DANIEL - YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN THE CAPE

About myself

Hi my name is Daniel Sidis and let me tell you a little about myself

I was born in Kisangani (formally known as Stanleyville) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

My parents come from the Island of Rhodes from Spanish ancestry

After a few years my family moved to Lubumbashi (formerly known as Elisabethville) I grew up there until the age of 11

This was a province known as Katanga where wars & conflicts have taken place

From these events my family decided to immigrate to South Africa

I have since lived here in the Cape for 42 years & I feel that I know the region well

I hold an Italian, South African & Congolese passport & speak French, English & a smattering of an old dialect of Spanish

My working career

I started while being a student working in music retail to pay my way

I worked in fashion clothing retail

I left South Africa & returned to the Congo in 1980 for 4 years where I worked for

Import & export companies linked with Belgium & France

I travelled the Congo from the mouth of the Congo River to the NE province of kivu

I explored the mouth of the Congo River as well as the Angolan territory near by

Back in South Africa I started a music retail business (vinyl records hire & Hi-Fi sales) called The Record Library

In the late 80’s I switched to the textile industry getting involved in manufacturing of mainly cotton knitted fabrics

When seeing the potential in the tourism in the cape that spurred me to become a tour guide/ operator from 1996

My qualifications

The tours that I prepare are done in ENGLISH & FRENCH

I am accredited guide by the department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism

I am qualified for the Western Cape as well covering the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape & Namibia

I am a member of the Cape Town Tour Guide Association

I have a certificate from the Cape Wine Academy in Stellenbosch

I am a subscriber & member of the National Geographic Society

I am computer literate, Lotus, Microsoft Windows

I have a diploma in production management

I am a qualified & hold a diploma in Estate Agency      

I have a certificate in tourism ETA code TGC74 no SID01 4C level 4 Tour Guide no WC 0444                                                         

My passions, interests & philosophy

Showing the beauty of the Cape & the Garden Route, the West Coast, the Malaria free Safari of the Eastern Cape

In a way that would leave you thinking about it for years to come

Giving you the famous Cape Wine Experience tailor made for you

The amazing history intertwined with our past is highlighted on my tours

The nature, the sea life, the plant life, the birds

Current affairs, topical goings on in our young miraculous democracy (politics)

Sports from football, Rugby, Cricket, Golf. You name it

I am your ambassador for the 2010 Soccer World cup “Its Africa’s turn”

Organize & advise on the culinary delights the Cape has to offer from Cape Malay, African, Euro-African & international cuisine

It’s not just The Cape of Good Hope that you experience it’s the Cape Of Good Food

My philosophy is to build relationships with my guests culminating to friendship for a long time to come

The tours are blessed with a bit of Humour that I throw into the mix

I am a people’s person, I get on well with peoples on a business & social level

I have travelled to the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Swaziland, Angola, Portugal, and USA

Exploring new and interesting places in the Cape, collecting old Bakelite radios & vinyl records

I enjoy the movies, the theater as well as live music concerts and art events

I am a character model for film & TV advertising                                                                                                                      

The Tours

Are done on a personalized private basis avoiding the mass tourism

Tours are done with 2 guests to small groups of 4 to 5 people

So that I can show you the hidden gems the places that scheduled mass tours can not do or get to see

It is done with a luxury VW mini bus with air conditioning with all the comforts as well as the necessary

Road transport permits and insurances

Other activities that I do are large tour groups, incentives, & conferences

here are some comments from previous  clients

realname: keith and caroline shedden-brown
email: carolinesb@hotmal.com
details: Thank you for making our holiday in south africa so enjoyable and informative

hope you are well and keeping busy.

 keith & caroline

Country: United Kingdom

realname: Jane Phillips
email: JPhillips@horselaw.co.uk
details: Just back from a wonderful holiday in Cape Town made so by the help and sheer professionalism of Daniel. 

 His knowledge is second to none; his enthusiasm for Cape Town and its environs is infectious and his kindess to

 and patience with our particular group of tourists was noteworthy. 

 Nothing was too much trouble - or if it were he certainly didn't show it!! 

Thank you very much for a holiday of a life time.
Country: United Kingdom

EN FRANCAIS

   Bonjour Daniel,
 De retour en France après ces deux semaines 1/2 passées sur le sol africain. Nous en sommes à rêver à présent devant nos photos et pensons aux bons moments que nous y avons vécus. Merci encore pour nous avoir fait partager l'amour que tu as de ce Grand Pays. Le calme et l'humour que nous avons trouvé chez toi nous seraient bien allé pour poursuivre notre voyage.... 
 Nous te souhaitons plein de belles choses pour toi et ta famille. Et si d'avanture tes pas te conduisent en France, nous serons heureux , nos amis et nous-même de te faire découvrir notre France qui ne manque pas de charmes aussi ,et dont tu connais si bien l'histoire. (ce qui nous a bleuffé , je l'avoue ! ).
 Reçois nos remerciements et nos sincères salutations.

                                  Michèle et Jean-Paul MOREL FRANCE