Adine Roode is the founder of the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD) Trust and MD of JABULANI.

After achieving a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Honours) in Accountancy at The University of Pretoria, Adine spent much time working at her father’s side in the operational running of the Kapama reserve where HERD and JABULANI is located. She has a natural business acumen and can-do attitude in the face of challenges and the fight and drive required to be successful in running both.

In 2019, following the continual acceptance that the Jabulani elephant herd showed wild elephant calves, Adine gathered a team of experts to build and manage the HERD orphanage with her. Together they set up an advisory group, laying out the principles, objectives, requirements and the way forward to enable her to provide a dedicated space for orphaned elephant calves in need of a unique adoptive family structure, something that is crucial for their wellbeing and survival.

In 2021, Adine took the bold decision to form the HERD Trust, to bring the management of the Jabulani herd, which was previously funded solely by tourism at the lodge, under the same umbrella as the elephant orphanage.

Adine spends as much time on the ground with the elephants as well as overseeing the management and administration of the HERD Trust.

My path to the tourism industry was discovered by pure chance…

I attended Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) – now University of Johannesburg – and was all set to go into the field of Biokinetics. During my years at university, I was beckoned by a friend who needed German-speaking tour guides so, during my vacations, I enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to guide extensive tours through South Africa. These experiences highlighted the remarkable and diverse country that I lived in, and ignited my passion for travel, our beautiful country and, particularly, the wildlife.
After completing my BA HMS (Human Movement Science) in 1988, I took a determined detour, having decided that the only career I wanted to pursue was in the field of tourism. My primary motivator was to contribute in some way towards protecting our biggest asset – our wildlife – for future generations.

I have had the privilege of travelling to many different countries, which I have thoroughly enjoyed, but there is nothing that touches my heart and is as captivating for me as the sights, the sounds and the smells of the African bush . My 30-odd-year journey in tourism has allowed me to engage with so many different people from all over the world, educate them about the wonders of South Africa and led me to work with inspiring individuals and organisations, such as HERD. Pioneers in their protection and preservation efforts of elephants, it is with immense pride to be associated with HERD and have a part to play in fulfilling my original conservation aspirations.

Gert van den Berg is widely regarded as one of the leading experts in the field of estate planning, trusts and the law of succession.

Gert spent a number of years in the office of the Master of the High Court in Bloemfontein and six years with the trust department of a bank. He was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa in 1985.

During the past thirty-five years, Gert van den Berg has been in private practice, specialising in every facet of estate planning, trusts law and the law of succession. In December 2000 he joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in their estate and trust division. He is co-author together with his previous partner, the late Dr PA Olivier, of the book titled Praktiese Boedelbeplanning as well as co-author of an updated version of the book Trust Law and Practice.

He lectures on trusts, estate planning and administration of estates at various universities and presents seminars on these topics throughout South Africa to various institutions such as the Law Society of Northern Provinces, South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the Financial Planning Institute (FPI) and various Financial Institutions, Trust Companies and Insurance Companies.

Louis Marais is a Chartered Accountant in private practice. He has extensive knowledge in accounting, business and taxation having been in private practice for almost thirty years. He serves as an independent trustee/non-executive director for a select few trusts/ private companies of which the HERD Trust is one.

Although his practice focuses on commercial businesses his love of nature has seen him naturally being drawn to conservation issues. His two biggest concerns in conservation are declining natural habitat and litter pollution in Africa.

Kristin lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her six dogs and two horses, and has been involved with animal advocacy since 2004. Initially she began fostering for a local dog rescue, and eventually she started her own dog rescue non profit in 2014, which aims to save the most in need homeless dogs in Georgia.

She first visited Africa in 2019, and upon returning from that trip, knew she wanted to get involved with something bigger, literally! So she began researching ways to help elephant orphanages, which led her to HERD!

In Kristin’s spare time she is a wildlife photographer, loves to ride her horses, travel, ride her bike, and just spend time with her friends!

Ian has worked across the Hospitality, Travel, Technology and Ecommerce industries throughout his professional career. While working within the Travel Industry, Ian’s passion for wildlife conservation was ignited. Blessed with an opportunity to see the world from an early age, Ian has witnessed both the positive and negative effects the human race has had on wildlife, and that is why he has taken steps to ensure people are aware of the dangers and opportunities we have as humans when it comes to caring for all life on earth. Ian is purpose driven to highlight the impact of conservation, protection, and sustainability efforts taking place around the planet. Ian holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and multiple technology certifications. When he’s not in the office, Ian loves skydiving, Olympic lifting, photography, and furthering the cause of wildlife conservation.

Prof Rob Slotow is an Honorary Professor Genetics, Evolution & Environment Div of Biosciences. While his training and early research was in bird behavioural ecology, in 1997 he shifted to large mammal conservation. Rob has a long-standing research programme in conservation management, with a focus on elephant, rhino, and large carnivores.

He works closely with National Government, the South African National Biodiversity Institute, South African National Parks, Ezemvelo Kwazulu-Natal Wildlife, North West Parks and Tourism Board, and many private landowners, to develop understanding of practical solutions to management challenges for these species.

Professor Ganswindt (PhD, University of Muenster, Germany) joined the University of Pretoria as a postdoctoral fellow in 2006 and is an associate professor and Acting Head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology in the Faculty of Veterinary Science.

He is a behavioural endocrinologist by training and the founder of the Endocrine Research Laboratory at UP. His work combines the disciplines of physiological-endocrine research, behavioural biology, and wildlife ecology to improve the management and welfare of animals in zoological institutions as well as in the wild.

With the Jabulani herd and HERD orphans, Dr Peter Stewart Rogers has been one wildlife veterinarian who has been by our side continuously. With over 30 year’s experience, Dr Rogers is considered one of the most experienced wildlife veterinarians in the world. He specialises in the capture and veterinary care of some of South Africa’s most endangered species, including the southern white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African elephant, cheetah, African wild dog, African Lion, Temminck’s ground pangolin and many other species.

Read more in our Q&A with Dr Rogers >

Edward C Webb is professor of Production Animal Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Pretoria. He has published extensively, presented papers at conferences, produced technical reports, co-edited two books, 18 book chapters, and 1 patent. He is a professional Animal Scientist and served as president of SA Society for Animal Science from 2009 to 2014.

Dr Johan Marais, a vet, photographer and founder of Saving the Survivors, a unique team of vets working on the ground in South Africa to treat endangered wildlife that has been attacked and injured by poachers. “I am in love with Africa and its wildlife,” Marais says. “I cannot, and will not, stand by and watch these incredible, iconic animals and our heritage get slaughtered and maimed, for what is basically greed. We will continue to save injured and poached species and create further opportunities to play an active role in the protection of our endangered wildlife, so that our kids may still enjoy seeing species like elephant and rhino roam the vast plains of Africa.”

Brett Mitchell is the Chairperson of the Elephant Reintegration Trust. The Elephant Reintegration Trust has been established by four passionate individuals with the vision & dream of developing an elephant refuge reserve in South Africa which will provide a secure wild environment for retired, commercially used elephants from various captive environments. These elephants will be reintegrated back into the wild where they can live out their remaining years, with dignity, as wild elephants.