My story
About
Behind NGALA, there is Alice.
In love with lions since I was a little girl, a surfer for more than twenty years: nature is part of my daily life and travel is part of who I am. Getting off the beaten track has been a driving force for as long as I can remember.
What led me to the bush
After several years as a product manager in the boardsports industry, I needed to reconnect with adventure and with time spent in the field.
After a first safari in Tanzania, my thirst for that environment, its wildlife and its plants kept drawing me back to Africa. It stirs something in me that is hard to explain, but that anyone who has been there will understand.
The question I am often asked: "what brought you to the bush?" South Africa happens to bring together my two passions: incredible waves, and animals we are not lucky enough to have in France, starting with lions. When I was looking for a place to spend time with them and to surf, it was the obvious choice.
Becoming a guide
From France, I had no idea you could become a ranger or a guide. Volunteering in a private reserve is what showed me: there is a professional training course, FGASA, taught entirely in English.
Life in the South African bush was so unique that I wanted to stay longer and understand the savannah ecosystem better. After several months in the field, I am now a certified FGASA NQF2 guide. The Field Guides Association of Southern Africa is the professional reference for safari guides in southern Africa; as the training is in English, I can guide in both English and French. And out in nature, the learning never stops.
Why I plan trips for others
I have travelled for more than fifteen years to discover new countries, new cultures and above all new waves. For the past eight years, I have travelled solo. People often ask me about planning, and about travelling alone, especially as a woman. As much as I love organising my own trips, for many it can feel like a nightmare. I know how exciting preparing a trip can be for some, and how stressful for others.
So why not plan those trips for others, and blend the thrill of a good wave with the emotion of meeting your favourite animal? Turning to someone who knows the ground, who has already tried and checked a certain level of quality, is also reassuring.
How I like to travel
Sharing my knowledge and my passion, ethically, the way I love to do it: away from the crowds, taking the time to watch and to explore. An approach far from mass tourism, respectful of the environment, leaving no trace behind.
A trip is a rare experience, one we cannot treat ourselves to as often as we would like. So it matters to make the most of it: discovering other landscapes, other cultures, other ways of living, and situations that challenge us and help us grow once we are home.
Why NGALA?
"Ngala" means lion in Shangaan. An animal that has always fascinated me, and one that captures the spirit of this project perfectly: wild, free and deeply connected to nature.
I wanted a name that brought together everything that drives me: the bush, the ocean, surfing, adventure and South Africa.
NGALA Adventures was born from the wish to share far more than a trip: immersive experiences, genuine emotions and moments that stay with you. Experiences that inspire, sometimes question, and reconnect us with what matters.
— Stay true, stay wild —