Tracy van der Merwe

Tracy was born and grew up in New Zealand. With a love of horses and as a mad keen Pony Club member she competed at national level in PC eventing.

A desire to travel led to a working holiday in the UK. Her time was spent as a working pupil, aiming towards the BHSAI.

Travels abroad were funded by a string of temping jobs but a trip to South Africa in 1996 was to be the most significant. Upon arrival, she was instantly hooked, and Southern Africa was to be home for the next 11 years.

Tracy guided at Horizon in the Waterberg for a couple of years, before moving to the Okavango Delta in Botswana where she worked as horse manager and guide for Sarah-Jane Gullick. She then returned to South Africa to work at Ant's Lodges and after several stints guiding on the desert rides in Namibia finished at St Lucia horseback safaris north of Durban.

In 2007 Tracy moved back to the UK and joined In The Saddle to share her experiences and knowledge of the African bush.