Mandi Johanson-Aliverti

Mandi is deeply rooted in Africa and was born into a travel-mad family. Her parents both worked in the industry and traveling has been in her blood from a young age. After completing her travel and marketing studies, she took off around the world one more time on her own journey of discovery before returning to work in the family business for 12 years.. She is now Head of Travel at Travel Concepts in Cape Town.

Mandi is passionate about creating memorable hand crafted journeys for clients and specializes particularly in romantic travel, including destination weddings and honeymoons and excels in designing tailor made itineraries across South Africa, Southern and East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

Mandi married her Italian husband in the Cape Winelands and understands the romance as well the detail that goes in to a wedding with dual nationalities. They now have two children, giving Mandi the opportunity of exploring luxurious child-friendly holidays across the continent.

As we had a destination wedding with many foreign friends and family, we spent the first part of our honeymoon alone on the romantic Rovos Rail and thereafter had our Belgian best man and my mother-in-law join us for our safari in the Kruger National Park. We enjoyed the luxury of a private game lodge and it was a privilege to see people experience wildlife for the first time, as I did with all three on my honeymoon!

This arrangement has stood in good stead for me as 13 years down the line and I continue to say that I actually need a proper honeymoon as had to share one, I have been lucky enough to have plenty.

Mandi's favourite destination: "I love Botswana especially the Okavango Delta - the contrast between a gentle mokoro ride and the lush vegetation of the delta, to the dry plains, the feeling of endless space and really being involved in the bush, is awesome. Add in the wildlife experience, the incredible sunsets and the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere... This is a true safari destination that has been preserved and protected."