EN|FR|ES
PLAN MY TRIP

I grew up on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast in a tiny village called Umkomaas. My parents loved the bush and we spent many school holidays camping at uMkuze in the northern part of the province, where we searched the fig forest for a Pel’s fishing owl and watched antelope at the waterholes. I thought I knew this area intimately; however, a recent trip to KwaZulu-Natal made me realise that I’d barely scratched the surface.

I arrived in northern KwaZulu-Natal with some of the Leopard team, with what I thought was a good understanding of what we might find. But I discovered so much more than I expected. Between the pristine, undisturbed coastline at Thonga Beach and the exceptional wildlife, including cheetah, rhino and leopard sightings, we encountered in Manyoni, Zuka and Phinda Private Reserves, KwaZulu-Natal offered us a humbling reminder of how much of Africa is still waiting to be discovered.

Daphnee, Helen, Caitlin and I started our 8-night journey in Ballito, where we visited our valued hotel partners and discovered new hotels for our clients. From Ballito, we headed to the serenity of Rhino Sands in Manyoni Private Game Reserve. This luxury lodge has been a labour of love for the owners, Dale and Shannon, and this shines through! One of the highlights of our trip was the pangolin conservation experience we had at Manyoni. Our guide, Louis, explained how rescued pangolins are rehabilitated and released into the wild here.

This pangolin reintroduction has been successful and these cute and scaly, insectivorous mammals are now breeding in the reserve. With the help of a telemetry device and Louis’ dog, Ruby, it took only about 15 minutes to locate Stevie, the pangolin. He was busy foraging for ants and completely ignored us, but it felt momentous to see what is sadly the world’s most trafficked animal in the wild! We spent about 15 minutes with Stevie and then he was off into the bush searching for food and female pangolins!

After visiting Rhino Sands, we headed to Sungulwane for a night, where we took in the sensational landscapes in Zuka Private Game Reserve. The KwaZulu-Natal bushveld is really stunning, with its grasslands, fever trees and sycamore figs.

From Zuka, we headed to Thonga Beach. What I loved most about Thonga is how you can walk on the beach for hours without seeing another human. The lodge is set in an indigenous forest, surrounded by Mother Nature. There are a plethora of activities available at Thonga. We did the scorpion walk, where we searched for scorpions after dark, using a UV light which made them glow an unnatural, luminous green colour. It felt like a treasure hunt in the forest, and the reward was finding the scorpions!

Daphnee, Caitlin and I went scuba diving at Gogo’s, where we had the reef entirely to ourselves, which was an extraordinary luxury! Our two dive instructors, Bonani and Avela, were outstanding, keeping us safe and pointing out incredible marine life, including a potato bass, lion fish and grey reef shark. I loved the guided snorkel here too! We saw two octopuses, a honeycomb moray eel and a devil fire fish, among countless other colourful tropical fish. I always marvel at the undersea world and if oxygen tanks and safety allowed, I could spend hours beneath the waves.

Our last safari stop was at Phinda, where we stayed at &Beyond Mountain Lodge and visited Rock, Zuka and Forest Lodge. It was fantastic to see so many lodges in Phinda as each has its own definitive characteristic. We debated endlessly over the best lodge, but the truth is, ‘best’ is subjective. It all depends on who’s asking: families, honeymooners, or groups? Although it was a close call, my personal favourite is Zuka. I just loved the boma and waterhole, which guests can see from the rooms. Daphnée, on the other hand, fell in love with Forest Lodge.

Our journey concluded in the charming village of St. Lucia. It’s surrounded by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and renowned not only for its pristine beaches, but also its population of wild hippos that frequently roam the streets at night. It’s the ideal gateway to both iSimangaliso and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Parks. While seasonal whale and turtle tours offer spectacular wildlife encounters here, it’s well worth doing St Lucia’s iconic hippo and crocodile boat cruise, available throughout the year.

In the words of the Leopard team:
“Everything was simply exceptional” – Daphnee.
“Leopard truly does create life-changing holidays!” -– Caitlin.
“The game reserves were such a magnificent experience, Thonga Beach was so peaceful.” – Helen

Happy travelling,
Diana

P.S. Our new website is live! I am so proud of the job that the team did on this – we have a truly unique website. There is nothing generic about our website – no stock photos, AI-written copy or automated booking funnels. Everything we do is tailor-made with care, and I think this is reflected in our website. Take a look at leopard.voyage

Sign up for more newsletters like this here: https://mailchi.mp/2e4afa50d15f/leopard

    Personalised luxury travel to Africa. We help you design your perfect holiday using local expertise.
    Follow us on social media
    Subscribe to our monthly newsletter
    PLAN MY TRIP
    Copyright © 2026 · All Rights Reserved · Leopard

    Subsribe to our monthly newsletter

    Independent

    We are totally independent and not affiliated to any group of lodges, so you know that you’re getting the best itinerary and choice of accommodation on offer.

    Convenient

    Crafting your ideal holiday can be a time consuming exercise, especially if you don’t know the region well, or you’re travelling in a group (like a multi-generation family holiday, or for a special celebration). We take your requirements and then distill and simplify all the travel info into a perfect itinerary for you. You’re welcome to be involved in the planning process as much, or as little, as you like.

    Human-sized

    Leopard is a small “human-sized” business offering personal touches. We want you to feel like you’re dealing with a real person who gives you the attention you deserve.

    Responsible

    We specialise in curating itineraries that apply sustainable travel principles. One of our core company values is to support the conservation of biodiversity through travel. We recommend longer stays in each destination, supporting local small businesses and visiting off the beaten track attractions.

    Seamless

    Our meticulous planning ensures our clients have a completely seamless experience, but in those instances where something goes wrong, we are available 24/7 to solve any problems. 

    Specialists

    We are true Africa experts. “My team and I visit almost every hotel and update our ‘little black books’ with hidden gems, so I can recommend the perfect stay for every client,” says Diana Granoux, Leopard’s founder and director.

    Tailor-made

    We curate each journey for you. Every itinerary is handcrafted to ensure that it matches perfectly with your wishes. We tailor each itinerary so every detail feels perfect. From breathtaking beaches to adventurous safaris, spectacular views, hotels and knowledgeable guides.

    Jessica Maitland-Stuart
    Brand Identity Designer
    Jessica is an accomplished strategic brand designer known for her typography and concept-led design approach. She used these finely-honed skills to develop Leopard’s branding and continues to design each of our personalised client itineraries.

    Jessica’s design philosophy focuses on collaborating with clients and building successful working relationships with small start-ups that share her drive to make an impact through the work she produces. That means her design doesn’t end with the artwork; extending into production to find ways of reducing both cost and environmental impact in symmetry with the design.

    Jessica is an avid runner, winning multiple marathons and ultras, a wife and mother of two, and she holds a BA degree in Brand Communication. She was recognised by the International Society of Typographic Designers and founded her own studio in 2007. Her company, Garage East (inspired by the ‘garagistes’ of France), is driven by the pursuit of meticulous craftsmanship.
    Hailey-Rose Kirsten
    Social Media
    Hailey-Rose lives in Cape Town and loves the city she grew up in. When she’s not working, she loves trying restaurants in beautiful locations (she has a ‘no eating in a shopping mall’ policy – if she can help it). She loves walking in nature and swimming in the ocean. (You may even find her occasionally taking a dip in the middle of winter).

    Hailey-Rose helps Leopard execute its social media strategy. She gathers relevant images and video content and publishes Leopard’s posts along with catchy audio. She keeps on top of Instagram trends and works with Elise to bring Leopard’s social media to life, keeping it in alignment with the Leopard brand.
    Elise Kirsten
    Digital Strategist
    Elise is passionate about travel and storytelling, like the rest of the Leopard team. She was the former online editor of Getaway magazine, South Africa’s oldest travel publication, and since 2020 has worked as a freelance travel journalist, helping brands and organisations in the travel sector to communicate with clarity and purpose.

    At Leopard, Elise helps to shape the company’s digital strategy and brings her writing expertise to life by alternating with Diana to pen newsletters, social content and website features.

    Married to her straight‑out‑of‑high‑school sweetheart and a proud mother of two adult daughters, Elise loves wide open spaces. When she’s not behind her desk, you’ll find her travelling, hiking, mountain biking or exploring the ocean — always chasing the next remarkable story.
    Caitlin Sidebottom
    Journey Support Specialist
    Growing up in Johannesburg, fondly known as the “City of Gold”, Caitlin was privileged to explore diverse destinations across South Africa, from game reserves to the warm shores of KwaZulu-Natal. She also treasures memories of visiting family in Vumba, Zimbabwe, where she loved being immersed in nature and the sense of freedom it brought. “I was awestruck when I visited both Victoria Falls and the Great Zimbabwe Ruins,” she recalls.

    Married with two small children, Caitlin enjoys spending time in nature, with friends, running, swimming and scuba diving. She describes her career as “meandering and colourful”. With a background in psychology and social development, she has worked as both a researcher and a counsellor. While moving into tourism seemed like a big shift, she soon discovered a clear continuity. "Travel can help people encounter life-giving experiences that reveal what it means to truly thrive and have the potential to influence how you live after returning home," says Caitlin.

    At Leopard, Caitlin supports the sales team to ensure every client enjoys a seamless experience. She also supports travellers while on the road, helps refine systems and processes, plans events, works closely with Leopard’s suppliers and conducts site inspections. Caitlin is passionate about tailoring each experience to fit you perfectly, so you can focus on the stories and memories you’ll take home.
    Pilar Peña
    Travel Designer | Spanish
    Pilar grew up in Marbella, in the south of Spain, known, much like Africa, for its sunshine. She moved to Johannesburg in 2013, and after more than a decade of living in Africa, she says that she feels her heart is half South African.

    When she arrived in South Africa, Pilar worked as a journalist and covered many big news stories for a newspaper and radio station in Spain. She considers it an amazing period of her life in Africa, but she wanted to embrace something different.

    Between working and being dedicated to raising her family, she travelled through southern Africa. During this time, her love for Africa, its sunsets, people, culture and landscapes continued to grow. Pilar wanted to share ‘the preciousness of this country and continent with everyone’. Now, as part of Leopard, she can do that.

    As a Spanish speaker, she works with the Spanish and Latin American markets and feels she is a true ambassador for South Africa. At Leopard, she works with clients to create a bespoke, tailor-made itinerary, where each day in Africa forms part of a perfectly dreamy trip. Pilar says that everyone should get to experience the magic of Africa.
    Helen du Toit
    Finance Manager
    Until the age of three, Helen lived in a little stone cottage in the Kyle Game Reserve, in Zimbabwe until she and her family relocated to the Kariba Dam on the great Zambezi River. Here, Helen’s father managed a Fisheries Research Institute and she grew up immersed in a culture of tourism. She also spent many Sunday afternoons in the bush observing wildlife with her family.

    Helen moved to South Africa in the early ’80s and after leaving school, she entered the travel industry. She travelled to many countries for business research and later became a specialist in travel to South America, which she visited numerous times.

    Her husband’s work required the family to settle in the little town of Mtunzini, a beautiful spot on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, where she took a job in the finance department at the local school. This began a chapter in Helen’s life that prepared her for corporate finance. Later, Helen worked as an imports and exports administrator and then as treasurer for a large multinational company in Johannesburg while undertaking post-graduate studies in Corporate Governance and Administration.

    When she and her family moved back to Durban, Helen worked as a bursar of a large private school. She was delighted to be living near the ocean again and couldn’t resist getting her open-water diving certificate, as her son was a scuba diving instructor. Helen’s love of adventure and creation has been a constant theme throughout her life.

    She was delighted to return to the travel industry and joined Leopard in September 2022 as a finance manager.
    Daphnée Filliette
    Senior Travel Designer | French and English
    Daphnée was born in Lille, in the Hauts-de-France region of France. A passionate traveller, she has lived and worked in several countries around the world.

    She first worked in the United States, where she has family, then moved to England to complete a Master’s in International Marketing, and later to Oceania, where she tried “WWOOFing” — working on a farm in exchange for room and board. Along the way, she met a great love in Paris, who would later become her husband, and this brought her back to France to find work and start a family.

    Daphnée began her career in fashion marketing and, in 2012, created her own fashion brand, managing all aspects of building a business.

    In 2016, Daphnée and her family had the wonderful opportunity to live in South Africa. “The question didn’t even arise — let’s go, that was obvious!” she recalls. Since then, they have welcomed three children and are enjoying life in Johannesburg.

    Daphnée has worked in the tourism industry for 10 years, specialising in Africa. Her favourite countries include Kenya and Namibia, though she also fell in love with Madagascar and Botswana. Her next adventure will be to Zambia.
    Diana Granoux
    Founder | Senior Travel Designer
    Diana was born in Zimbabwe and started her life on the banks of the great Lake Kariba. She moved to South Africa when she was a toddler and grew up in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Diana has vivid memories of long winter holidays spent camping in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa with her family. Her parents loved the bush and her father started his own tour operating company in 1992. He was an early pioneering specialist in bird watching safaris in South Africa.

    As she grew up, Diana became aware of the big, wide world outside of the African countries she knew so well, and she took her first solo overseas trip at age 14 to London to visit her father’s family. From that moment she became fascinated with experiencing the world beyond what she knew. Diana has since travelled extensively through Africa, Europe, America and Asia.

    Diana is married to a Frenchman and has two young kids, who are simultaneously developing a love for biltong & braai’s, and baguettes & brie. After 16 years gaining valuable experience working for big corporates in South Africa, Diana decided to follow her passion for travel and start Leopard. Diana has had the privilege of planning holidays for American celebrities, European royalty and high-net-worth individuals as well as regular folks who want to do a trip of a lifetime to Africa.

    She wants to create, with Leopard, a company that gives customers something unique: a curated experience of Africa, made especially for them. She says, “From the moment they arrive in Africa, to the moment they depart, I want them to have a seamless experience. I want them to enjoy the best the continent has to offer, leaving with memories that last a lifetime.”