|
You
may use the opportunity to learn a little bit about us so that we
are not complete strangers when it comes to our caring for your
needs.
Our
Mission:
We
provide reasonably priced trips, tours and activities – and
the appropriate staff – to suit our clients’ needs as
far as is reasonably possible. We strive to deliver service excellence
at all times.
Earth
Ventures was started as a division of The Chauffeur
to cater for the less formal aspects of duty. Although
the high standards of service excellence set by The Chauffeur are
never compromised, there are times when there’s no place for
the formal “tie-and-collar”.
Earth
Ventures addresses the need for flexible, reasonably priced itineraries
including mountain walks, specialised tours, visits to wellness
centres, etc. The choice of the tree – above and below the
ground – in our logo is meant to reflect our holistic approach.
There’s always more than the eye can normally see.
The
“flexible” aspect of Earth Ventures is that we can chop
and change an itinerary at your request – even en route. For
example: If you’ve booked a guide and a microbus for your
family for 8 hours with the intention of going to Cape Point, but
you decide that you’d rather go somewhere else out of the
wind, we will adjust our schedule to suit your needs – you’re
the client!
Wherever
possible, we will do our best to get exactly the right staff for
the job. That means that we will contract a field expert to do a
specialised tour: Lesley Cox is our wine expert; Ken Campbell conducts
our rail tours; etc. We are always on the lookout for field specialists
to make sure that you get the very best service we can give.
DAVE
WOLFAARDT ~
 |
Director, Operator, Chauffeur
In
1999, Dave founded the longest-lasting designated driver service
in South Africa. Admittedly, other services of this nature
in SA have failed. However, Dave was still working a full-time
job as a programmer. After volunteering for retrenchment,
he used his personal savings to pursue his passions and interests
in nature, mountain walking, holistic healing and trains.
“Earth
Ventures was a natural progression from The Chauffeur –
an excuse to drop the collar-and-tie”, says Dave. “Now
I have the opportunity and freedom to do what I enjoy and
to share our beautiful country with others.” |
Dave
regards himself as a regular New Age man. He is ever service
orientated and believes in adding value to clients’
experiences. He is a member of Peninsula Tourism, the Mountain
Club of South Africa, Cape Western Vintage Railway club and
Cape Railway Enthusiasts Association (CREA). |
KEN
CAMPBELL ~ Senior Guide
Ken
has been Dave’s mentor in many ways. His speciality
is not only to do with trains and rail preservation, but his
remarkable flexibility and capacity to cope with changes at
very short notice. Ken is also the official “fireman”
for the Epping Market Choo-Choo and is known to railway enthusiasts
all around the country. |
|
History
intrigues Ken. His spare moments are used to find original
sites of historical buildings in Cape Town, write articles
for rail club newsletters and paint ostrich eggs. He is also
a very proud single parent of a beautiful teenage daughter.
Ken’s
experience includes being a pop-rock guitarist, a chauffeur,
and a tour-guide, an ostrich egg artist and fireman (and unofficial
driver) of the local rail club’s steam locos. Ken is
a member of no less than three rail clubs.
LESLEY COX ~ Senior Guide
Lesley’s
expertise lies in Cape wines. She has two diplomas in wine
and also lectures on the subject. She is thoroughly familiar
with the Cape wine industry, the estates, the cultivars and
the many varieties of Cape wines.
Having
qualified as a tourist guide under one of the country’s
leading trainers, Michele Gavron, Lesley is the ideal person
for your next Winelands experience.
DAVE HICKS ~ Chauffeur.
David
Hicks is a well-traveled, retired schoolmaster. He is also
a volunteer classical presenter on Fine Music Radio. He spends
his spare time travelling the world. Also being a rail enthusiast,
it is not surprising that he has ridden the Trans-Siberian
Express.
David
procured his professional driving permit so that he could
meet equally interesting people and share some of his travel
stories. He is a thorough gentleman and has absolute integrity.
MARTIN LOURENS ~ Chauffeur
Martin
is a loving father of four, a respected church member and
trustworthy chauffeur. He has organised and led several mountain
walks for young people and has been a member of the MCSA for
several years.
Martin’s
forte is long-distance driving. He drives anything from his
VW Combi to huge trucks. Lately, he has done several trips
to and from the Orange River and Namibia. However, Martin
will also gladly drive you to the airport, or for the whole
week. |
| |
| |
TOM
DRAMAT ~ Guide, Chauffeur
Although
Tom has his own touring company, he is only too happy to accept
Earth Ventures appointments in Gauteng. Being a registered
guide with “national” status, you will often find
Tom doing tours in the Pilansberg area, Magaliesberg and the
Kruger National Park.
All
Earth Ventures’ staff are freelance and are contracted
as and when required. All staff are well screened before being
commissioned for service. They are carefully chosen according
to their suitability for not only the job at hand, but according
to our clients and their needs.
Earth
Ventures is constantly on the lookout for suitably qualified
field specialists and foreign-language guides. |
|
