&Beyond: Melissa's Travel Blog

About Melissa Adey

For three and a half years now I have been travel planning for &Beyond Guests to create dream adventures in Africa .
To create the best itineraries for you, I have visited 41 of our 44 lodges in Africa, as well as many non &Beyond properties. I have also traveled to the UK, France, Greece, Holland, India, Nepal, Egypt, Israel and Switzerland and so have a broad understanding of International culture.

Travel planning for you is what I do for you because:

• An insatiable curiosity for travel in Africa means I have been to the destinations we will book for your trip
• I have first hand knowledge of what does as well as what does not work logistically.
• I too work crazy hours- and so value my Holidays highly- and know how important it is to get it right for you.
• I live, eat and breathe the ethos, Care of the Land; Care of the Wildlife and Care of the People- so when I found &Beyond had the same core- I was hooked!
• I derive enormous pleasure sharing my passion with my guests- you! Nothing gives me greater joy than reading about your adventures when you get home, and knowing that I have shared this continent with you.

But lets start at the beginning: My journey with &Beyond started amidst the renowned rusted dunes of Namibia at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.
I was appointed as the masseuse and Yoga teacher for guests. My responsibilities extended to treating staff for body aches and pains, counseling sessions and upliftment programs.

Despite all that I had extra time on my hands and so helped out wherever I could- in the bar, at reception- even washing dishes on crazy Kitchen days. This did not go unnoticed- and management approached me train up as a relief manager and host in the lodge. I jumped at the opportunity to expand my horizons.
After 6 months in my silent, perfect wilderness, I wept solidly the day I departed back home for South Africa as my work permit had run out.
I moved to the land of Leopards and Shangaan wonder. Londolozi was then run by CC Africa (&Beyond‘s former name). I stepped into a management role looking after Founders Camp and then the premier Tree Camp

It was an honor to become part of the extended &Beyond family, working with a team of 120 staff, local and imported from the big cities. I still miss the daily interactions with those fantastic souls. It is this particular brand of human being and service that &Beyond embodies that I became a part of then. I cannot explain it to you- it is like no other- you simply have to travel to our lodges yourself to know what I mean.

In my time in the lodges- I was privileged to shed my fair share of tears and laughter as well as share with guests as they cried when they said goodbye to us; Laugh out loud- hard and often; birthdays, anniversaries and honeymoons celebrated in the bush, in the bath and in the boma; young couples in love become engaged, monkey’s steal the sugar bowls regularly; leopards mating; elephants bathing metres away from me; field guides pass their final tests with much, sweat, tears and beers! I have watched children transform as they discover that a safari with us is 100 million times better than animal planet.  I know of many babies conceived on safari! My team and I have created Christmas dinners for first timers in the Southern Hemisphere with lightning storms tingling in the horizon and 30’ temperatures+ replacing a miraculous white view.

And with all my guests- the transformation of something miraculous within them is almost a given. And that keeps me doing what I do.

I live in Mpumalanga (Near the Kruger National Park) in South Africa. I have recently been to Madagascar, and have South America and a Gorilla Safari on my wish list for my next set of adventures.

I hope you enjoy the read!
Warmest wishes from Africa
Melissa