Meet Petro: The South African Guide Travelers Already Know by Name 

Some travelers arrive in South Africa already knowing who Petro Pretorius is. They’ve read the reviews. They’ve heard stories from previous travelers. Occasionally, they’ll spot her and immediately make the connection. 

“They’ll say, ‘Ah, that’s you. We’ve read about you.'” 

Petro laughs when asked if she’s famous. 

“In my little universe.” 

After a decade of guiding, she’s become one of Exodus’ most-loved South African tour leaders. Not because she promises perfect trips, but because she doesn’t. 

“Every trip in Africa is an adventure.” 

It’s a phrase Petro repeats often. Not because she’s trying to prepare travelers for the unexpected, but because she genuinely believes it. She has learned that the moments people remember most rarely appear on an itinerary. A sudden change in weather, an unexpected wildlife sighting or even the occasional flat tire can become part of the story. 

“We’ve just got to deal with it along the way,” she says. “Sometimes it becomes the thing that you remember fondly about a trip.” 

It’s a philosophy that says a lot about Petro herself. Warm, practical and refreshingly honest, she has built a reputation for helping travelers embrace the unexpected rather than worry about it. 

Starting a New Chapter 

Guiding wasn’t Petro’s first career. Before joining Exodus, she spent years working in sales and customer care. But by 2015, she knew something needed to change. 

“I got retrenched but I was also so fed up with the corporate world,” she says. 

Travel had always been part of the dream. Life, however, had taken her in a different direction first. Marriage, children and a successful corporate career came before guiding entered the picture. Then, at 42, she decided it was time to follow the path she had always imagined for herself. 

“I thought, let me go and do what I always wanted to do.” 

Her first interview in the travel industry led directly to her first guiding role, and from the beginning it felt right. 

“I love traveling in general, and I’m always one that’s out and about and not home,” she says. “I love the country so much, so why don’t I do something that I love?” 

Ten years later, she still feels exactly the same way. 

“It’s nice if you can have a career where it feels like you’re not working.” 

September 2025 marked a decade since she started guiding, a milestone she still finds difficult to believe. 

Why Guests Connect with Petro

Ask Petro what makes a good tour guide and she points to three things: being realistic, open and honest. 

Coming from a customer care background, she understands that travelers arrive with expectations. Some have spent years dreaming about visiting South Africa. Others are traveling halfway across the world for the first time. Her job, she believes, is to help them experience the country as it really is. 

More than that, she notices things. The guest who’s quieter than usual. The couple celebrating an anniversary they haven’t mentioned. The traveler who’s nervous about trying something new. 

“I know what they signed up for,” she says. “It’s my responsibility to make sure that we deliver what they expected.” 

That doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect. In fact, Petro is often the first person to remind guests that travel doesn’t work that way. 

South Africa, she explains, is wonderfully unpredictable. Wildlife doesn’t appear on command. Weather changes. Plans occasionally shift. Rather than promising perfection, she prepares travelers for reality. 

“You’ve got to manage expectations.” 

The approach works. Problems are addressed quickly, communication stays open and guests know exactly where they stand. 

But it’s often the smaller things they remember most. Petro makes a point of celebrating birthdays on tour. Wedding anniversaries rarely pass unnoticed. Easter departures might come with chocolate eggs. Valentine’s Day often requires a little creativity. These gestures aren’t part of any itinerary, but they help create the sense of camaraderie that turns a group of strangers into a group of friends. 

Her South Africa: Storms River and De Rust

Every guide has places they never tire of returning to, and for Petro, Storms River sits firmly at the top of the list. 

“It’s my happy place.” 

Nestled within the landscapes of Tsitsikamma, it combines everything she loves about South Africa: indigenous forest, dramatic coastline and the sense that nature is still very much in charge. It’s also somewhere she loves sharing with travelers because everyone can experience it in their own way. Some guests tackle the walks and suspension bridges. Others explore at a gentler pace. Some simply find a quiet spot and take in the scenery. 

“I always tell them nothing’s wasted,” she says. “If you can’t do the hike, walk up the road. Walk left. Walk right. The scenery is breathtaking. Just take it in and enjoy it.” 

Many guests are reluctant to leave. 

Fortunately, another of Petro’s favorite places usually isn’t far away. 

If Storms River is her happy place, De Rust is where she believes travelers experience South African hospitality at its best. The small Karoo town has become one of her favorite stops over the years. Partly because of the scenery, but mostly because of the people. 

“The whole of De Rust is very inviting and welcoming and friendly.” 

For Petro, that warmth captures something important about traveling in South Africa. The landscapes may draw people here, but it’s often the people who leave the strongest impression. Time and again, she sees travelers remember the conversations, kindness and welcome they receive long after they’ve forgotten the details of the drive that brought them there.

Wildlife Moments you Never Forget

South Africa’s wildlife is one of the main reasons many travelers visit, and even after years on the road, Petro still gets excited by every sighting. 

Whale season is a particular highlight, and one encounter remains etched in her memory. During a whale-watching trip, a whale swam directly beneath the boat before surfacing alongside it. 

“It came up and exhaled right next to the boat.” 

The spray drifted across her face. For a moment, everyone on board simply stood and watched. 

“It doesn’t get any better than this.” 

Then there’s Kruger National Park. 

Petro has been visiting since childhood and still speaks about it with the enthusiasm of someone discovering it for the first time. 

“I’m so South African,” she says. “I’ve been going to Kruger since I was this big,” she adds, holding her hand low to show just how young she was. 

For her, it remains one of the country’s greatest experiences. 

“Put me there any time and I’ll be happy.” 

Introducing the Real South Africa

Many first-time visitors arrive with preconceived ideas about South Africa. Often those perceptions have been shaped by headlines rather than personal experience. Petro understands why, but she also sees how quickly those assumptions begin to change once travelers spend time in the country. 

“I think you’ve got to be honest and realistic about things,” she says. 

Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, she answers questions openly and helps guests understand the country in all its complexity. She talks about the realities of modern South Africa, while also sharing the cultures, traditions and communities that make it such a fascinating place to explore. 

Language often becomes part of that experience. She teaches guests local greetings and explains some of the cultural nuances visitors might otherwise miss. Music becomes another window into the country. 

On longer journeys, playlists might move between Afrikaans artists, Johnny Clegg, Miriam Makeba and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. 

“I like to give them a little bit of everything,” she laughs. 

Food plays a huge role too. Travelers quickly learn about malva pudding, while Peppermint Crisp tart often earns an enthusiastic recommendation whenever it appears on a menu.  

For Petro, it’s clear that these moments matter just as much as the major landmarks. They’re often what travelers remember most clearly once they return home. 

Moments That Stay Forever

Ask Petro about her favorite wildlife sighting and she’ll happily tell you about whales. Ask what stays with her most, though, and the answer is something entirely different. For all the wildlife encounters and diverse scenery, one of Petro’s most memorable moments happened in Storms River. 

One of her guests had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and, according to his wife, had started withdrawing from activities he once enjoyed. During the visit, Petro spoke about the area’s zipline experience. The guest decided to give it a try. 

Later, his wife approached her. 

“She thanked me because after he’d been diagnosed, he’d sort of given up.” 

Completing the zipline didn’t change his diagnosis. But it changed how he saw himself. For the first time in a long while, he realized he was still capable of adventure. Petro becomes emotional when she remembers it. 

“I was almost in tears.” 

“That’s what makes it nice. Knowing that you can make a difference.”

Ten Years Later, Still Learning

When Petro reflects on her first season as a guide, she sees one major difference: confidence. In the early days, she focused on getting everything right. Briefings. Timings. Logistics. Now, experience allows things to flow more naturally. 

“The more you know what you’re doing, the more you relax.” 

But what hasn’t changed is her curiosity. 

After ten years, she still believes every trip offers an opportunity to learn. Whether it’s a conversation with a traveler, a new piece of local knowledge or a different perspective on a familiar place, there is always something new to take away. 

“You’re always learning,” she says. “Every tour, there’s a learning thing happening.” 

Perhaps that’s why guiding still suits her so well. She’s grounded, genuine and endlessly interested in both people and places. 

Or, as she puts it herself: 

“I am who I am. I’m the same at work as I am at home.” 

Petro still believes every journey teaches you something. And for the travelers lucky enough to explore South Africa alongside her, that’s often true of the country too.