OUR ETHOS
Authentic,
Responsible Connection
We genuinely believe in giving our guests an Authentic, Responsible Connection, hence the name ARC EARTH was born.
We Are Passionate
& Specialised Guides
We are Richard and Matt — professional guides whose journeys began as qualified rangers at some of South Africa’s most prestigious safari lodges.
Beyond the bush, we are also husbands and fathers, supported by exceptionally understanding families as we spend more than 200 days a year guiding in the wild. Alongside our guiding careers, we are professional photographers, passionate about helping our guests capture moments that are not only memorable, but truly National Geographic-worthy.
Between us, we bring over 30 years of experience in the African safari industry. For more than three decades, we have explored, studied, and immersed ourselves in Africa’s raw beauty — its landscapes, wildlife, and subtle nuances. It is this depth of knowledge, perspective, and deep respect for the continent that we look forward to sharing with you, as we invite you to experience Africa through our eyes.
Richard De Gouveia
His passion was the South African bush, nature, eco training and anything conservation related. His gut told him to cut ties and follow his passion. He quit his job, left his financial security behind for a life of passion in the African bush. After his formal ranger training, Richard spent 6 months working close to the Kruger National Park. After starting at the very bottom of the ladder, from digging holes to find leaks in sewage pipes, Richard found a dream job at the eponymous Sabi Sabi Game Lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
It was here that Richard met the beautiful and bubbly Jenna (his now wife) who also is immersed in the tourism industry. Richard and Jen are parents to 2 little boys, Josh and Stevie, who are quickly learning to love the bush – just like their parents.
Matt Meyer
Matt grew up between Durban and his family game reserve in Zululand, KwaZulu Natal. As a young boy he was constantly outside climbing a tree or exploring the reserve. His passion for the bush was ingrained from an early age and after studying Wildlife Management and Conservation at University he started as a guide at the prestigious Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa.
Years later, Matt made the eccentric yet philanthropic choice to cycle the entire length of the continental west coast of the USA with a life size black rhino named Lunar attached to his bike in a fundraising effort and awareness campaign for rhino conservation in Africa. It was along this journey that Matt met Noa, the beautiful and smart zookeeper, who was of course working with rhinos. Matt and Noa live in White River and are parents to little Violet and River who love going on game drives with their parents.
Melinda Inward
Born in the United Kingdom and raised in South Africa, Melinda grew up with one foot in two worlds—but it was Africa that captured her heart. Her passion for the bush began as a schoolgirl on annual family trips to the Kruger National Park.
Over more than four decades in the African travel industry, Melinda has become known for her deep knowledge of safari destinations, her heartfelt connection to the land, and her unwavering commitment to creating meaningful journeys for travellers.
Today, she brings this depth of experience to her role at ARC Earth, where she contributes to shaping their Destination Management Company.
Best Africa travel memory: All the sunrises and sunsets of this beautiful region
Favourite African destination: How does one choose??
Bucket list destination/next trip: The Gorillas of Rwanda or Uganda and the Lemurs of Madagascar
Sara Jane Needham
Sara grew up in Johannesburg and spent every holiday visiting the Kruger National Park with her dad. As an only child, she became an avid reader of African autobiographies and enjoyed plowing through books such as Joy Adamson’s ‘Born Free’ and Mark & Delia Owens’s ‘Cry of the Kalahari’.
Now, with over 20 years’ of marketing experience in London and South Africa, Sara has ironically come full circle and is using her marketing knowledge & passion for the bush to assist in making Arc Earth an enormous success. Sara still visits the bush with her husband Chris and 2 kids, George and Imogen who is inheriting the love of wild Africa too.
Best Africa Travel memory: Mombo Camp in the Okavango Delta.
Favourite African Destination? Madagascar, still untouched.
Bucket list destination/next trip: The Skeleton Coast, Namibia.
