Meet Your GuideWillem “Will” Slieker
Meet Willem Slieker, known to most guests simply as Will—a thoughtful, detail-driven guide who believes the best safaris are the ones where you slow down and truly see what’s around you. Will guides in English and Afrikaans, and can also assist with animal names in French and German, which many international guests appreciate when learning species and sharing sightings.
Will has worked in the tourism industry since 2015, with nine years of professional guiding experience across coastal reserves and the iconic Kruger National Park. He returned to the Kruger region for one reason: the real wildness. For Will, Kruger has a special atmosphere—an energy that’s hard to describe until you feel it yourself—and it offers endless opportunities to keep learning.
He is a qualified Nature Guide and is currently furthering his formal studies with a focus on birding, adding even more depth to his guiding over time.
Will’s Guiding Approach
On safari with Will, you can expect a calm, well-paced drive that pays attention to both the obvious highlights and the often-overlooked details. He believes every part of the ecosystem matters—big or small—and he enjoys helping guests understand how it all fits together.
His strengths in the field include:
Will also believes guiding is a two-way experience: he loves sharing knowledge, but values what he learns from guests just as much.
Will’s Favourites in Kruger
Favourite animal
Hyena — Will has a soft spot for hyenas because they are widely misunderstood. He loves showing guests their true nature: attentive caregivers, intelligent social animals, and highly capable hunters—far from the unfair stereotype many people arrive with.
Favourite birds
Burchell’s Coucal — a shy but striking bird with unmistakable red eyes, rich markings, and one of the most memorable calls in the bush.
Values You’ll feel on every drive
Will’s safari philosophy is simple, but powerful:
Ethical Guiding
Ethics are central to Will’s approach. He sees it as his responsibility to protect both guests and wildlife, and he guides in a way that prioritises respectful encounters and natural behaviour. Off-roading or any actions that could negatively influence wildlife are not part of his safari style. With Will, you can expect guiding that is calm, considered, and deeply rooted in respect for the bush.
If you request Will as your guide, you’ll experience a safari that feels unhurried, meaningful, and quietly unforgettable—with someone who genuinely enjoys helping you connect to the full story of the Kruger.
