Alex and Renias

For more than 30 years, Alex van den Heever and Renias Mhlongo have shared an extraordinary partnership that began at Londolozi Game Reserve – Alex as a young guide from a cattle farm, Renias as a Shangaan tracker whose people were displaced from their ancestral land. What started as a professional pairing grew into a lifelong friendship that bridges culture, language, and history.

Together they have tracked everything from leopards in Londolozi to grizzly bears in Yellowstone, and have shared their insights with audiences on CNN International, at global conferences, and in corporate boardrooms worldwide. Their keynote, The Power of Relationships, uses personal storytelling, humour, and wilderness metaphor to show how trust and empathy create enduring partnerships. It’s a message that aligns deeply with AndBeyond’s philosophy of Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People, and National Geographic’s legacy of curiosity, exploration, and human connection.

In 2009 they co-founded Tracker Academy, Africa’s first accredited tracker training institution with Gaynor Rupert. To date, the Academy has trained over 300 rural youth—96% now employed in conservation—reviving the ancient art of tracking as both heritage and modern science. In 2025, its partnership with SANParks to train field rangers in rhino protection was adopted as one of South Africa’s G20 Legacy Projects.

Alex and Renias also co-own Kruger Untamed, a pair of safari camps in Kruger National Park that achieved a 100% environmental audit score that offers low-impact wilderness experiences. Their bestselling Tracker Manual (Penguin Random House) has sold over 20,000 copies and remains a definitive guide for professional guides and wildlife enthusiasts.

Their presentations—The Power of Relationships and The Ancient Craft of Tracking—combine storytelling, cultural heritage, and live demonstrations of tracking skill. They are relevant, entertaining, and educational for travellers seeking authentic encounters with Africa’s landscapes and people