Melanie Hochkins

My love of the bush started young, on camping trips with my dad. Nothing elaborate — just the wilderness, a tent and the sounds of nature at night. It was an uncomplicated introduction to the natural world, and one I’ve carried with me ever since.

I came to The Classic Safari Company first as a freelancer before joining the team full-time in May 2024. My role brings together two things I genuinely love: the precision and organisation that come from years working in finance, and a deep, personal passion for travel and the experiences that make it extraordinary. I love that my work allows me to explore the world both from my desk and in person — moving between the careful planning that keeps everything seamless and the inspiring itineraries that bring clients’ dreams to life.

Extensive personal travel has given me a real understanding of diverse cultures, destinations and what makes a journey truly memorable. Combined with a professional background where attention to detail was never optional, I bring care and rigour to every aspect of what I do — because the experiences we help create deserve nothing less.

My fondest travel memories have that quality of pure, unhurried wonder. Sleeping under the stars in the Namib Desert. Galloping across the Makgadikgadi Pans at sunset, the salt flats glowing in the last light. And always, the quiet privilege of watching wildlife move freely through their natural world.

What I find most rewarding is the knowledge that behind every itinerary is a client about to have an experience that will stay with them for life. Helping to make that happen, in whatever way I can, is something I don’t take for granted.