Meet The Team
Stanley Safaris is a boutique, specialist luxury and highly personalized safari tour operator based in South Africa. Every safari we design is completely bespoke to suit the interests, budgets and expectations of each of our guests. We take exceptional care to speak to our guests during the planning phase and we use our extensive knowledge of Africa to design the perfect safari to Africa for you.
Beyond Safari
The Heart of Stanley Safaris
Shaun Stanley’s love of travel began in childhood during family road trips across Southern Africa. He grew up exploring wild corners of Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana with his parents, camping in remote places and learning to track wildlife. Those early experiences sparked a love for the bush that never left him.
After training as a safari guide, Shaun led walking safaris, game drives, canoe trips, and horseback safaris in Zimbabwe and Zambia. He later moved to the UK, using it as a base to travel across Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. Despite seeing the world, it was always Africa that called him home.
In 2013, Shaun returned to South Africa with his young family and continued working in luxury safari travel. Over time, he became frustrated by the one-size-fits-all approach so common in the industry. He founded Stanley Safaris to change that.
Shaun believes every journey should be tailor-made. No two travelers are the same, and so no safari should be either. He takes the time to understand each guest’s interests, then curates personalized itineraries that reflect who they are and how they want to experience Africa.
Shaun believes there is so much more to Africa than the Big Five and sitting in a vehicle ticking off animal sightings. He has designed Stanley Safaris to work alongside privately owned camps, expert guides, and conservation-driven partners, ensuring each guest has the opportunity to experience freedom, connection, and create lasting memories, just like Shaun did all those years ago.
Ingrid Martheze, or simply ‘Ings’ as she prefers, was born and raised in South Africa and has spent all her life exploring this spectacular country and the other gems Africa has to offer. From Namibia’s otherworldly desert plains to the Congo’s verdant jungles, Ings has experienced it all first-hand.
With over 20 years in the travel industry, and experience ranging from adventure travel and lodge leadership to large corporations and boutique agencies, Ings is a fountain of knowledge for all things African travel. She uses her extensive insight to craft itineraries that are uniquely tailored to her guests. Ings believes that at the heart of every unforgettable journey is a listening ear and an open conversation. She works closely with each guest to understand what inspires them before carefully matching camps, guides, and experiences that align with their safari wishes.
After so much time exploring Africa, Ings knows firsthand the impact of responsible tourism and respectful journeys. She is proud to work with small, privately owned properties that focus on conservation, community, and quality. Ings views travel not as a checklist, but as an opportunity to connect. Her goal is to create journeys that are beautifully designed, thoughtfully considered, and remembered for years to come.
Cam spent her childhood between South Africa and the United Kingdom, with family holidays that took her across many of Africa’s most iconic countries. In 1996, her family settled permanently back in the UK, where she completed her education and went on to build a successful career as an editorial food stylist. Her work took her across the globe, collaborating with renowned publications, international brands, and high-profile clients. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and passion for food, Cam has travelled across most of the world’s continents, seeking out extraordinary culinary experiences and deepening her understanding of diverse cultures and cuisines.
Yet, despite her global adventures and professional achievements, in 2019, she returned to the place that had always felt like home. After a brief pause in her career, she was ready for a new creative challenge—and found it at Stanley Safaris.
Today, Cam brings her extensive expertise to the team as our food specialist and head of concierge. She creates bespoke African experiences that celebrate the continent’s true spirit, seamlessly blending her culinary background with her deep love for the region. With Cam at the helm, every guest is guaranteed to experience the magic and flavour of Africa in a way that’s truly personal to them.
Nadia Singh began her life in Johannesburg, South Africa. Throughout her formative years, she was fascinated by Africa’s unique wildlife and spectacular landscapes. Nadia has always been drawn to the excitement of discovering new places, and has traveled extensively through Europe, which broadened her world view.
Nadia has nearly 15 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, and is proud to be part of a team that believes in personalized, purpose-driven travel at Stanley Safaris. She loves working with people who are passionate about Africa and who care deeply about supporting conservation and local communities.
Throughout her years of experience in tourism, Nadia has come to believe that luxury travel is about so much more than the beautiful parts of the world that travelers are privileged to see. It is about discovery, learning more about yourself and the new places you visit, so that you can return home inspired, with meaningful memories to be remembered forever.
Emile’s love of the African bush began at an early age during family holidays exploring South Africa. But it was during his career as a professional golfer, when he was privileged to travel extensively across America and Europe, that Emile truly began to appreciate Africa’s unique charm. Despite seeing much of the world through golf, Africa’s vast landscapes, vibrant cultures, and unparalleled wildlife had left an indelible mark on him.
Emile’s safari dream is to one day experience the unique waterways and abundant wildlife of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. His deep-seated love of Africa’s wild heart fuels him in creating captivating visuals that showcase Stanley Safaris’ itineraries and inspire an appreciation for this remarkable continent.
With over two decades of experience in luxury travel, Ray brings a wealth of knowledge and a global perspective to the Stanley Safaris team. Based in the United States, he plays an important role in helping guests discover Africa through authentic, sustainable safaris across its most iconic destinations.
Throughout his career, Ray has curated world-class journeys across hotels, cruises, and adventure travel, building strong relationships and a reputation for excellence in the industry. His role blends sales and storytelling, guiding guests toward experiences that inspire, transform, and leave a lasting impression.
Ray is passionate about travel that creates meaningful impact. Whether it is a game drive at dawn or a conversation around the campfire, he believes in the power of travel to connect people, cultures, and wild places in unforgettable ways.
Although he is based in the U.S., Ray’s heart lies in Africa. He is proud to represent a company that supports conservation efforts, community-driven projects, and small, independently owned lodges that prioritize both people and the planet.
Our Africa
