Meet the Team
Together with the Namibia-Experience team, you will see Namibia through the eyes of locals. We have travelled this country like no other from north to south, east to west. We have visited famous sights and discovered hidden gems. Now, we want to share our favourite places with you.
Sound advice and planning before you go; reliable organisation on-site. From our sales and marketing office in Somerset West, South Africa, to our operations office in Windhoek – our teams work hand in hand so you can take a break from the rest of the world.
We want to share with you what we love, because we know that you will love it too.
Founder & Director
Holger Wiebe
Holger has been in the tourism industry since 1997. After finishing his tourism studies and taking several trips around Africa, Holger’s fascination for Africa only grew stronger. He travelled on foot, by bus, on overland tours, fly-in safaris, with rental vehicles and on boats through Southern, Central and East Africa. His personal experiences and knowledge from many years of active sales are the foundation for most of our travel products. He takes care of the management and the development of new products.
General Manager
Daniel Schörger
Daniel’s job as our General Manager is almost as diverse as his background. Growing up in Turkey and Germany, he moved to England before settling in South Africa. He studied Psychology at the University of Constance and completed his MBA at the University of Cape Town, worked in the film industry, as director of an NGO and Global HR manager at an international airline. Today, Daniel pulls the strings behind the scenes, aligning strategy with reality and translating it into our day-to-day business. Whenever he gets the chance, he escapes to Cape Town’s beaches and mountains or the remote Wild Coast.
Head of Sales
Alexandra Lindinger
Alexandra has been part of the team since 2011 and heads our team of travel experts. Equipped with a meticulous attention to detail and many years of experience, she trains new colleagues and stays on top of things even in the busiest of times. She has travelled around Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya, visiting many lodges and camps. When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Alexandra learned to respect the demanding trek up the highest mountain in Africa and is proud to have made it to Stella Point. As an animal lover and resolute advocate of animals’ rights, she cares deeply about Africa’s wildlife and promotes the values of sustainable tourism.
Product Manager Southern Africa
Marlene Tritschler
Marlene started working in the tourism industry in 2005 as a trainee for a small tour operator, specialising in trips to Southern and East Africa. Over the years she worked as a Sales and Product Manager, organising self-drive trips in Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique as well as safaris in Botswana and Tanzania. On her visits to these countries she got to know the places, as well as the people, and is now one of our very experienced consultants.
Namibia Travel Expert
Tanya Mineur
Tanya was born in Namibia, but lived most of her life in South Africa. Nevertheless, her love for the nature, culture and languages of her birthplace has never left her side. Her passion for tourism grew during her language studies in Germany and she started working in the tourism industry after she graduated in 2013. Her focus has mainly been on East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda), but has now shifted closer to home. She has been on camping and lodge safaris in Namibia, especially in the less visited northern part, and is eager to show guests why Namibia forever holds a place in her heart.
Operations Manager
Sven Schmidt
As our Operations Manager, Sven is in charge of the seamless running of all our tours. When you return home after your trip and say: “Everything worked out perfectly”, then Sven has had a big part in it. He joined our team as tour guide, taking our guests around his home country Namibia. He knows the ins and outs of travel around Namibia. After years on the road, he has now settled to work from our Windhoek office. His great passion is photography for which Namibia is a rewarding destination. You will meet Sven for your briefing before you embark on your tour. Sven speaks English, and German and is currently learning Oshiwambo.
Assistant Operations Manager
Kauna Jonas
As part of our operations team in Windhoek, Kauna is the woman behind the scenes ensuring that everything is in order for you to enjoy a trouble-free trip. Having a background in business management, she coordinates guides and safari vehicles, supplies and guest briefings, and assists our Operations Manager Sven in all daily tasks. Born and raised in Namibia (Windhoek), Kauna lived in Germany for several years before returning home. She loves the remote and less travelled corners of Namibia, and escapes to the Kalahari Desert to take a break from the rest of the world once in a while. You will meet Kauna for your briefing before your tour or self-drive trip. Kauna speaks English and German.
Reservations Manager
Manon Hartman
Since the early 2000s Manon has been part of the travel industry and still enjoys every day. Doing her bit to make our guests dream of travel in Africa come true, makes it a rewarding experience. As Reservations Manager, she leads our reservations team, staying on top of things even during the busiest of seasons. Originally Dutch but having lived most of her life in South Africa, she appreciates the region’s natural beauty and diversity. On her travels around Namibia, she enjoys the wide open spaces, quiet moments and the starry night sky.
Reservations Agent
Mariska Thomas
Mariska joined the tourism industry straight after school, completing her tertiary studies in Tourism Management. Born in Cape Town she has always had the urge to explore more of her home region Southern Africa. On an extensive self-drive trip around Namibia, she not only discovered her soft spot for the coastal town of Lüderitz, but visited many small and personal camps, lodges and guesthouses. Mariska has been part of our reservations team since 2013. Using her eye for detail and wealth of experience she ensures that your hosts not only know about your wedding anniversary, but your vegan diet as well.
Reservations Agent
Lucia Smith
Accuracy and enthusiasm make Lucia an invaluable member of our team since 2017. After completing her degree in psychology, she joined the travel trade to be part of creating once in a life time experiences for her guests. Born South African and knowledgeable about her home region, she enjoys ensuring even the smallest details of your trip are well taken care of. Thanks to her calm and confident attitude, she stays on top of your bookings even during the busiest of times.
Reservations Agent
Roché Petersen
Being part of a great team and working together to make dreams come true for our guests is what encourages Roché to give her all every day. Born and raised in South Africa, she enjoys learning new things about her home region of Southern Africa as part of her job. Roché loves the laid-back vibe of the coastal town of Swakopmund; going on game drives gives her an excitement she hopes you will experience too. With a background in teaching and psychology she applies structural thinking to ensure that your booking is correct from the first day to the last.
Tour Guides
Meet our professional and experienced tour guides.
Tour Guide
Sonja Sagell
Sonja started her career in lodge management but quickly realised that she longs to be in nature, not behind a desk. In 2017 she joined the Namibia-Experience team as tour guide. Born in northern Namibia, Sonja then grew up in the Waterberg Region. Most of her childhood days were spent in the great outdoors, exploring Namibia together with her family. Today, sharing her love for her home country with our guests is what makes tour guiding such a rewarding experience for her. In addition to her in-depth knowledge of Namibia’s flora, fauna and history, her accommodating and hands-on character as well as her extensive experience in Namibian travel make her a favourite amongst our guests.
Sonja speaks English, German and Afrikaans.
Tour Guide
Lucian Fineberg
Lucian grew up in the coastal town of Swakopmund, visiting his uncle on his farm near Windhoek on every opportunity. His love for the great outdoors and nature grew and ten years ago he fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a tour guide. Since 2016, he is part of the Namibia-Experience team. He not only knows Namibia like the back of his hand but has also guided travellers through South Africa and Botswana. His favourite place however will always be home, be Namibia. Lucian understands that his guests sometimes struggle to let go off a stressful daily life back home when arriving in Namibia. He makes sure you can leave the rest of the world behind and fully immerse yourself in this magical experience. Make sure to ask Lucian about all things plants as he is passionate about this field and by the time you leave for home, you will be too.
Lucian speaks English, German and Afrikaans.
Tour Guide
Armin Schuff
Respecting nature and protecting Namibia’s fragile ecosystems – this is what Armin sets out to live in his everyday life and to share with his guests from around the world, making him a passionate tour guide and a very valuable member of our team. Being born and raised in Namibia, he completed his education in Germany before returning home and starting his guiding career in 2007. Armin has been part of our team since 2015. When on tour with his guests, he shares his expert knowledge of the region’s wildlife and the delicate symbiosis of flora and fauna underneath its conspicuous beauty. Travelling with Armin, you will come to appreciate nature in a whole new way. One of his favourite places is the coastal town of Swakopmund with its fresh air and delicious sea food. Armin has also guided in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, but above all wants to share his love for his home country Namibia with you.
Armin speaks English, German and Afrikaans.
