Who We Are – Africas Finest Safaris

Meet Michelle and Janine

Michelle McLean was born in Namibia and by spending her childhood in the bush her love and appreciation grew, for wild-life and the many diverse cultures and communities of Namibia.

Michelle traveled the world as a model and shortly after her return won the coveted title of Miss Universe in 1992, representing the newly independent Namibia. Bright lights and the international stages of the world couldn't keep Michelle away from home. Using her new title and world recognition, she founded the Michelle McLean Children Trust, one of the largest NGOs in Southern Africa, that has raised millions of dollars for thousands of projects over the 27 year span, in education and upliftment for children and communities throughout Namibia. One of the projects was teaching children the importance of living in harmony as communities with nature and wildlife. As a recognized Ambassador for Namibia, Michelle initiated and coordinated the Miss Universe Pageant in Namibia in 1995. With the viewership of a billion people, the idea was to bring tourism and investment to the country. It was huge success, seeing Namibia's tourism increase the following year by 11%.

Michelle lives in Miami, USA, with her husband, legendary goalkeeper for Manchester United, Gary Bailey, and their children. Gary grew up in South Africa, and has been a partner in a number of game farms over the years. He then also became a fully certified conservation guide.

Janine was born and bred in Namibia. She is married to Andre and they have two sons. Janine and Andre both share a deep passion for Africa and have always known that this was where their heart yearned to be. Despite having had the opportunity to travel extensively across the globe they chose to return to their deeply-rooted heritage in Namibia time and time again.

It is this deep love for all things African that inspired Janine to pursue a career in tourism and marketing. Janine has had more than 25 years of experience in the tourism industry and her portfolio spans across everything from marketing, public relations, lodge operations and management, international promotional activities and attendance of tourism trade fairs and road shows. She brings with her a unique combination of professionalism combined with a special affinity and deep care for the individual. Janine has the distinct ability to instantly grasp the essence of your brand’s identity and is able to bring it to life creatively, both visually and through specific experiences that can be offered at your lodge.

She brings with her a global network of influential contacts, and a passion for people and tourism. Her strengths lie specifically in managing client relationships and networking.

Some of her past clients have included GocheGanas Wellness Village, Budget Rent A Car Namibia, Venture Media (a Namibian publishing house with a global footprint), various smaller luxury lodges and she has also successfully managed her own tourism marketing company in Namibia.

Our Ethos

Everything that we undertake is done with passion. As a traveler, you have the opportunity to give back to the destinations you visit and make a positive impact on the world. That's why we're committed to preserving the communities, cultures and environments in Namibia. By working together with you, our partners and our clients, together we can ensure that our country remains vibrant for generations to come.