WHO WE ARE
Living and working in the heart of Africa, we know its culture and landscapes firsthand, allowing us to create truly unforgettable journeys.
With over thirty years of experience, proprietor Elise takes care of every detail – whether it’s securing the perfect room with a breathtaking view or arranging a bubble bath with champagne to make your honeymoon truly memorable.
With Africa by Heart, you are never just a number or lumped in with the crowd. Whether it’s transport, accommodation, or any other aspect of your trip, we make your journey unique and personal.
At Africa by Heart, how we travel matters as much as where we go. We choose lodges not only for their incredible safari experiences but also for the ways they care for their communities and the environment. Because we don’t own any of these properties ourselves, you can trust that every recommendation we make is honest, thoughtful, and guided by what’s truly best for you – and for Africa.
WHAT WE DO
We take you to exciting destinations that draw you closer to the soul of Africa! We plan visits to places you may only have dreamed of, in ways that thrill and surprise you.
You will have access to our network of local experts in each of these places with a wealth of knowledge, whose stories and anecdotes will enhance your experience.
Our team has got you covered! Every detail, from an airstrip transfer to a bush dinner, is taken care of. And it gets even better; you do not pay any extra for this expertise and logistical support.
What people have said
Founder and CEO
Elise Kreusch
From my accent, you’d be forgiven for thinking I was an Aussie but – though schooled in Australia – I’m really a South African girl who is intent on creating unforgettable journeys into Africa for my clientele.
As a child, I was intrigued by the vivid stories my father told after the filming of his wildlife movie in the early 70s. He went off in his Land Rover and Mamma Truck (a vehicle which he kitted out and painted like a giraffe) in two six-month stints, each time eager to return to the wild. Looking back, I think it was because of his love for Africa that I started my long career in travel. I studied Tourism in Sydney, Australia and worked in the hotel and restaurant industry there, for some years, before returning home to South Africa, where I joined an award-winning safari operator in 1997.
Over the next couple of decades, I worked for several tour operators specialising in Southern Africa, East Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. During this period, I gained vast experience and made valuable connections, while my attachment to Africa grew stronger. I enjoy designing wonderful holidays, but for me, travel is about something more enduring: it’s about the joy of exposing my clients to the priceless sights, sounds, and aromas of the African wilderness. Who is not moved by the cry of the fish eagle; the brilliance of an African thunderstorm; or the chance sighting of a leopard, looking down from the branches of a marula tree?
I have travelled extensively through Africa, and continue to do so, to find the very best lodges to add to Africa by Heart’s ever-growing portfolio. My services have been recommended in the New York Times and on Trip Advisor, and I have worked directly with people from diverse backgrounds. These include CEOs, world-renowned sports celebrities, barristers, news correspondents, and many local and overseas friends and family.
Whatever your walk of life, Africa by Heart is committed to designing an experience that will leave you forever changed by the magic of Africa. Know too, that in merely visiting these rare wildernesses, you will have played a role in conserving them – and supporting the local communities connected to them.
“If you only visit two continents in your lifetime, visit Africa – twice!”
– R.Elliot
