Meet Our Team
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Mandi Marais - Director & Travel Specialist
Being born and raised in Zimbabwe as a farmer’s daughter has set me up for my love of Nature & amazing Wildlife experiences. I am a Mum of two beautiful and talented humans, one of which is my business partner here at African Fusion Travel. Starting out my tourism Career many years ago with Thomas Cook to now owning my own business, I have lived an incredibly privileged & diverse life spread across many African Countries, and I have had the good fortune of travelling to some amazing Indian Ocean Islands, as well as far beyond our African Continent.
Working with an experienced travel designer is an absolute must these days. The added value of working with a professional in the travel industry includes tailor made itineraries set to meet each guests’ individual needs, budgets and exclusive experiences. Peace of mind from take-off till landing can make the difference between a trip of a lifetime and a "wow I cannot wait to get home speech"!
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Maxine Mathews - Director & Travel Specialist
Travel is in my blood! I grew up with the amazing opportunity to travel with my family, be it local or abroad. My mum, who is also my business partner at African Fusion Travel, has been in the industry for as long as I can remember, and learning from her has been a great privilege!
I strive to impart my personal experiences and knowledge from my travels over the years with our valued clients, and these days with SO much misinformation on the internet, I believe that dealing with REAL people (such as our team at AFT!) who have experienced the destinations properties, people, food etc. ensures that you are well-prepared for your travels, with peace of mind that we’re always here to assist if you need us!
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Takara Rissik - Travel Specialist
Growing up surrounded by the vibrant landscapes of Africa, from Hluluwe to Bazaruto Island and Livingstone, my childhood was as colourful as a World Atlas. With both my parents having been in the hospitality industry, I realized early on in life that tourism was a significant part of my identity.
After completing my education in Grahamstown, South Africa, I decided to pursue a degree, which led me to spend three years on the beautiful island of Mauritius where I not only obtained my degree in Tourism, Hospitality and Marketing but learnt so much about the country and its exceptional locals. My passion for learning about different cultures, traditions, and religions has always inspired me. I believe travel enriches us in countless ways and provides truly humbling experiences for the Heart and soul.
I feel privileged to work with African Fusion Travel, where I can help turn your travel dreams into a reality, one holiday at a time!
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Sue van der Toorn - Flight Specialist
Wow, I can’t believe I’ve been in the industry for over 30 years. This alone shows how much I love travel, and how it has become part of my DNA! I grew up in a small country town and worked as a tour guide at the local croc farm during my school holidays - which was when I decided I wanted to be in the travel industry.
Having worked for a well-known international airline for over 17 years and travelling to many different destinations during those years, I found my specialty in airline ticketing.
And if the last couple of years have taught us anything, it’s to live in the moment. Take that dream trip! Travel has changed due to Covid-19 and has shown that when booking with a trusted tour operator, you will always have an experienced team behind you; your trip will be stress-free and you can enjoy your holiday whilst we back you up each step of the way!
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Julia Tunney - Satellite Agent
So who doesn’t love a holiday!
I was first introduced to African Fusion Travel when taking my family on our first proper beach holiday to Mauritius in 2013, it was such an amazing experience from start to finish. The attention to detail that we received from AFT made the holiday completely stress free and so enjoyable.
So when I was asked to join the AFT team as a Satellite Agent from Zambia a few years ago, I didn’t hesitate! To be able to offer prospective clients the experience that we had was a no brainer!
I currently live in Zambia and am a Mum of four, so I know how important it is to be able to create memories with family and loved ones; that is exactly what we at African Fusion Travel do.
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This Could Be You
Are you passionate about Travel and the Tourism Industry? Do you have the qualifications, go-getter attitude, passion and experience to boot? Then this spot could be for you!
Pop us a mail including a short bio, with your CV and past-experience info, and we’ll get in touch!
We are incredibly passionate about all of the places we work with, especially our core areas in Africa; their wildlife, their people and cultures, their histories, and their current challenges.
“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams"
— Mandi & Maxine