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About runwild safaris and tours
Sometime long ago in the history of rock 'n roll, Alice Cooper wailed powerfully into a microphone, 'Schools out forever.'
On the 21 November 2007, walking to my car on the campus of a South African university this song came to mind. I was never going to lecture to students again.
No more guerrilla marketing, macro economics, No more strategy, no more risk management, no more tracking global financial indicators. No more lecturing. School was out for ever.
Vivian Leonard Trollip founder, owner of Runwild safaris and tours, has a new strategy to teach. To run with ones passions in life. To follow that dream we all fantasise about. I am passionate about the African bush, photography, natural science, art and culture. I have to run, bike and swim many kilometres per week. I love duathlon, triathlon and Iron Man.
I have taken all these interests and dreamed up a beautiful niche service, where I take you running in South Africa and combine this experience with a safari that will remain etched in your mind forever.
I specialise in small groups. My extensive local travel experience allows me to hand pick an exceptional itinerary to suit your interests. Apartheid Museum, Soweto, Pretoria city tour, diamond mine tour, followed by diamond shopping, Kruger National Park, Blyde river canyon, cultural villages, Cradle of Mankind. Many more exciting destinations.
I am a keen photographer. Keen birder. I take pride in learning new indigenous trees and grasses. It is not just ticking off the big five. The experience is far richer than that. I teach you to game, bird and tree spot according to biomes. Geology , soil type, drainage, weather, making the journey enjoyable.
The idea for Runwild Safaris and Tours was birthed under starter orders at the World Duathlon Championships in Australia a few years ago. An Australian athlete recognising my accent asked me if I train at altitude.
I live, train and work out of Pretoria, 4100ft amsl (+1200m) the capital of South Africa.
He ran his first hot and high marathon in Soweto. he finished. I took him on safari. He got lucky and saw the Big 5 and most of the Small 5.
I host each safari as your driver guide. I will gladly put together a non running safari for anyone. I am a qualified National guide, and guide throughout South Africa. I have many speciality interests. I have all the necessary professional driving licenses and permits. The emphasis is on value for your hard earned money. Doing fun things, with safety my prime concern.
Vivian has done a few things on the African continent, climbed a few big mountains including Mount Kilimanjaro, ice waterfalls. Driven up Sani Pass in the heart of winter. Shot some white water on the Zambezi. Run A race in a Big 5 game park. Jumped out of aeroplanes and bungi jumped Victoria Falls.
I have run a few big name races, Comrades, Two Oceans, Many more ultras, 40,2 km, 21,1km and 10 km races. At night, at first light. In rain, and very cold winters.
Biked the nice races, Baobab Tour, a four stage 180km race. The Jock of the Bushveld. Some open water swimming as well.
Vivian is still active in five sport disciplines. I have had the honour to represent South Africa a number of times at World Championships in Duathlon.
Come and live a little, run, and game view. Taste the wine, indulge in some local cuisine. Eat biltong or impala steaks. Koeksisters and melktert. Explore. Experience the cerulean blue sky by day and touch the Southern Cross at night. The interesting multilingual, cultural, society. Let me share my heritage and the complex layered politics and history of this beautiful country with you. Let me pamper you. Come on safari with me. I look forward to meeting you.