Saskia van Dalen

“What was supposed to be one year in Africa turned into forever.” Saskia came to South Africa from Germany on a university exchange in 2003, moved to Cape Town the following year and, by her own account, landed in the most beautiful city on earth. Two decades later, she’s still making the most of it: Sea Point sunsets with her family and rescue dog, new restaurants, Winelands weekends and any excuse to head somewhere new. As a Travel Expert, Saskia is good at turning a loose idea into something wonderfully specific. Authentic adventure? She’ll point you towards roads less travelled. Something epic? Try skydiving in Cape Town or ballooning over the Serengeti. Romance? She knows the boutique stays and private dining spots that hit the right note. Her own travels across Southern and East Africa give those recommendations weight, from following wild dogs on the hunt to spotting a pangolin in the Okavango. And while others chase the Big 5, Saskia has a soft spot for the Little 5, with the elephant shrew firmly at the top. She also likes her safari with a little range: beautiful lodges and excellent food, certainly, but throw in a bush walk, helicopter ride or zip-line and you’ve got Saskia’s kind of trip.