Alyson Riches

Alyson grew up in Zimbabwe and it was her parents who influenced her a great love of the African bush. It was not just a love of the wildlife but the plant and bird life and everything that is associated in the wild spaces of Africa.

Alyson started working in the tourism industry in 1997 as a Tourist Guide. After qualifying as a South African National Guide in 2004 Alyson started taking groups to many South African destinations often to the bush, plus Botswana, Namibia, Victoria Falls, Swaziland and Tanzania. A family that had travelled with Alyson on many occasions to several African countries asked her to take the family to Argentina, Peru and Ecuador which was an amazing experience. Alyson took 3 months off and learnt basic Spanish before the trip.

Alyson has been a volunteer guide at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for almost 20 years. Taking Spring Flower groups to the Western and Northern Cape gives Alyson the joy of sharing not only the incredible flora but the natural beauty where the spring flowers occur. Alyson has led many private garden tours in both the Western and Eastern Cape and the greater Johannesburg area. Alyson has recently been appointed as a Garden Guide at the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden.

Alyson has completed her wine certificate course with the Cape Wine Academy and is passionate not only about South African wines but the wine estates themselves. She enjoys sharing the history, cultures and various topics on South Africa with visitors to the country.