Meet the team
Schalk and Candice Pretorius
Directors and Owners of Ulovane Environmental Training
Schalk Pretorius
Ulovane Environmental Training was set up in 2005 by Schalk and Candice Pretorius, a young dynamic team. This conservation minded couple have been in the lodge and guiding industry for over 10 years. Schalk heads up the Training and Planning side of the business, while Candice runs the Marketing and Recruitment side of things. The students become a part of the family and this is very important to the Pretorius’s who have a brood of three of their own.
Schalk has a passion and dedication for training that has gone from strength to strength. He has been guiding since 1996 and has achieved FGASA Level 3 SKS Dangerous Animals and SKS Birds. Schalk has been a FGASA accredited trainer and assessor since 2001 and is registered as an accredited THETA assessor. Schalk has the relevant ETQA assessor and moderator qualifications, as well as his SESSETA qualifications for handling rifles and hand guns. Schalk is in his element and at his best when in nature, exploring and sharing his knowledge of the bush with enthusiastic learners. Most importantly he has the experience, knowledge and passion for the bush, which he enjoys sharing with others. He ensures that once you have spent time with us at Ulovane, you are able to go out in to the guiding industry being the best of the best.
Advice from Schalk:
Come to the course prepared! Watch National Geographic, Planet Earth and read whatever wildlife books and magazines you have.
Candice Pretorius
Candice has been involved in the lodge industry since 1996 and has built a wide network of contacts within lodges all over South Africa. Thanks to her extensive knowledge and experience of the lodge and hospitality industry, she heads up the marketing and recruitment side for Ulovane. Candice handles all communications with prospective and previous students. All students both past and current are considered to be a part of the family and Candice is great at keeping in touch and getting in touch. She is a passionate conservationist and dealing with people is what she does best!
Candice’s motto:
“Dreams come a size too big, so that we can grow into them” ~ Josie Bisset
Schalk and Candice pride themselves in the work that they do and will continue to ensure that the Field Guide industry booms with professional, knowledgeable and passionate guides. They take a personal interest in each and every student and enjoy sharing their passion and dedication with all their students.
Jandre and Sarah Smuts
Facilitators
Sarah Smuts
Sarah and Jandre have been with Ulovane for the past two years. After successfully completing the course, Sarah spent 3 years guiding at Woodbury Lodge on Amakhala, before joining the Ulovane. Our English rose is originally from the UK – but in June 2006 the bush bug bit her and she joined our One Year course at Ulovane. We are proud to say she is one of the highest qualified guides on the reserve, having successfully completed her FGASA Level 3. Sarah is very dedicated to making a difference to the wildlife industry, her passion for elephants and their behavior is contagious.
Sarah is one of the Ulovane facilitators and is very much involved in training and developing of the students. Other duties inlcude keeping the camp in order and the students’ tummies full. Sarah makes sure that the camp is your home away from home for the duration of the course.
Our Ndlovu (Elephant) whisperer can’t wait to share her knowledge and skills of the bush with you!
Jandre Smuts
Jandre AKA the Rock – because of his calm and steady presence – encourages the students to ask questions in the lecture room and feel safe out on the reserve. His facilitating duties include lectures, game drives and planning of programs, he is also responsible for camp maintenance. Jandre has worked in the guiding and game reserve industry for 7 years. He has a BSC Honor’s in Wildlife Management and FGASA Level 2. Jandre joined the Ulovane team in January 2010 and his greatest passion is simply being in the bush. Together this strong caring team help Ulovane make a home away from home, a safe environment where people can be themselves, while learning, exploring and loving the bush with other like minded people.
Ben Bremer
Landowner Ulovane Reserve
Ben is our longest student at Ulovane; he arrived in 2005 and has continued his studies since then. He purchased 350 hectares of land in 2007 and began development by building Ulovane Camp. Ben is 100% behind green energy and sustainable lifestyle at the camp.
He has a Degree in Economics and is a qualified concrete engineer CB1, with 25 years of managing a concrete manufacturing plant in Holland. In 2000 he retired and wanted to do something more meaningful with his life – so he came to Africa! Ben is a Level 3 Trails guide and is passionate about nature and always asks the important question – WHY… Ben enjoys helping out with lectures and sharing his valuable knowledge with the students.
Ben’s motto:
Never stop educating yourself and question everything.
