Andrea Guerra   

Co-Founder & Pilot

Soaring Safaris is the brain child of Andrea, keen pilot and traveller. He started flying in Australia back in 1992 and “when your first flight as licensed pilot is over the Great Barrier Reef, it is hard to see your career as an airline pilot”. With a university background in natural sciences, for over 25 years he has spent over 200 days a year flying across the world always in search of new incredible aerial views, unusual natural geometric patterns, unique experiences, natural wonders, wildlife and peoples. Under his wings: a 12-month flying AirSperience from Namibia to Patagonia via Greenland, and back, and a 3 months AirSperience from Namibia, across Asia and the Pacific, all the way to Tahiti and back! But soaring over the African wilderness remains his soft spot. He is married to Monica and the father of Giulia.

Jan Friede

Pilot

Having lived in Germany, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and his home country Namibia, Jan has been involved with nature most of his life. His love for wilderness and wildlife led him to study Conservation and to work as a Game Ranger in the Skeleton Coast for 6 years. If you happen to be with him there, he will tell you the story of every single stone. Since his childhood he has been fascinated by aviation and he finally accomplished his dreams when in 2003 he became a pilot. Today he is a full-time professional bush-pilot and guide leading flying safaris throughout most of Eastern & Southern Africa. Jan is also an accomplished, award winning Nature and Wildlife Photographer, and he will happily share some technique secrets with his passengers. He is married to Marianne and is a happy father of two.

Hellmut Von Seydlitz

Pilot

Hellmut grew up on a farm in Namibia, with domestic and wild animals, where his family had established one of the first guest farms in the country. He has also cultivated his other passion, flying since he was 14, gliding at the Swakopmund Airfield. A Bachelor and a Honour’s Degree in Agriculture, B.Sc. (Agric.)(Anim.Sci.), in 2003 he moved to Kansas, USA, combining forensic food microscopy and flying (becoming a Commercial Pilot). Back in Namibia in 2007 he has since lived his dream: to be a bush pilot taking friendly people on exquisite holidays in Southern Africa sharing with them his passion for the fauna and flora, geology, astronomy, history and even current politics. When not flying you can find him on a ranch or in the bush. Hellmut is married to Carola and they live in Windhoek.