The CVS Team

Chairman

Born in Dundee, South Africa on 17 November 1943, Coenraad grew up on the family farm "Vermaakskraal" which belonged to his family since 1843. Coenraad is one of the pioneers of game ranching in South Africa, and was one of the first landowners to introduce White Rhino to private land.

He is a founder member of the Natal Game Ranchers Association and became deeply involved with wildlife management and conservation.

Coenraad completed several research projects involving wildlife management and was appointed the first Honorary Officer of the Natal Parks Board in 1973.

Coenraad served on the executive of the Natal Hunters & Game Conservation Association for 10 years and received this association’s award for wildlife conservation. In 1978 he received the Wildlife Conservation Award for South Africa. Having hunted since childhood, he turned his favourite hobby into a business 38 years ago and founded the internationally respected Coenraad Vermaak Safaris. He has hunted extensively in Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania. Coenraad is a founder member of the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) and served as its vice-president for 15 years.

He served the International Professional Hunters Association as Vice-president for 10 years representing the Eastern Hemisphere. He is a distinguished member of Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club, Houston Safari Club and the German Chapter of Safari Club International. Coenraad was the first recipient of the prestigious PHASA Professional Hunter of the year award and in 1997 the PHASA Wildlife Utilization award. He has represented PHASA on the National Professional Hunting Committee and Wildlife Utilization Forum of South Africa committees as well as the Advisory Board to the KwaZulu-Natal Conservation Board. His hobbies are guns, classical music, history, fishing and indigenous flora. He and Vicky have four children, Eileen, Kim, Tammy and Hans. Eileen and Hans are members of the CVS team.
 

Managing Director & Professional Hunter

Hans was born on 21 October 1971 in Dundee, South Africa. He grew up on the family ranch "Vermaakskraal" and learned to speak Zulu fluently. After completing his schooling at Michaelhouse and military training, Hans attended Cedara Agricultural College and managed a game ranch in the Transvaal Province. He then spent two years guiding international clients on big game, photographic visits at the world famous Mala Mala Game Reserve.

Before joining CVS, Hans traveled extensively overseas. In the USA he spent four months in Alaska with Joe Klutsch of Katmai Guide Service, hunting Brown Bear and working at Joe’s fishing lodge during the salmon run. Having grown up in the CVS environment, he was closely involved in hunting and conservation since childhood, bagging his first trophy at age six.

Hans turned his favourite hobby into a full time occupation obtaining his professional hunters licence with distinction as the Student of the Year at the Goss Academy of Professional Hunting. He has been hunting professionally for 14 years and served on the board of IPHA (The International Professional Hunters Association). Hans is a life member of PHASA (the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa) and serves on its Executive Board.

He is also a Director or the PHASA Wildlife Conservation & Empowerment Fund. He is fluent in Zulu and is a registered specialist tour guide. He has traveled and hunted extensively throughout Africa, including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya and quickly built a fine reputation with international clients.

Hans is kept busy in the field as well as in the office where he fulfills the role of Managing Director of the company. His hobbies include wildlife photography, guns, bird watching, snakes, fishing and white water rafting.

Hans is married to Sarah and they have two children - Emily and Caleb. They live in Hilton.



 

Marketing Director

Eileen was born on 11 March 1969 in Dundee, South Africa and grew up enjoying safari life in the bush and around campfires with her father and brother on the family ranch “Vermaakskraal”. Eileen has been involved with Coenraad Vermaak Safaris since childhood having always had a keen interest in hunting, wildlife and travel.

Prior to joining CVS full time, Eileen obtained her Bachelors Degree at the University of Natal majoring in English, Philosophy, Art History & Painting and went on to work in the Advertising Industry for 6 years as a Graphic Designer and Studio Manager. Eileen also studied Classical Piano through the Trinity College of Music. In 1998 she developed the successful touring and photographic division of CVS known as Coenraad Vermaak African Adventures which has hosted many non-hunting clients on photographic safaris around southern Africa for the last 10 years.

Along with her managerial role in CVS, Eileen heads up the marketing and promotion of CVS - including the in-house design and production of all advertising and promotion material, brochures and newsletters. She has traveled the USA and Europe as well as Africa, is fluent in Zulu and has been a keen hunter since her childhood. Eileen spends her spare time in her studio painting the wildlife she is so passionate about and her work has been sold both locally and internationally.

She also enjoys tennis, swimming, fishing, cycling, South African history and indigenous flora. Eileen is married to Mark and they have 2 children - Brandon & Rebecca. They live in Hilton.

Senior Professional Hunter

Darren was born on 21 April 1967 in Ndola, Zambia. During his schooling, Darren excelled at rugby and tennis for which he was awarded honours.

Following his schooling, Darren attended the University of Natal and obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Agricultural Economics and Animal Husbandry. After graduating and completing his military service Darren worked as a game ranger at the famous Mala Mala Game Reserve conducting photographic safaris for international clients. Darren’s extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna of Africa enabled him to work for several major game lodges and tourism companies over the years.

He has traveled extensively overseas and in Africa. After obtaining his professional hunters licence from the Goss Academy of Professional Hunting, Darren joined CVS in 1991 and has since conducted safaris for all of the Big 5 and plains game. He has been hunting professionally for 16 years and has built an excellent reputation with international clients. Darren was awarded the prestigious PHASA Professional Hunter of the Year award for South Africa in 2006.

He is CVS’s Senior Professional Hunter and when not in the field, he is part of the administrative and marketing team in the office. He is a full member of the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa. Darren’s hobbies include photography, indigenous fauna & flora, Aetiology, Ornithology, Philately and fishing. Darren is married to Mia and they have a daughter, Lucy. They live in Hilton.

Professional Hunter

Born in Durban, South Africa 2nd November 1979. Rayno Grew up hunting, fishing & horse riding in the Midlands of Natal on the Family Ranch's of "Westlands" & "Kusan". He attended Merchiston Prep School and Maritzburg College High School and studied Agricultural Management at the University of Natal.

During this time Rayno’s keen interest in Wildlife filming and the hunting industry enabled him to film numerous Big 5 hunts all over the continent. He then went on to obtain his Professional Hunters & Dangerous Game license in 2000. He has hunted and fished extensively all over Africa including Mozambique, C.A.R, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe & Kenya experiencing some of the most famous reserves and hunting concessions in Africa, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Luangwa South, The Selous, Bangwelu swamps & National Geographic's well known Dzanga-Sanga Bai in C.A.R. It was here that Rayno documented the Western Lowland Gorilla and caught Goliath Tiger fish.

Rayno’s hunting and fishing travels have also taken him off the continent of Africa to the USA and remote regions such as Mongolia. He joined CVS in 1999 as safari videographer and then as Professional Hunter. He has over the years guided Big 5 & Plains Game safaris for many international hunters. His Hobbies include spear fishing, fly-fishing, photography, ornithology and Bonsai. He is unmarried and lives in Hilton.