The people behind your safari
At Schalk Pienaar Safaris, we believe that the people you hunt with are just as important as the place you hunt.
A safari is an intensely personal experience. You spend long days together in the bush, share successes and disappointments, solve problems together and create memories that often last a lifetime.
Our team is small by design. Each of us plays a personal role in creating the experience, from planning your safari to guiding you in the field and making sure that every detail is taken care of.
What brings us together is a shared passion for hunting, conservation, adventure and the African wilderness.
Schalk Pienaar
Owner & professional hunter
Schalk Pienaar Safaris grew out of a lifelong love for hunting and the African wilderness.
I am a Namibian Professional Hunter and have been guiding professionally since 2006. Over the years I have had the privilege of guiding hunters from around the world, both in Namibia and in some of Africa’s most remote and exciting hunting destinations.
For me, a successful safari has never been measured simply by the animals taken.
It is the entire experience that matters.
The early mornings, the long days in the field, following tracks, reading the wind and getting close to an animal. It is the anticipation of what lies around the next corner and the excitement of discovering a new piece of country.
It is also about experiencing the wilderness as a whole.
I love flying into wild places where roads disappear and the wilderness takes over. Seeing the country from the air gives you a completely different perspective, while being on the ground allows you to understand it intimately.
The camera often comes along as well. Photographing wildlife, landscapes and the small moments around camp has become an important part of how I experience the bush. It makes you slow down, observe and appreciate things that might otherwise pass unnoticed.
All of these experiences are part of the way I approach guiding.
A hunt is not simply about finding an animal. It is about discovering the country, understanding the wildlife and experiencing Africa.
I continue to personally guide many of our safaris, both in Namibia and beyond. Being in the field with our clients, sharing the challenges and excitement of the hunt, and watching them experience Africa is still one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
For me, Schalk Pienaar Safaris is not simply a hunting business.
It is a way of sharing a life spent in the African wilderness with people who have travelled a long way to experience it.
Amoré Pienaar
...client experience coordinator
The beauty of this country lingers and leaves a strong impression on all who visit. This constant proved itself yet again, when Amoré…a successful lawyer and a hard-core city girl began visiting her family farm on the weekends. She met Schalk Pienaar, and fell in love…not only with him, but also his passion for nature, respect for wildlife and dedication to protecting it all.
For a city girl, it was a life changing moment…eyes opening to the deep connection between nature and the world we live in . In March of 2017, Amoré and Schalk were joined in marriage…leaving the city being and now joining us on the farm as your Client Experience Coordinator. She brings her attention to detail to the team, ensuring your safari in Namibia will be epic as it will be rewarding.
Dean Waagenaar
Professional hunter
Dean is an integral part of the Schalk Pienaar Safaris team and shares the same passion and philosophy that lies at the heart of our operation.
An experienced Professional Hunter, Dean has spent many years guiding hunters in some of Africa’s most challenging and exciting hunting environments, including extensive experience in Mozambique.
His time in the African bush has given him a deep understanding of hunting, wildlife and the unpredictable nature of the wilderness. He brings that experience into every safari, together with a calm, professional approach and a genuine enjoyment of being in the field.
Dean is also a passionate bow hunter, which has further developed his appreciation for the finer details of hunting—the wind, the terrain, animal behaviour and, above all, the importance of getting close.
For Dean, as for us, the trophy is only one part of the story.
The real reward is the experience of the hunt itself: the challenge, the anticipation, the connection with the wilderness and the respect shown to the animal.
Whether hunting with a rifle or a bow, his approach remains the same: fair chase, ethical hunting and a genuine passion for the African bush.
We are fortunate to have Dean as part of the Schalk Pienaar Safaris team, and our clients quickly discover that he brings the same level of commitment and enthusiasm to a safari that we do.
