Michael Massingham
Managing Director
Michael is the co-founder of Africa&You and currently holds the title of Managing Director. He holds a business degree with specializations in Business Management and Industrial Psychology and, over the past two decades, has co-founded and managed a number of successful tourism brands. All who know Michael will tell you that his most prized possessions are his relationships – he readily invests in connecting with people and treats others like family. He strongly believes in the life-changing capacity of travel in Africa; this belief finds expression in his interests in sustainable travel, community development, and environmentalism on the continent.
Rachel Kyle
General Manager
Rachel began her working life in the wildlife film industry, managing shoots throughout Africa for National Geographic, Discovery Channel and the BBC Natural History Unit. With a masters degree in Visual Anthropology, she has travelled the world but her deep passion is Africa and takes every opportunity to travel, explore and surround herself with its untamed beauty and wildlife. She has worked with big cats in the Kruger, dived with whale-sharks in Mozambique, climbed Kilimanjaro and trekked to see the endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. She worked in London in brand consultancy & marketing before returning to South Africa to work with one of South Africa’s leading safari industry training providers. Her safari industry knowledge, passion for travel and sharing the beauty & hidden delights of Africa brought her to Africa&You in 2014 to lead the team as General Manager.
Luxury Safari Travel Businesswoman of the Year | Influential Businesswoman Awards 2022 & 2023
Deanna Hess
Accounts Executive
Deanna is born and bred in Cape Town, where she lives with her husband and two little boys. With an academic background in Business Management, she joined Africa&You in 2016 after 5 years with our sister company, African Impact, working on wildlife conservation, teaching and healthcare projects across Africa. Her knowledge of Africa, its wildlife and its people, plus her impeccable business and accounting skills, drives her passion for her work with this award-winning team.
Tara Abrahams
Senior Luxury Travel Consultant
Tara was born and raised in Cape Town. Graduating from False Bay College, she received her National Diploma in Financial Management after qualifying for a bursary for her hard work and dedication. Tara quickly excelled in Africa Travel and Tourism, first specialising in Mozambique, where she developed vast knowledge and love for sustainable Africa travel and wildlife conservation. Tara has since travelled through Africa’s iconic wildlife destinations and found her passion in creating unforgettable experiences for guests all over the world, which led her to join the Award-winning Africa&You Team. Tara loves nothing more than to be immersed in the African bushveld surrounded by wildlife! Currently living in Noordhoek where, outside of creating outstanding luxury safari itineraries for her valued clients, she dedicates her spare time to her two nephews and her four-legged child, a Jack Russell named Cindy.
Kylie Thornley
Senior Luxury Travel Consultant
Kylie was born and raised in Zimbabwe. In 2001 she went to work, travel and study in the United Kingdom until she decided to come back and live in her homeland, Africa, at the beginning of 2008. Kylie was beyond excited to be back in Africa and began working in Voluntourism, helping place volunteers on various Community and Conservation Volunteer programmes in East and Southern Africa. In July 2017, Kylie transitioned to join Africa&You (a partner company of the volunteer organisation), and thrives on creating the finest luxury travel itineraries for her valued clients visiting Africa. Kylie’s niche is working with wedding clients, honeymooners and sharing her passion for Africa, its beauty and the unique wildlife experiences her continent has to offer with as many people as possible. Her clients leave Africa longing for more and return time and time again.
Katherine Davidson
Senior Luxury Travel Consultant
Katherine’s travel bug hit at a very early age and she has had the privilege of setting foot on 5 continents, 12 Islands, 24 Countries, and over 59 cities around our beautiful planet before finally following her heart back to her hometown, Cape Town. Her love of Africa, its diversity of cultures & wildlife, drives her to inspire people to explore and discover the incredible beauty that is Southern Africa and its surroundings & through these experiences, create memories that last a lifetime. Katherine’s true passion is sharing Africa’s iconic luxury safari destinations & building lasting relationships with her valued clients. Living close to the ocean with her beautiful daughter, when not tailoring award-winning luxury travel itineraries, you will most likely find her at the beach or one of Cape Town’s famous tidal pools enjoying a refreshing swim followed by a steaming cappuccino.
Greg Bows
Co-founder & Director
Greg has travelled the world, from trudging through jungles with bat-eating guides to being charged by lions in Kenya. Born in Yorkshire, Greg fell in love with Africa when on safari in 2000. In 2003 during a gap year he travelled from Ethiopia to Cape Town and enroute met who turned out to be his co-founders of the ground-breaking volunteer organisation African Impact. His visionary ideas have brought African Impact to where it is today and were the foundations for the creation of Africa&You. He lives in Cape Town with his wife and 2 young sons.
