, Food, Wine, Safaris"

How did you get involved in travel?

"After 14 years as an educator in the countryside of South Africa, a new world opened up for me when I joined the Wildr team on a trip to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in September 2023. Inspired by the travel experts at Wildr, I realized I wanted to share my African experiences with the world. The seed was planted and six months later, I accepted a job offer from Wildr, knowing it was meant to be."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Namibia was an unforgettable experience from the moment we crossed the border. There was something different in the air, a rawness that made me feel incredibly close to nature. The wide-open spaces were awe-inspiring, and the straight roads made it easy to take in the breathtaking surroundings. What truly stood out was the warmth of the people, who welcomed us with open arms, showing a genuine love for their country and a desire to share it with guests like me.

Driving through the country, we explored the red dunes of the Kalahari, the oasis Swakopmund, various dune activities and marveled at the empty spaces and breathtaking mountains in the distance. Our journey took us through Kunene to Epupa Falls, a true treasure. The Himba people, a tribe in the Kaokoveld, welcomed us into their kraal for a tour, offering a glimpse into their unique way of life.

Etosha National Park is a destination in its own right, offering unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities. The world-class accommodation we experienced made our trip a wonderful family holiday, providing comfort and relaxation after each day's adventures."

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Janneke

Absolutely Magical!
South Africa | Aug 14 - Aug 26, 2025

Meghan
Meghan D.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 02, 2025
From the moment I hit "send" to be connected with an agent to touching back down at home, this entire experience went above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Working with Janneke and Anna Marie helped put me at so much ease and they had so much patience with me when I asked a thousand questions about the process. We didn't really know what to expect from visiting South Africa and Zimbabwe and since we've been home we've been recommending this trip to everyone we know. Thank... Read more

From the moment I hit "send" to be connected with an agent to touching back down at home, this entire experience went above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Working with Janneke and Anna Marie helped put me at so much ease and they had so much patience with me when I asked a thousand questions about the process. We didn't really know what to expect from visiting South Africa and Zimbabwe and since we've been home we've been recommending this trip to everyone we know. Thank you SO much Janneke and Anna Marie for giving us the experience of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews
Pioneers Lodge Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls,

We loved Pioneers and we know if we ever get to go back to Zimbabwe, we would absolutely stay here again and bring the kids. The room was great, the grounds are gorgeous and well cared for, the food was delicious and the staff were really friendly and helpful (especially with a luggage issue we had to deal with). I would definitely stay here again and recommend it to everyone.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bambuu Lakeside Lodge
Hazyview

This hotel was fine for our one night stay. The food was ok but the room was lovely and the staff were very kind.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Walkers Plains Camp
South Africa

The absolute best. We absolutely loved this hotel and everything about it. The private deck and pool were perfect places to wind down in between drives. The hotel staff were amazing and we can't say enough positive things about our guide and tracker Tristan and Chris. They were so funny and smart and really got to know us to make the game drives as meaningful and memorable as possible. I would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone and everyone. We wish we could have stayed longer!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Intercontinental Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport
Johannesburg

We only stayed here for a night but the room service food was fantastic and the staff were so kind and helpful in getting us to the airport the next morning.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rovos Rail
Foreshore

We absolutely loved this experience. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel at home and cared for. The ride was smooth and staff made sure that our room was as comfortable for us as it could be. We also loved the excursions that Rovos offered and loved the opportunity to learn about the people and culture around us. Once we learned about Rovos, it became a non-negotiable part of the itinerary and we are so happy we did it!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Romney Park Luxury Apartments
Cape Town

Perfect for us as a couple! The room was spacious, everything was clean and the staff was very friendly!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Arrive at Your Lodge in Kruger & First Game Drive
Arrive at Your Lodge in Kruger & First Game Drive
South Africa

We loved our driver from the airport! Then, we showed up at the lodge after brunch was served and dinner wasn't scheduled for a few hours. The chef very kindly made us delicious sandwiches which was so necessary after a morning of travel. We were so grateful.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
A Day in the Kruger Bush with Two Game Drives
A Day in the Kruger Bush with Two Game Drives
South Africa

I can't say enough about our experience with Tristan and Chris. They were truly the best. They were both so smart and so engaging and happy to answer any and all of our questions about their work, the game drives and the animals.

Quality of Experience
Food
They even had a mini bar and snacks for break time!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
PANORAMIC ROUTE
PANORAMIC ROUTE
Kruger National Park

We are SO glad we did this! It's a long day but we felt like we really got to see so much of the beauty of South Africa.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Victoria Premium River Safari Sunset Cruise
Victoria Premium River Safari Sunset Cruise
Victoria Falls

This was lovely! The sunset was even better than advertised and we got a chance to see even more wildlife that we hadn't seen yet on the trip. The staff was lovely and the food was so delicious.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dusty Road Township Lunch/Dinner Experience **highly recommended by our team
Dusty Road Township Lunch/Dinner Experience **highly recommended by our team
Victoria Falls

An absolute must do! It was the perfect way to end our trip. I couldn't recommend this enough. The food was outstanding and we got to try so many new flavors.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Experience on Rovos Rail: Nambiti & Spionkop
Full Day Experience on Rovos Rail: Nambiti & Spionkop
South Africa

We chose the game drive at Spionkop and we were so glad we did! It was our first game drive so helped give us a head's up as what to expect. Friends we made on the rail who did the history tour said they learned more on that trip than they did in years of school so I don't think you can go wrong either way. We loved our guide at Nambiti and by the time we finished those two game drives, we saw 4 out of 5 of the big 5!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dinner at GOLD Restaurant
Dinner at GOLD Restaurant
Cape Town

This place is definitely meant for tourists but if you can embrace that, you will have a great time. We were exposed to lots of new and delicious foods, traditional dance and song and the drum lesson in the beginning was so fun.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Bo-Kaap Walking Tour
Bo-Kaap Walking Tour
Cape Town

Zaki is the best and it felt so important to us to do this tour with someone from the community. There is such important work happening all the time and we loved learning about the history and vision for the future. We would recommend this to everyone.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lunch at Crofter's Kitchen
Lunch at Crofter's Kitchen
Cape Town

This is a must do! The food was incredible and we loved taking a mid meal break to walk around the garden.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cape Peninsula & Penguins
Cape Peninsula & Penguins
South Africa

Andrew was the best! He taught us so much and brought us to some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. We really enjoyed his company and we felt like this was a great day to help us see and experience so much of the Cape.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loved Andrew!
Transport
Local specialist: Janneke Van Schalkwyk