Meet the
Wintershoek Safaris Team
Our team remains passionate about every single hunt, sharing in the excitement and thrill alongside our clients. With a large and accomplished team, each member brings a wealth of experience and a unique approach to the pursuit, blending skill, precision, and dedication to ensure your success. Our professional hunters are committed to making every moment unforgettable, adapting their expertise to suit each hunter’s needs and guaranteeing a rewarding and truly exceptional safari.
Founder & Owner
Wiaan van der Linde
Wiaan is the proud founder and owner of Wintershoek Safaris. His journey began as a young boy in the Eastern Free State, where he developed a deep love for farming. Over the years, his passion evolved as he became a professional hunter, guiding clients through many southern African countries. Wiaan’s understanding of hunting’s vital role in Africa, paired with his dedication to conservation and uplifting local communities, sets him apart. A true entrepreneur, he is constantly innovating and shaping the future of hunting in Africa. His influence in the hunting community is far-reaching, and he has been a steadfast advocate in protecting and advancing the industry he holds dear.
Legendary Professional Hunter & Marketer
Johnny Vivier
Born in Zambia, Johnny seemed destined to become a professional hunter from day one. After serving with a Special Forces Unit during the Rhodesian bush war, he began guiding clients across Southern Africa, quickly rising to the pinnacle of the hunting industry. Over the years, countless clients have benefitted from Johnny’s vast knowledge in the bush and enjoyed his unique sense of humor around the campfire. In 2019, he was honored with Safari Club International’s prestigious “International Professional Hunter of the Year” award. A highly respected professional hunter, Johnny continues to have a lasting influence on our company and the industry.
Operational, Logistics , Marketer & PH
Strauss Jordaan
He has been part of the Wintershoek team since the age of 19. Though he didn’t grow up around hunting, once he was introduced to it, he knew it was his passion and future. After taking a brief break to complete his degree, he returned to hunt as a professional hunter for many years before transitioning into the vital role he holds today. Always looking for fresh ideas and innovative ways to enhance our operations, he keeps things moving forward. Steadfast in his beliefs, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the hunting industry, making him an integral part of our team.
Spanish Marketer
Tomas de Castro
Desde mi primer viaje a Sudáfrica quedé enamorado del país y desde el año 1999 empecé a traer clientes para hacer posible que cumplieran el mismo sueño que yo había cumplido con creces , despues de cazar alrededor del mundo me decidi por vivir en este pais .
Cazador desde niño y amante de la naturaleza, a día de hoy y con más de 500 safaris a mis espaldas y más de 1000 clientes satisfechos me siento muy agradecido de hacer lo que más me gusta la mayor parte del año, durante estos 23 años desde mi primera visita a este pais he disfrutado de cada momento y de cada safari como si fuera el mío propio y me siento un privilegiado de poder decir que tengo amigos en todos los rincones del mundo gracias a la caza.
Buena suerte y buena caza
Marketer
Ronnie Webster
Ronnie’s passion for hunting began at a young age, fueled by the knowledge and mentorship of his great friend Alex Grobbelaar, who became the 6th professional hunter in the country in 1972. In his early years, Ronnie freelanced with Alex, balancing hunts with a corporate career, often taking leave five or six times a year for extended 21- or 28-day hunts. His dedication even led him to attend the very first SCI show. In 1985, Ronnie made the decision to leave the corporate world and pursue his passion full-time, dedicating himself to guiding clients in the bush. Today, he brings his deep knowledge and experience to our marketing team, continuing to share his love for hunting.
Professional Hunter
John Tinley
John was born in KwaZulu-Natal, where his father, Charles Tinley, worked for the Natal Parks Board. Later, his father played a pivotal role in developing some of the most renowned game reserves in Ciskei and became one of the first professional hunters in South Africa. This upbringing immersed John in the world of the bush and professional hunting from an early age. In 1993, John became a professional hunter, turning his lifelong passion into a career. With 28 years of experience hunting across South Africa, he has gained extensive expertise in both dangerous game and plains game hunting. A key figure in our company, John’s knowledge and experience have been invaluable to us.
Professional Hunter
Johan Maritz
Meet Johan, a true Kalahari native who was born and raised amidst its breathtaking landscapes. The love for nature and hunting was ignited within him by his father, shaping his path from the very beginning.In 2011, Johan pursued his passion further by completing a professional hunting course, setting the stage for his journey as a freelance Professional Hunter (PH). He spent a decade as a freelance PH at Wintershoek Safaris. After accumulating a wealth of experience with Wintershoek Safaris over the years, he made the decision in 2021 to dedicate himself full-time as a PH for the company. He revels in the challenges of hunting, recognising that each species demands its own approach, thereby making every hunt a distinctive experience. Renowned for his sense of humour, Johan is always ready with a joke and boasts an array of tricks up his sleeve.
Professional Hunter
Willie Klindt
Meet Willie, our passionate hunter born in 1999 in the Free State. His connection to the hunting world runs deep as his dad has been a part of the Wintershoek Safaris team since 2011. Even his mom was once associated with the Wintershoek team, giving him exposure to the veld, the bush, and wildlife from a young age, sparking his enduring love for nature. Since 2020, Willie has been a key part of Wintershoek Safaris, bringing passion and expertise to our exclusive Northern Cape hunting areas. Having learned from the industry’s top professional hunters, he’s developed a unique approach to hunting. His deep love for nature and shooting drives him to deliver an exceptional experience for every client.
Professional Hunter
Roedolph van der Linde
Roedolph, born in 2002 and the second of three siblings, developed an early love for farm life in the vast Northern Cape, where he spent his childhood exploring the land and riding alongside his father, Wiaan, on trips into the veld. His passion for hunting was sparked as he watched clients from around the world come to Wintershoek Safaris, witnessing firsthand how his father’s enthusiasm for people and hunting created something extraordinary. Now a Professional Hunter (PH) himself, Roedolph has had the privilege of guiding clients across Southern Africa, including Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, and Tanzania—a place especially close to his heart. In each of these countries, he gained invaluable experience. Looking ahead, Roedolph is excited about the future of Wintershoek Safaris and feels fortunate to have learned from some of the most respected figures in the hunting world.
Professional Hunter
Mark Mackenzie
With a spirit for adventure and a deep love for the African bush, Mark Mackenzie brings both experience and passion to every safari. Having travelled extensively through the UK, Europe, and across the African continent—including Namibia and Mozambique—Mark’s journey has been one of exploration, discovery, and a lifelong commitment to the wild.
Originally qualified as a Diamond Evaluator, Mark quickly realised that life behind a desk and a tie wasn’t for him. In 2007, he followed his true calling and earned his Professional Hunter (PH) qualification. Since then, he’s built a reputation not only for his skill in both plains game and dangerous game hunting, but also for the way he shares the magic of the veld with his clients.
For Mark, success is measured not in trophies, but in the friendships formed and the trust earned—especially when clients return and request him by name. Away from the hunting grounds, he enjoys casting a line, whether it’s in freshwater rivers or out on the deep sea.
Mark looks forward to welcoming you to the African bush, where stories are shared around a glowing campfire and every moment is etched into memory—just like an unforgettable African sunset.
