Biography: Yandisa Ngcuka - Wilderness Safaris Sales Manager North America

Yandisa Ngcuka brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for tourism and conservation to Wilderness Safaris. He thrives on identifying and leveraging business growth opportunities for Wilderness Safaris and their partners in North America.

Yandisa’s early years were spent in Lusikisiki, in the exceptionally lovely Wild Coast region of South Africa’s Eastern Cape. He matriculated at Palmerton High School before studying for a National Diploma in Tourism Management at Nelson Mandela University. Exciting times lay ahead when, at the age of 21, Yandisa was invited to travel to Germany to join the Capacity Building Programme, a scholarship awarded by a joint venture between the German Government and SA Tourism. During the programme, Yandisa travelled around Germany gaining exposure to Destination Marketing, Product Development and Travel Planning, through placements with Tour Operators, Travel Agents and SA Tourism in Frankfurt. Yandisa greatly valued the worldly exposure and knowledge he gained whilst participating in the scholarship.

After returning to South Africa in 2004, Yandisa acquired beneficial skills working for DMCs and Tour Operators in Cape Town, where he crafted southern African journeys for international clients. His aspirations became reality in 2014 when he was offered an opportunity to join Wilderness Safaris Touring, now Wilderness Safaris Private Journeys, as a Journey Specialist. Highly motivated, a year later, he progressed to Wilderness Safaris Journey Specialist for the company’s North American Business Unit, which gave him insight into the US market and, in 2016, helped him achieve his current role of Sales Manager.

Preservation of our wildlife and natural resources are matters close to Yandisa’s heart and he strongly believes that the involvement of local communities in the sustainability of African ecosystems should be at the forefront of any conservation effort. Wilderness Safaris’ strategy to create sustainable conservation economies in Africa resonates deeply with him, and he has this to say about his role: “Working for Wilderness Safaris provides an opportunity to be part of a truly passionate team, committed to making a real difference in the lives of local communities through meaningful conservation initiatives”.

Yandisa continued to further his learnings with a BCom Economics degree, obtained through UNISA in 2013. There is no stopping this dynamic young man, and he is currently studying for a postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development through the University of Stellenbosch, and will graduate in April 2022.