Get to know the ComeHike team

André Stander | Hike Leader 

Born in Standerton, André grew up with boots on the ground. An IT architect by trade, he swaps the server room for the mountains every chance he gets. On the trail, André is the adventure seeker who always finds time to pause for the perfect photo or a fresh mountain-brewed coffee. His all-time favourites are the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma trails.

Born and bred in Stellenbosch, Andries is self-employed in the finance and property sectors and has a natural knack for problem-solving. Passionate about collaborative leadership, he brings an inclusive style to everything he does. His love for nature and the outdoors was ignited while preparing for treks in Nepal and South America - and he hasn’t stopped since. While Everest Base Camp remains a personal favourite, he is just as happy exploring the trails of Table Mountain.

A Grassy Park local and energetic ESL teacher, Carmen’s hiking hobby quickly turned into a vertical obsession. Her motto is ‘Why walk when you can climb?’ and she lives for technical routes, exposure, and a healthy dose of adrenaline. When not on the mountain, she loves yoga, coastal runs, and meeting people from all walks of life. Her top picks are Namibia’s Naukluft trail and the rugged Kloof Corner Ridge. Qualified Mountain Guide.

Born and raised in Cape Town, Charles is a government administrator who finds his true balance in the outdoors and family time. Since his parents first introduced him to the trails, he has developed a love for weekend adventures and exploring the country. Known for being ‘full of beans’ and a great sport, he typically leads from the back - though hikers should keep a close eye on their packs for his famous ‘extra weight’ stone-slipping prank!

A Cape Town born horticulturist, Chris has been part of the ComeHike family since the early ‘booklet’ days. His hikes are an interactive experience, where he loves sharing historical titbits and highlighting unique fauna and flora. Outside of hiking, he’s happiest camping or wildlife watching. His top recommendation is the iconic Whale Trail. Qualified Field and Tourism Guide.

Daniel Schonlau | IT Support, Hike Leader

Born in Munich but Cape Town raised, Daniel traded a career in IT for his true passions: the mountains and animal behaviour. Since his first Whale Trail hike in the early 2000s, he’s been hooked on the wild, preferring the remote, ‘off-the-map’ routes of the Cederberg. For Daniel, the best kind of hike is one where you are completely immersed in the wilderness. Qualified Adventure Tourism Guide.

Originally from Gaildorf, Germany, Ella has been a staple of the ComeHike family since 1994. A professional hair stylist and crafter, she brings a keen eye for detail to the trail - especially when it comes to spotting fynbos and forest birds. She is unstoppable and continues to tackle the big local overnight trails – all of which she has completed many times over. She is happiest exploring the lush floral kingdoms and forests of the Cape, these days, at a slower pace. Qualified Field Guide.

Hailing from Mutare, Zimbabwe, Graeme’s love for the trail began in the Scouts. With a background in operations management, he’s now the go-to expert for home maintenance. On the mountain, he is a ‘no-nonsense’ leader who enjoys a faster, more challenging pace. Between hikes, you’ll find him working on a woodwork project or out on his bike. Locally, the Giant’s Cup remains his top-tier trail.

Graham Bellairs | Legal support, Hike Leader

Born in Gqeberha and raised in Cape Town, Graham is a practicing attorney who also serves as the co-opted legal advisor for the club. He was first introduced to hiking by friends and quickly developed a passion for ‘peak bagging’ and technical ascents, particularly in the southern Cederberg. A fan of the finer things, he never turns down a good braai, fine wine, or great food after a long day on the mountain. Honorary Guide of Orange Kloof.

Helen Gosnell | Hike leaders and Hike Coordinator, Hike Leader

Born in Benoni and raised in Kempton Park, Helen was introduced to the trails as a youngster by her father. A highly energetic self-employed professional, she lives for challenging forest treks and scrambles. In her spare time, you can find her gardening, climbing, tackling a cryptic crossword or planning her next travelling adventure. Her all-time favourite adventure is the rugged Overland Track in Tasmania.

Originally from Ciechanow, Poland, Kasia is a civil engineer turned assistant accountant who found her community through ComeHike. After a life-changing introduction to the club, she is now passionate about bringing new members into the fold. Once known as super-fast on the downhills, she now enjoys a social pace, focusing on weekend getaways and finding new, uniquely South African mountain destinations.

Laura Knight | Secretary
Born in Yorkshire of peripatetic parents who lived all over England, and North and West Africa, before eventually settling in South Africa in 1967, Laura is a retired marketing professional who is now ‘part of the furniture’ at ComeHike. As our Club Secretary and Newsletter Editor, she uses her elephant-like memory to keep the club running smoothly. Outside of her voluntary work, she loves yoga, reading, and revisiting her favourite coastal routes like the Otter and Whale Trails.

Louise van Wyk | Vice Chairperson and Brand/Marketing, Hike Leader

A Paarl native raised in Aston Bay, Louise is an adventurer at heart who retired from the corporate world to focus on the mountains. While she is a dedicated brand strategist and designer who generously shares her creative expertise with the club, she is first and foremost an explorer. She is equally at home on a social weekend away as she is tackling iconic treks like the Amatola or the Drakensberg.

Originally a Tamboerskloof local who practically grew up on Table Mountain, Mark’s history with the peaks runs deep - from his early days as a mounted law enforcement/nature conservation ranger to being our longest-serving hike leader since 1991. As a professional nature conservationist and guide, he offers a wealth of knowledge on fynbos, birdlife, and local history. While his favourite hikes remain icons like the Fish River Canyon, he now shares his immense experience on our club trails, often punctuated by a spontaneous poem. Professional Nature and Culture Guide.

Nicole Hart | Socials

Born in Swakopmund and raised in Windhoek, Nicole built a career in marketing before discovering her talent for operations and account management - in short, she is the one who gets things done! When she isn’t surrounded by flora and fauna, she is happiest spending time with family and friends. Having spent her childhood holidays on the family farm, she was immediately hooked when friends introduced her to hiking. Her favourite adventures are weekend getaways that offer the chance to discover new towns and local history.

Petra Schonlau | Admin support, Hike Leader

Originally from Frankfurt, Germany, Petra’s passion for exploration began in childhood and led to a career as an international tour operator. With a professional background in office management, she brings a wealth of travel knowledge to the trail. She has a special love for animals and particularly enjoys day hikes or multi-day treks that use a scenic base camp. While her heart belongs to the Alps and Nepal, she is equally happy hiking in our local mountains.

Born in Johannesburg and raised in Nababeep, Pietie is a retired sports administrator who never looked back after friends first introduced him to the trails. A brilliant organiser, he has led teams to the summit of Kilimanjaro and is well-known for his adventurous trips down the Orange River. These days, he enjoys easy-going, slower-paced hikes that justify a ‘cold one’ with the pack afterward. His all-time favourite trek is the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc.

This seasoned husband-and-wife team bring a global perspective to every trail they lead. Early in their journey, they took a full year off to travel the world before resettling into their careers as a retired engineer and a self-employed professional. Rod, originally from Gqeberha, is a former cyclist and avid sailor, while Fran, born and bred in Harare, is a qualified horticulturist with a lifelong hiking habit. Together, they head overseas annually for hut-to-hut adventurers. Their shared all-time favourite remains the legendary Alta Via 2 in the Italian Dolomites.

Tony Brown | Hike Leader

Born and bred in Bishops Stortford, England, Tony is an operations manager who first discovered the magic of South African trails during family visits. Since relocating permanently, his interest has turned into an obsession for fast-paced, adventurous hikes and technical scrambles. When he isn’t on the mountain, he is likely indulging his other great passion: motorbikes. His top-tier local route is the rugged Blinkwater. Qualified Cultural Tour Guide and Mountain Guide.

Originally from Yorkshire and raised in Warwickshire, Trevor has called South Africa home for over 50 years. A retired instrumentation technician who started his journey in the Scouts, he holds a legendary piece of club history as the very first member to join in 1991, proudly holding membership number 1991/001. He is your technical go-to person and always keen to share his trail knowledge and expertise. These days, he enjoys a more measured pace that allows him to focus on the environment, particularly in his favourite spot, Jonkershoek. Outward Bound Leadership Certified.