Our training division is called Contour Training Academy (operating as Cape Wilderness School), and we are accredited by CATHSSETA (the Culture, Art, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority) and by LGSETA (Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority). We have undertaken various tourism and conservation training interventions in South Africa.

Our vision is simply:

To develop and inspire a love for nature.

We work according to these principles:

In our work capacity, as individuals and as ambassadors for the environment as well as for Contour Enviro Group, we strive to instil a passion for, and an understanding about nature in those we meet.

We hope to leave a lasting impression and a legacy which speaks to the broader goal of protecting natural landscapes for future generations.

Our passion and commitment to conservation must radiate through our quality of services and dedication to our work.

Sabelo Lindani

Managing Director

Sabelo Lindani, the founder and managing director of the company, has worked in the conservation sector since 2006, including protected area management for CapeNature, and training and ecological advisory services for the City of Cape Town.

MORE ABOUT SABELO

Sabelo is a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), one of the commissions of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and serves as deputy vice-chair under the regional leadership of the East and Southern Africa Region. He also serves in the capacity development group steering committee of the commission and has served as the regional leader for East and Southern Africa, developing young professionals under the WCPA. He holds a B-Tech in Nature Conservation and is currently studying towards a Conservation MBA in Rwanda. Sabelo is trained as an Incident Commander (IC) Type 3 in fire management, and is an experienced trainer and CATHSSETA-registered assessor. He is also the winner of the Tholoana Award of the SAB Foundation Tholoana Enterprise Programme – which rewarded his commitment to his business.

Corlie Hugo

General Manager

Corlie has over 20 years experience in conservation. She has gained operational, and scientific experience in various aspects of conservation, as well as training, coaching and mentoring staff. Corlie holds a B-Tech Degree in Nature Conservation and is

MORE ABOUT CORLIE

currently busy with her Masters Degree in Conservation Biology. Her focus and experience also includes invasive alien vegetation, fire management, marine ecology, compilation & implementation of operational plans as well as data collection, processing and analysis. She is also trained in Logistics and ICS. Her main role in CEG involves the operational management and implementation of all projects.

Busisiwe Babi

Training Manager

Busisiwe has a National Diploma in Nature Conservation, with certificates in Environmental Education Learning, Adventure and Experiential Learning and Facilitation. She is also an accredited assessor for CATHHSSETA LGSETA, and the

MORE ABOUT Busisiwe

Education, Training and Development Programme (ETDP) Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA). Since 2013, Busisiwe has worked in the field of environmental education and training, including a 3-year stint as mentor and supervisor for intern facilitators, junior facilitators and non-accredited assessors. While working for WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa), she developed training material, conducted trainings, and assessed for Tourism Guiding, Nature Conservation, Resource Guardianship, Environmental Practice, Environmental Education, and Training & Development. Busisiwe currently oversees all the training programmes at Contour and is responsible for quality management of these programmes.

Solomon Asiya

Training Project
Assistant

Solomon’s background is in conservation fieldwork. He holds a National Diploma in Nature Conservation and is currently completing a Professional Diploma in Project Management. Solomon completed his experiential learning at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Kalahari in the Northern Cape where he gained more of his fieldwork experience.

MORE ABOUT Solomon

Before entering the world of conservation, Solomon volunteered as a field ranger at Anysberg CapeNature Reserve in the Klein Karoo. After completing his studies, he joined the private game farming industry as a Wildlife Monitor specialising in rearing game such as rhino and buffalo. Solomon’s role at CEG involves assisting with and managing ecological, training, education and compliance projects.

Apiwe Mhlawuli

Ecological Project Assistant

Apiwe has a B-Tech degree in Environmental Management. He is also a registered candidate natural scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). Apiwe completed his experiential learning with the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development Environmental Affairs and Tourism where he gained experience in

MORE ABOUT Apiwe

Environmental Impact Assessments, administration of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and other Specific Environmental Management Acts (SEMAs), developing Environmental Management Programmes, planning and conducting capacity building and environmental education. Apiwe has previously worked for the City of Cape Town and his main role at Contour Enviro Group is quality control in invasive alien plant clearing and management.

Peter Viljoen

Integrated Catchment Planner

Peter holds a B-Tech degree in Nature Conservation. He has qualified up to multi-agency coordinator, the highest level of the system in the Incident Command System for veld fires and is trained as veld fire investigator. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in conservation management, primarily reserve management

MORE ABOUT Peter

and Integrated Catchment Management, which focuses on alien vegetation management and veld fire management. Peter has served many years on the Western Cape Disaster Management work group and the veld fire and provincial veld fire ground operations work groups to help determine the standards for veld firefighting in the Western Cape. Peter is skilled in systems development and integrated planning and implementation of operational projects.

HELEN MARGARET DE KLERK

Associate Professor

Helen has a long-standing interest in conservation, specifically in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). She believes that the use of this type of technology can answer various conservation and ecology questions in order to help with daily conservation management as well as longer-term conservation planning and decision making. She served 12 years as the GIS Scientist at CapeNature where she headed a team that developed a strategy for GIS implementation to assist conservation managers in daily conservation decisions. This was a first in South Africa and one of the firsts in the world. Since 2010, she has been training students at the University of Stellenbosch in the use of GIS and RS and is currently continuing her research in the use of these systems in conservation and ecology.

PAUL BUCHHOLZ

Independent Consultant

Paul is an independent consultant specialising in Environmental & Geoinformatics. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and is a seasoned Geoinformatics (GIS) and Environmental Specialist with extensive experience contributing to major multidisciplinary engineering and environmental projects across Africa. He has orchestrated a full lifecycle of engineering and environmental projects ranging in size, value and complexity – ensuring deliverables are achieved on time and within budget. He provides specialist input for major projects and infrastructure developments. His other core competencies include Geographic Information Systems; Environmental Management; Project Management and Business Development.

LIORA-LEE (LEE) SAUL

Independent Consultant

Lee’s background is in Botany and Zoology and she holds an MSc through the University of the Western Cape. She previously served as a regional ecologist on the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board: Scientific Services. Lee has extensive experience in strategic planning and project management. She is familiar with S.W.O.T analyses for long- and short-term outcomes to meet national and international objectives and mandates as well as planning and co-ordination of key deliverables to achieve mandates e.g. World Heritage Site compliance and application. She is skilled in the use of METT-SA and integrated catchment management plans as well as the development of strategic documents such as ecological management plans for reserves and species.

“I joined CEG in 2020 to start a new chapter in my conservation career. CEG has given me the opportunity to use my conservation knowledge and skills in different areas and be part of a winning team. I am able to share my love for nature with a variety of clients from children to adults, communities to farmers, private to government, terrestrial to marine. Ensuring a sustainable environment for all.”

— Corlie Hugo

"This past year we abided by Charles Darwin's theory of "Survival of the fittest” law. This law is the ageless law of nature, but I've come to realise that the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those intelligent enough to adapt, accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable change of conditions."

— Solomon Asiya

"My professional goal is to find a challenging opportunity to contribute to a team-based environment in the field of environmental management and conservation. I believe that being part of the CEG’s team has given me the platform of achieving that and also gave me an opportunity to enhance my technical experience, broaden my knowledge in conservation and natural resource management."

— Apiwe Mhlawuli

“I started Contour Enviro Group in 2017 as a way to live out my passion: to inspire a love for nature. Contour Enviro Group makes things happen because of the fantastic team of experts who form part of our team. Each individual brings a high level of expertise and experience to Contour. And together, we ensure our clients are satisfied – every single time.”

— Sabelo Lindani