About Design Afrique
Luxury African travel specialists with deep regional knowledge, trusted partnerships and a personal approach to tailor-made journeys.
About Us
Who We Are
Luxury through Personalisation & Regional Insight
Design Afrique is a boutique Destination Management Company (DMC) headquartered in Cape Town and dedicated exclusively to Southern and Eastern Africa. We specialise in meticulous ground-handling and truly tailor-made itineraries — from independent luxury travellers to multi-generational groups — across ten extraordinary countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Our team’s deep regional knowledge, long-standing supplier relationships and passion for purposeful travel ensure that every journey is seamless, distinctive and profoundly memorable.
Our Philosophy
Founded by Bettina Marchel, Design Afrique grew from a simple belief: that an African itinerary should feel like a beautifully told story — personal, immersive and crafted with care. Bettina’s decades of industry experience, paired with a life spent exploring Africa’s hidden corners, inform every proposal we deliver.
Today the company remains deliberately small and agile, allowing us to give each client the time, creativity and detail their dream holiday deserves.
Founder & Managing Director
Bettina Marchel
“Travel isn’t just my profession—it’s my greatest passion.”
Born in Austria with an innate curiosity for the world, Bettina’s journey into travel began at just 19 when she joined a travel agency that took her across continents—from the heart of Europe to the Caribbean, the Americas, Asia, and beyond. But it was a soul-stirring trip to Kenya in 2012 that changed everything. The vast landscapes, raw wildlife, and deeply rooted cultures of Africa left an indelible mark, and within months, she made the life-changing decision to relocate to Cape Town.
Since moving to South Africa in 2013, Bettina has immersed herself in the world of inbound tourism—first gaining invaluable experience with a luxury tour operator, and then, in 2019, founding Design Afrique to share her love for the continent in her own way. Her mission: to craft journeys that go beyond the ordinary, bringing travellers into soulful connection with Africa’s people, places, and untamed beauty.
Over the years, Bettina has explored Southern and Eastern Africa extensively—from the Garden Route and Madikwe to the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, the wilds of Uganda, and the coral-fringed coasts of Mozambique. Her personal insights into each destination and her eye for detail ensure that every Design Afrique itinerary is curated with authenticity, luxury, and meaning.
Today, she continues to travel regularly, always seeking new inspiration, building trusted relationships, and refining experiences that elevate every guest journey. For Bettina, every itinerary is a story waiting to be written—and Africa is the most powerful storyteller of all.
Senior Travel Consultant
Louise de Villiers
“Born in South Africa, inspired by its beauty, and driven to share it with the world.”
Louise was born and raised in the vibrant city of Cape Town, where her love for people, cultures, and exploration was shaped from a young age. With a natural passion for travel and a deep-rooted connection to the landscapes of Southern Africa, her path into tourism felt inevitable.
After completing her formal studies in Tourism in 2000, Louise embarked on a career that would span over two decades—dedicated entirely to curating exceptional travel experiences. Her extensive journeys across South Africa, Eswatini, KwaZulu-Natal, the Garden Route, and the iconic Kruger National Park have allowed her to gather first-hand insight into the region’s most captivating destinations.
Louise’s strength lies in her ability to combine local expertise with warm, attentive service. She takes pride in understanding what truly matters to each traveller—whether it’s adventure, relaxation, cultural immersion or all three—and translating that into a journey that exceeds expectation.
At Design Afrique, Louise continues to do what she loves most: showcasing the richness of Southern Africa with professionalism, creativity, and care. Every itinerary she creates is built on real experience, and every guest she works with receives her undivided attention, infectious enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence.
TRAVEL CONSULTANT
MARISKA LA COCK
“Rooted in people, inspired by travel, and drawn to the beauty of Southern Africa.”
Mariska was born in Johannesburg and now calls the heart of the Garden Route home. Surrounded by some of South Africa’s most beautiful coastlines, forests and mountain landscapes, she has developed a deep appreciation for the places, people and quiet details that make travel feel meaningful.
Before stepping into her role as a Travel Consultant, Mariska gained valuable experience in Human Resources management within the tourism sector. This background shaped her natural understanding of people, service and communication, all of which now form an important part of how she approaches travel planning.
Her experience in tourism has given her insight into the importance of thoughtful organisation, warm hospitality and reliable support behind every guest experience. She understands that a well-planned journey is not only about where guests go, but also about how they feel throughout the process.
At Design Afrique, Mariska supports the team with care, attention to detail and a calm, people-centred approach. As she continues to grow her destination knowledge and experience in the travel industry, she brings a genuine passion for helping create seamless, personal and memorable journeys across Southern Africa.
OPERATIONS & BOOKING COORDINATOR
JACKIE SCHOONHOVEN
“Organised, dependable, and focused on keeping every journey moving smoothly behind the scenes.”
Jackie Schoonhoven brings a wealth of administrative, operational and client support experience to her role as Operations & Booking Coordinator at Design Afrique. With a career spanning several industries, including travel, hospitality, finance, healthcare and professional services, she has developed a steady, detail-driven approach to managing the many moving parts that sit behind a seamless guest experience.
Her background includes extensive experience in bookings, client communication, invoicing, supplier coordination, scheduling, CRM systems and day-to-day operational support. She is highly comfortable working across digital platforms and administrative systems, allowing her to keep information organised, accurate and accessible when it matters most.
Jackie’s earlier experience in the travel industry, together with her strong administrative and finance background, gives her a practical understanding of both guest-facing service and the operational work required to support it. She understands that successful travel planning depends not only on beautiful destinations, but also on timing, clarity, communication and careful follow-through.
At Design Afrique, Jackie supports the team by coordinating bookings, managing key operational details and helping ensure that each itinerary runs smoothly from enquiry to confirmation. Her calm nature, reliability and eye for detail make her an important part of the process, helping turn carefully designed journeys into well-managed travel experiences.
Regional Representation
Tereza Szabova
Marketing Representative, Central & Eastern Europe
Tereza represents Design Afrique across Central and Eastern Europe, supporting our trade relationships and helping us connect with carefully selected travel partners in the region.
With her strong regional network, personal approach and understanding of the market, Tereza assists us in building meaningful partnerships with agents who are looking for bespoke, high-quality travel experiences in Southern and Eastern Africa.
For trade enquiries from Central and Eastern Europe, Tereza is your regional point of contact.
About Us
What We Offer
Hand‑Crafted, High‑End Travel Services
Tailor‑Made Itineraries
From remote lodges and private villas to input on pace, theme, and traveller style, we design trips that suit you perfectly.Independent & Group Travel
Whether for families, corporate incentives, or multi-generational groups, our FIT and group offerings include VIP transfers, expert driver-guides, and 24/7 support.Seamless Ground Handling
We take care of flight routing, logistics, permits, and every detail on the ground—so you can stay present in the moment.Exclusive Access & Insider Knowledge
Decades of partnerships give you premium access—from private reserve areas to conservation encounters, cultural introductions, and charter transfers.
Why Choose Design Afrique
Elevated Craftsmanship & Trusted Peace of Mind
-
Local Expertise, Ethical Standards
Based in Cape Town but operating across borders, we combine local intel with international service protocols.
-
Personal Attention, Zero Templates
Each trip is hand-built, not chosen from a catalogue. We tailor experiences based on your preferences and passions.
-
Conscious Luxury
We carefully select quality-driven lodges and partners who prioritise environmental and community initiatives.
-
Safety, Security & SATSA Bonding
As a SATSA-accredited DMC, we adhere to industry safeguards, financial protection, and best practices throughout your journey.
-
Trusted by Guests
With glowing testimonials praising our thoughtful itineraries, locality-based insight, and seamless service, we’ve built a reputation for excellence.
World-Class Collaborations
some of our
preferred partners
At Design Afrique, we believe that extraordinary travel experiences are made possible through exceptional partnerships. We work hand-in-hand with some of Africa’s most distinguished luxury lodges, private safari operators, conservation organisations, and aviation specialists to ensure every element of your journey is flawless.
We design journeys that echo long after you return.
Tell us what moves you—Big Five safaris, cultural deep-dives, barefoot beach escapes or exclusive-family travel—and let us craft an itinerary that threads your dreams into Africa’s most captivating landscapes.
