Derek & Akhona

  • South Africa
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Profile information

  • Travel information

    We are currently

    At home

  • Description

    Derek writes: I am a university graduate with almost 30 years experience working as a photographer/filmmaker/entrepreneur. After successfully establishing and running three businesses in the film, photography and tourism industry for over 25 years, I decided to sell my businesses and my house and start traveling the world on a new life adventure, together with my partner of 11years Akhona, who is also a graduate in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. We recently married during Covid :)e

    I am able to photograph and film virtually anything that a business, charity or NGO may require, and am able to shoot and edit short films/documentaries as well. I have my own professional camera equipment including a stabilised GoPro, and Macbook, and I'm ably assisted by Akhona, who also has a great eye for photography and has her own camera. Akhona is the social media guru, and handles our Instagram and Facebook accounts. Her background in sales and marketing makes her well-suited this role. As a qualified senior English teacher, I am also able to teach English to scholars of all ages, and Akhona, who is a native English speaker, has recently completed a TEFL course which has also equipped her to teach English. Both of us have experience in the tourism industry having run Classic Camper Hire in Cape Town together.

    Volunteering at charities, NGO's and other deserving causes in exchange for board and lodging will make up much of what we hope to do in several travel phases over the next 5 years. To date we have successfully volunteered for teaching English to village children in Cambodia as well as at a resort on Koh Kood, Thailand and at two resorts in Fiji where we shot photographs of the resort and the dishes for their new menu, aerial drone footage and stills of the resort and surroundings and several short video's on the resort. We have also done similar work at another resort in Thailand, as well as for two community-run Homestays in Fiji on a barter basis in exchange for accommodation and meals. In South America we have spent a week in the Ecuadorian Amazon volunteering with the Waorani, as well as three weeks in Cusco, Peru, working with a tour company shooting and editing video's and photographs of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. We also spent 3 weeks volunteering at a lodge near Bariloche in Patagonia as the cook and lodge receptionist.

    We have started a blog - www.travellernomads.com to detail our life-changing decision to lead a nomadic life rather than stay rooted in our country of birth.
    We come fully equipped to shoot and edit professional stills, video and drone images.
    During our 6 months back in Cape Town we successfully ran the Nomads Gypsy Food Wagon and can both cook, so can assist in the kitchen if necessary...
    Covid put a stop to our travels, so we started Nomads Camper Hire in Cape Town as a sideline and have run the charity Soup for Seniors for 3 years as well. Derek has been running Photo Tours to Namibia, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Cederberg Wilderness Reserve while Akhona has been working for Quark Expeditions as a Client Experience Advisor. We recently visited Antarctica on a two week expedition courtesy of Quark Expeditions.

    Our plan is to resume our travels again within the next year, so we are once again on Workaway, exploring possibilities :)

  • Interests

    Writing
    Music
    Events & social
    Beach
    Cooking & food
    Photography
    Movies & TV
    Drawing & painting
    Charity work
    Sustainability
    Gardening
    Art & design
    Videography
    Self development
    Performing arts
    Languages
    DIY & crafts
    Camping
    Fashion or beauty
    Animals

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  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent

    More details about my language interests
    Both of us are qualified English teachers

    Find a language buddy

  • Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

    We're interested in:  

    Gardening
    Babysitting and creative play
    Being an elderly companion
    Life at a Farmstay
    Eco Projects
    Animal Care
    Charity Work

    Some knowledge of:  

    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Helping around the house
    Hospitality/Tourism
    Art Projects
    Helping with Computers/ Internet

    Able to teach about:  

    Languages
    Teaching
  • More details about your skills

    DEREK
    Photography at professional level - www.derekantonioserra.com
    Filmmaking at professional level- www.controversifilms.co.za
    Tourism - Tour guiding, marketing, advertising
    Teaching - Bachelor of Arts with English major + Education Diploma - Senior English teacher - University of Cape Town
    Writing - Websites, blogs, magazine articles
    Computers - advanced
    Managerial - ran several businesses
    Advertising and marketing
    Experienced driver (including 4x4)
    Good cook

    AKHONA
    Teaching English to junior students - TEFL Diploma from TEFL ACADEMY
    Marketing/Entrepreneurship Degree - Cape Peninsula University
    Social media expert
    Marketing experience
    Sales experience
    Good cook
    Excellent people skills

  • Age

    55 & 33

  • What else ...

    We are both very friendly, outgoing people who can mix easily with anybody we come into contact with. As a team we are able to teach English, Photography and Film-making from beginner to advanced. Our combined skill set is advanced and will benefit our hosts as we are happy to assist in a variety of fields.

  • Some more information

    • Smoker

    • Driver's licence

    • Allergies

    • Special dietary requirements

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