Meet the Guides at RiverBend

Chris Stamper - Head Guide

After joining RiverBend as a freelance guide for a few weeks, Chris was captured by the exquisite beauty of the Eastern Cape, with the Addo Elephant National Park in particular and all it had to offer.  He decided to join the guiding team at RiverBend and now heads the department, whilst continously sharing his unquestionable knowledge and enthusiasm with his fellow guides.

Chris grew up in a nature-loving family, which unveiled his love for the outdoors.  After University he decided to move out of the city and into the bush, where he has spent the last eight years guiding in a private game reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park.  Over the years Chris has built up an understanding of nature that will keep you captivated as he imparts his knowledge with guests here at RiverBend.

Darlington Chaonwa

Born in Zimbabwe in the Eastern Highlands in a small town called Chimanimani, Darlington started in the guiding industry as a porter carrying bags for campers from the rest camp to the deep forests of the mountain ranges, which are one of the highest peaks in the country.  After two years, Darlington started to show an interest in nature and seeked training from an experienced guide by the name of Pete Baxter, who then showed him the ropes of the guiding industry. With tourism getting to its lowest level, many hotels and touring companies in Zimbabwe closed so Darlington chose to move to the Eastern Cape in South Africa where he joined the tourism Industry in Addo. With a growing interest for the bush, he did a course at the Addo Elephant National Park and got to know the history of the area and has now been guiding in the Addo Elephant National Park since 2005. In January 2009 Darlington joined the team at RiverBend. He has a tremendous passion for nature, in particular the 'Small Five" and birding and always says he loves the bush.  That’s why they call him, "darling of the bush".

Joe Pringle

Joe grew up in the scenic surrounds of the Baviaans River Valley on his parents' farm.  It is here where he developed a love for all things wild, spending most of his time exploring the indigenous Eastern Cape Mountains and bush on foot.  Joe has spent many holidays with family in Botswana on mobile safaris through the Okavango Delta and surrounds.

Ruan de Jager

Ruan grew up in the beautiful coastal town of Hermanus. After school he completed his studies at the Nature College in Riversdale and then went onto guiding at Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve in 2005. He then moved to the Eastern Cape in November 2007 and worked at the Nguni River Lodge before moving to Riverbend Lodge in June 2010.

Ruan is a very friendly, positive person and always has a smile on his face. He is very passionate about the bush and will go the extra mile to make your safari experience very entertaining and memorable.

Wesley Cragg

Wesley joined the RiverBend team in early March 2009. He has brought a remarkable amount of enthusiasm to the guiding team. His friendly manner coupled with his vast knowledge on most things wild, but particularly elephants will keep you captivated on his game drive through Addo’s elephant heaven. Wesley previously worked at an elephant sanctuary in the Western Cape where he spent many a day up close and personal with these gentle giants. His knowledge and his general love for the wilderness combined with his enthusiasm will defiantly in years to come, shape Wesley into one of the best guides in the Eastern Cape.