Doris Woerfel

Doris is the Founder and CEO of Southern Cross Experiences (PTY) Ltd (SCE) and got 18 years commercial experience in the Travel and Tourism industry including  VIP & Luxury Travel Management and Specialised Safaris and Conference Coordination.

Her company SCE has a high profile of references of International VIP’s, high-end customers, companies and organisations such as the Board of Daimler Chrysler, Siemens, Panasonic, German Government Delegations and the German Soccer National Team during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.

Alfred Hess

Alfred Hess  is Operations Manager for Southern-Cross-Experiences for more than 18 years.

His passion belongs to the bush & game and preserving and protecting endangered species.

He also has a deep interest in the culture, history, geological and landscape of visiting countries.

His knowledge to organize and implement Safaris was proven many times when he lead groups of all sizes in Southern Africa mainly in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia & Kenya. 

Alfred Hess is a certified 4×4 driver and it is one of his biggest passions to take his guests off-road to the remotest destinations in Africa.

Shirli Carswell

Shirli is our ‘Safari Host’ residing in Africa, who will accompany our guests on their thrilling safaris. Her career and passion revolve around the African continent with its wildlife and cultures. After art school, she cut her teeth in advertising and eventually moved into photography. She travels as much as possible to capture a library of images for her wildlife and fine art portfolio. A passionate conservationist and steward of Africa, she co-authored a book on the great parks of Africa, “Africa’s Ulitmate Safaris”, which is an extraordinary photo journey through the continent showcasing some of the most beautiful and wild destinations. Through her adventures, she has gained knowledge and an understanding of Africa and its unique rhythm.

Shirli will also be responsible for the design and printing of our unique ‘Memory Book’ for the guests she accompanies.

Torben Peter Rune

MANAGING DIRECTOR

A passionate wildlife conservationist, a private pilot for the past 29 years and a founding partner and Managing Director, Torben has vast experience within International Tourism. Scenic Air Safaris, a highly regarded pioneering luxury air safari brand, was born from his sheer passion of flying, for adventure and for Africa, the combination of which gave birth to the concept which is now Scenic Air Safaris. Torben studied Marketing and Business Studies in South Africa, returning to Kenya in 1994 and joined Southern Cross Safaris as a partner and Managing Director. In addition, Torben is also a partner and director of Bench Africa Ltd (Sydney based African wholesaler), Connoisseur Safaris, Satao Camp, Satao Elerai and Out of Africa Collection. He is also Chairman of Greenpark Water Services and shareholder in Great Rift Valley Lodge. He is a passionate outdoors enthusiast, a founding partner of the internationally acclaimed 7 to 3 Kilimanjaro Mountain bike challenge, a trustee of the Satao community and wildlife trust and past trustee of the East African Whale Shark Trust. He is also an avid ‘Rhino Charger’ leading the team as the driver of car No.28. The team raises in excess of US$ 15,000 every year for the noble Rhino Ark charity. Torben is based in Mombasa where he lives with his wife Beth and their two children.

Simon Penfold

MARKETING AND OPERATIONS MANAGER

Simon was born to an aviation family in East Africa, his father having been a pioneering ‘ Wing Safari’ pilot in the 1960’s. He read Airlines & Tourism in Glasgow, Scotland, has travelled extensively and like the majestic salmon, returned to his spawning grounds in Kenya where he managed a destination management company and to continue with his passion for aviation and for tourism. Simon now manages the Scenic Air Safaris marketing development program, always looking for new ideas, new markets as well as developing new flying safari experiences within the region. He is passionate about the protection of endangered species and being an avid outdoor enthusiast, salt & freshwater fly fisherman, Simon loves to balance his passions for aviation and flyfishing, he will never travel without his fly rod!

Capt. Murtaza S. Walijee

CHIEF PILOT AND HOST

Captain Murtaza Walijee leads our team of pioneering aviators, and is credited with over 5,000hrs of bush flying in East and Southern Africa. Flying since the age of 17, before he had a driving licence, Murtaza holds an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), is a certified flight instructor with an instrument rating. He absolutely relishes the challenge of ‘bush flying’ and in particular, flying and guiding the intrepid Ultimate Across Africa 14 day flying safari. Murtaza gains the most enjoyment from taking people to truly remote places that they never dreamed could be so beautiful. Murtaza finds the most spectacular scenic flights to be over the wildebeest Migration in both the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, the Pink Flamingos over Lake Natron and the low level scenic flight over the Mahale Mountains on the shores of Lake Tanganika. Murtaza is from Mombasa where he lives with his wife and two children.

Capt. Sam Mbugua

PILOT AND HOST

Captain Sam Mbugua, one of the stars of our show, is as passionate about being a pilot as he is inspired by meeting new guests and showing off ‘his own’ Africa as he affectionately calls it. Sam is Instrument rated and a certified flight instructor, credited with over 4,700hrs of bush flying experience. Sam wanted to be a doctor but thankfully for us, he chose to be a pilot and left the biology class behind. Sam joined us in June of 2016 and is inspired by discovering new, off the beaten track destinations, discovering species of wildlife and he loves to inspire the younger generation of ‘potential aviators’. He is a passionate and active outdoors enthusiast, photographer, farmer and swimmer. Sam lives in Nairobi.