Travel Expert

Steve Meinhold

Born and raised in Cape Town, one of the world's most scenic cities, it is no surprise that Steve has a natural infatuation with the great outdoors. His love of the wilderness shaped his early career direction when he guided in various river locations across South Africa and Namibia. His quest for more adventure saw him spend 15 years overseas, which was a perfect base to indulge his love of travel and explore a diversity of regions and cultures.

Returning to his native South Africa, Steve has been focused on Safari Africa travel working with one of the largest specialist tour operators in the industry. Steve brings a wealth of expertise and first-hand knowledge to the Mahlatini team of travel experts, yet still has a genuine passion and excitement when creating tailormade trips for every new and returning client.

African Destinations Visited

Botswana
Kenya
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe

MOST MEMORABLE TRIP

I've enjoyed many up close and personal encounters with wildlife that had the adrenaline flowing, but one particular face-to-face experience with a hippo on the banks of the Zambezi at Sindabezi Island is a vivid memory. Their cute, almost cartoon-like appearance does little to help their reputation as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous safari animals.

TOP OF MY BUCKET-LIST

It's ironic that the more places I visit, the longer my bucket-list becomes. In Southern Africa, my top picks are Central Kalahari, Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi and the list for East Africa has simply too many to mention!

Favourite Safari Animal

"The honey badger, noted as the most fearless animal on earth, has my utmost respect."

Sundowner Of Choice

"The ever refreshing rock shandy. It's the perfect sugar-boost ahead of dinner."

Favourite Property

"For different reasons, my current top three are Londolozi Tree Camp, Sandibe and Somalisa Camp."

TOP TRAVEL TIP

A few items I never leave behind are my buff , sunglass and cap. A power bank is also super useful for charging cameras and phones when on the move.

the best part of my job

Being there for my clients throughout the entire journey, from the initial introduction to welcoming them back home, is truly unique to Mahlatini. Crafting life-changing experiences never gets old, and the best part is hearing about those experiences from clients upon their return.

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

The trip was fantastic

"Steve is fantastic to work with and we have recommended him to other travelers heading to Africa. He is very knowledgeable and understands the timing of one's journey in each place of stay."

Randy Kiessel, USA
Self-drive Holiday to Namibia, 2024

An exceptional tour

"Because of our age and my wife's disability, the support arranged by Steve and the Mahlatini team was exactly what we needed to make this a wonderful trip. We were treated like royalty everywhere we stayed."

Doris Ford, USA
Vacation to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, 2024

The rhythm of the trip was perfect

"Mahlatini was a great company to work with and Steve helped design a wonderful trip for us. We never felt too rushed whether touring or getting from one location to the next."

Leslie Eptein, USA
Vacation to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, 2024

Perfect

"Our trip was amazing from start to finish. Steve went above and beyond during the planning to make sure everything was perfect and kept me informed the whole way."

Alice Hall, UK
Honeymoon to Kenya and Tanzania, 2023