Guardians for Nature
Trees for Tomorrow
Our teachers and advisors are Indigenous peoples, nature guides, wisdom keepers, interspecies communicators, origin specialists, Indigenous Knowledge food activists, community leaders, artists, master trackers, anthropologists, archealogists, and peacemakers.
Our classroom is the Natural World
Mbali Marais
Founder / Executive Director
Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Mbali is a descendant of the Khoi Khoi peoples and the Amaghebe, Xhosa clan…
Kassie Naidoo
Kassie Naidoo knew from a very young age that her passion in life was being creative, every day of her life. She drew and wrote poetry…
Eurythius Lincoln Meyer
Eurythius Lincoln Meyer, hails from the small town of Pearston in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is a passionate Wilderness Guide and Conservationist.
Guides / Teachers / Advisors / Artists
Craig Foster
Multi Media & Origins specialist
Dr Janette Deacon
Archaeoligist specializing in in the cultural history of South Africa
Isaac and Oum Gert Kruiper
Khomani San Bushmen. Doctors, healers Storytellers and Trackers.
Zayaan Khan
Food Activist and Seed Librarian
Anna Breytenbach
Animal Communicator
Lydia Kruiper
Khomani Bushmen Indigenous healer
Leon Lewis
Specializes in the legacy of the South African Bushman
Khoi Khonnexion
Musicians, Teachers, and Visual Artists
Dr Dominique Santos
Anthropologist, Dreamer, Playworker
Return to Origin Leaders
Angelique Michaels
Graduate leader for Return to Origin's Indigenous Knowledge Leadership Program
BA degree in English Literature and Psychology
Presently completing my MA in Social Anthropology at Stellenbosch University.
Over the course of the 3-year Indigenous Knowledge Leadership Program, I have had the opportunity to commit to the kind of cultivation and training that has both deepened my connection to myself, brought clarity to the vision of the legacy I hope to leave behind, and inspired in me a renewed commitment to, and value for, the natural world.
In addition to the transformative trails and quests, creative projects and reflections, inner work, tracking, and the very many deaths and rebirths that transformation to date has called for, we have had the opportunity to facilitate 6 Youth Nature Connection Days with children from the Vrygrond community and youth at Baphumelele Fountain of Hope, all of which have served as powerful reminders of the importance of leaving a legacy and sharing with young people in underserved communities some of the gifts, teachings and practices that this program has equipped us with.
My current research focuses on the materiality and sociality of infrastructure, urban governance, subject production and homelessness in Cape Town. I am interested in the field of Design Anthropology, the power of place and the ways that social and material processes, practices and beliefs construct narratives of inclusion and exclusion and shape politics of belonging in the post-apartheid present.
My vision is to combine anthropological processes and methods with the resources, teachings and practices gained through RTO's Indigenous Knowledge Leadership Program. Integrating the principles of design anthropology and the elements of fire, water, earth, mineral and nature, I hope to work with people in communities of the Cape to re-create space and negotiate place and belonging in Cape Town.
Arnoldt Michaels
Arnoldt Michaels is a young innovator finding his niche in the Cape Town youth travel and tourism industry. He has spent much of his youth traveling and exploring the coastal regions of South Africa, driven by a strong passion for the natural beauty of the land and all the diversity in culture to be found. Through this connection with the land and her people he was drawn to get involved in community and sustainability projects, for example Unjani Art House, kwaNokuthula Township, Plettenberg Bay, where he managed and facilitated artisans and artists in teaching their skills to the children of the community.
"Nature lets me see what's real and what's important. Everything works together in harmony by simply fulfilling its natural function. It's true and authentic and in being true we open up to our own potential."
He is now eager to find a way to combine his experience and love for travel and nature in such a way as to inspire young people to explore the incredible heritage of South Africa. For him travelling opens up a doorway to seeing an alternative perspective to life. It offers a glimpse into the lives of others and young people from all over the world, regardless of their background. This broadens their minds and breaks through the barriers that they had previously thought to be the only way of life. He believes that involvement with the Return to Origin project will offer him a platform to achieving this goal.
Lindsay Burch – Trainee Leader
Lindsay Burch is our 1st Return To Origin trainee leader. From the time that I was 8 years old, I remember tossing a coin in a fountain at Disney World in Florida, and making a wish- to make the world a better place for all.
I always had opportunities granted to me, through my dad's highly succesful construction company, and with that I dreamed to build 1 million homes for our nation. I went to the USA on a Golf scholarship. After 5 years of dedicated learning and training, my dreams were suddenly shattered. Unfortunately I had to return to assist in the closing of the family business. I put on a brave face so the family would not worry or see my hurt and pain, and I returned home.
Despite the major setbacks, I was determined to move forward and my passion for fitness and sport became the platform from which to become a qualified personal trainer, my goal was always to assist others in their fitness, health and well being.
Due to my concerns for the state of the environment and experiencing the awesome birth of my first born son, I chose to start a recycling business and give up my full time work as a personal trainer and golf coach. It was meaningful to me to leave a legacy that my son could one day be proud of.
Now as a trainee leader for Return to Origin, I am able to fully encompass my dream to assist others who may have been overlooked by society and guide them to reach their limitless potential. As a part of our great nation and being a father, I see the importance of the incredible heritage that this country has and the essential need to consiously preserve and protect it for our future generations.
Accountant – Sancho – Sean Meredith
Attorney – David Jordaan Du Toit
Bookeeper – Abi Case
Media – Brendon Gouws
Email: info@returntoorigin.org.za
RETURN TO ORIGIN is a non-profit organisation and holds a South African registered NPO 146-348
PBO 18A(1)(a)
Return to Origin relies on our community to make this work possible.
© 2020 Return to Origin | Powered by Eu-Rika Consulting
More about Zayaan Khan
Zayaan Khan is from Cape Town and works in understanding nuanaces within the food systems by navigating land from an interdisciplinary perspective. Firmly rooted in a socio-political context, she works at unhinging our dependence on neoliberal consumption.
Currently she is interested in food through the lens of art, specifically to find ways ot share stories, both of struggle and solution and how this influences self-care. She also helps us to understand Indigenous Knowledge and Food Sovereignty
Zayaan is currently completing a masters within the Environmental Humanties at UCT, her research is entitled "From seed-as-object to seed-as-relation"
More about Mbali Marais
At three years old she was taken by her parents to live in London. In 1998 she moved to the USA. She has spoken and taught internationally on holistic health and indigenous medicine, where her audience has included mostly health professionals from major medical centres in the USA. She is also a master group facilitator and HIV and Aids educator. She works with indigenous peoples and a range of brilliant teachers from all over the world to create a solid foundation for her passion for the preservation of indigenous knowledge and our connection to the natural world, understanding its importance in our healing and transformation, especially in South Africa.
In 2002 she studied the Art of Cowrie Shell Divining and worked with Dr. Malidoma Some from West Africa, who is a brilliant transmitter of African cosmology in the west. She also became Igqira (Indigenous healer) in the south African Xhosa tradition. Other teachers include, the late Dr Angeles Arrien, cross cultural anthropologist, and Michael Meade. Mbali has facilitated workshops, retreats and deep nature quests that draw from ancient African practices. She was the first indigenous healer to take African ritual into mainstream medicine in the USA.
For the last 7 years Mbali has created and facilitated Return To Origin journeys to South Africa where she has brought people from all over the world. She was the inspiration behind the book 29 Gifts, by Cami Walker, which reached the best selling list of the New York Times within a few weeks of being released.
Mbali returned to South Africa in 2012 to live and has made her home the Western Cape.
More about Kassie Naidoo
Kassie Naidoo knew from a very young age that her passion in life was being creative, every day of her life. She drew and wrote poetry through most of her childhood as well as found creative ways to solve every day challenges. It made sense when she decided to study communication design and then enter first the media industry and later the advertising industry to live out her creative energy. After more than 25 years of design, art direction and being a creative leader and mentor she decided to step out of the industry and follow her other dreams. She embarked on a new journey of writing and illustrating stories of freedom and empowerment for children. Kassie would like to use the skills she garnered over the past decades to show that creativity is not a special gift, reserved for a handful but an energy when harnessed fully, is a catalyst for rebirth, self-empowerment and possibilities.
More about Eurythuis Lincoln Meyer
For more than 10 years Lincoln has worked for the Wilderness Foundation Africa on various youth development programmes. He combines his passion for conservation and a keen interest in developing youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, using the healing powers of nature. Lincoln made the list of top 200 South Africans under the age of 35 in 2015 for his work in conservation and education. He joined the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa ( WESSA ) as a senior training officer in July 2017. Lincoln is now involved in training youth from all over South Africa in a variety of conservation qualifications.
More about Craig Foster
Brother's Damon & Craig Foster has traveled extensively, living and working in remote villages and wilderness areas in ten African countries. For over twenty years their primary focus has been to tell stories with the voice of Africa herself, creating media experiences that enable a global audience to gain an intense and deep insight into the natural and cultural dynamics of this ancient continent. Their work celebrates Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and the universal themes of the relationship between man and nature. Their work has attracted over sixty international awards, including the "Oscar of natural history filmmaking", the Golden Panda from Wildscreen in the UK. The brothers film "The Great Dance" has been watched by over 500 million people in more than 100 countries worldwide. In their latest book on African indigenous knowledge called , Africa – Speaking with Earth and Sky, President Thabo Mbeki wrote the forward ; "Africa, Speaking with Earth and Sky' is a testament to the wealth of knowledge and spiritual connectedness that people across this great continent hold with their environment. I am proud to be associated with this beautiful reflection of Africa".
Damon & Craig have been guest lecturers at the University of Cape Town and Oklahoma State University, USA. They have been invited to speak at Tedx and both brothers have judged the UK's largest natural history film festival in Bristol, England. In 2011 they were nominated for an Emmy award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2013 they were voted by South Africa's, City Press as one of the '100 World Class South Africans'. In 2014 they were recognized as best director at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) and their film The Animal Communicator has attracted over 2 million hits on YouTube.
For years Craig worked and lived with Bushmen hunters and shamans, Zulu traditional healers, Dogon priests and hunter/sorcerers. He lived the original human lifestyle and was initiated in many African ceremonies. This process broke down some of his traditional western education, creating a huge passion to explore the minds and souls of animals, and how they interact with humans – the human/animal interface.
The Foster brothers have been at the forefront of the African renaissance, using media to turn the tide on negative attitudes. They have reached an audience of over one billion by using Africa's voice first hand. The filmmakers have a passion and commitment to the natural world and the relationship between human and nature has deeply influenced their style of filmmaking and the stories they seek out. In 1995 the brothers entered into an enduring relationship with the IUCN (The World Conservation Union) which has seen their ongoing involvement in African conservation issues, and particularly in the exploration and preservation of African indigenous heritage. They have worked and lived with some of the continent's most powerful diviners, healers and hunters, whose legendary openness and intrinsic wisdom opened their eyes to another world…a world of deep connectedness to one's fellow humans and a bond with the environment.
The brothers' primary intent lies in telling stories with the voice of Africa herself, and creating film experiences that enable the viewer to gain an intense and deep insight into the natural and cultural dynamics of this ancient continent. They explore the timeless and universal themes of the relationship between man and animal, and the relationship between them and the environments that they share. They seek unique and challenging footage, which is enthralling and exciting, without compromising on integrity and sensitivity. They show reality as it is but in a way in which it is not usually seen. The brothers work closely together throughout every aspect of the process and have pioneered an organic style of filmmaking that brings new life to the screen.
More about Leon Lewis
I was born in Cape Town. During the second half of the 1970's I worked as a professional musician, and in the early 1980's, after doing an apprenticeship in ceramics, I embraced the profession of pottery.
In 1983 I moved to the West Coast village of Darling – where I spent much time in relative solitude, making profound connections with aspects of higher consciousness, the Earth, as well as some aspects of the legacy of the indigenous First Peoples known as the Bushmen.
In response to a deep longing to establish a closer relationship with nature, I became involved in my surroundings in various ways. I gradually came to realize that my experiences were nurturing in me, amongst other things, a deep respect for the ancient ways and wisdom common to many of the First Peoples of our planet.
During the latter part of the 1990's I presented a number of workshops highlighting, amongst other things, valuable insights and gifts to be gained from the legacy of the Southern African Bushmen. Some of the occasions in which I had the opportunity to honour this legacy include the following:
In co-operation with the South African San Institute and The South African Museum, I helped to organize the first rock-art exhibition held at the South African National Art Gallery, displaying rock fragments bearing ancient cave paintings as well as artefacts that had been removed from caves by colonists in the early 1900's. The event coincided with the opening of the Parliament of World Religions in Cape Town in December 1999, as part of the National Gallery's Millennium Exhibition.
Together with a small team, including representatives of the South African Museum, I played a role in organizing an inter-cultural healing ceremony involving First Nations participants. In 2003, by invitation of the South African Museum, I participated in the Rock Art Reference Group dedicated to re-designing the Museum's rock art installation, which includes various cultural artefacts. The project was aimed at honouring, in a more balanced way, the Bushmen and Khoe – First Nations of Southern Africa whose traditional way of life has all but disappeared.
Between 2002 and 2004 I acted as curator of a modest installation at the local museum in our village dedicated to the Khoe and Bushman heritage of the local area. This was composed around some traditional artefacts I had discovered amongst the museum's collection.
During the past years I have conducted occasional talks and intuitive meditation experiences centred on the theme of universal spirituality. My approach is non-sectarian, having respect for the essence within all great spiritual traditions, but with no exclusive allegiance to any particular creed or dogma.
My view is that as we connect with our higher nature through more harmonious and conscious ways of living, including meditation and service, we are able to explore and express our higher calling with deeper clarity. The focus of my teaching and written work is on evolving consciousness and is intended to encourage expansion beyond rigid structure, into creative flow within the eternal now.
More about Dr Janette Deacon
Dr Janette Deacon an archaeologist who has been interested since the 1960s in discovering details about the cultural history of the San of southern Africa over the past 20,000 years, and the conservation of their rock art in particular.
More about Anna Breytenbach
Famous for her work with Spirit the black Leopard from the film the Animal Communicator, Anna
Anna Breytenbach is a South African-based professional animal communicator who has received advanced training through the Assisi International Animal Institute in California, USA. She's been practising for 14 years in South Africa, Europe and the USA with both domestic and wild animals.
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, she holds a degree in Psychology, Economics and Marketing from the University of Cape Town. During her international corporate career that took her to Australia and then Silicon Valley and Seattle in the USA, she lived out her passion for wildlife and conservation by volunteering at various rehabilitation and educational centers.
Amongst other things she has been a cheetah handler, served on committees for wolf, snow leopard, cheetah and mountain lion conservation, volunteered at wildlife and horse sanctuaries and participated in wild wolf tracking expeditions in the Rocky Mountains. Trained in tracking and mentoring at the Wilderness Awareness School (USA), she also mentors children and adults in nature awareness based on the ways of the Native American and San Bushmen peoples.
Anna is a qualified and experienced master training facilitator, focusing on bringing forth participants' skills through coaching and mentoring in a practical manner. She works with both domestic animals and wildlife, and runs workshops around southern Africa, also touring Europe and the USA. This includes working with wild dolphins and whales, leading animal communication safaris in Botswana, interspecies projects at permaculture and organic farms, and giving numerous public talks. Her pro bono work focuses on conservation projects such as elephant management, white lion reintroduction, baboon rehabilitation, whale and dolphin research and predator conservation. Anna is a qualified Reiki practitioner and works with this and other healing modalities. She is also the subject of the feature documentary movie "The Animal Communicator" on Interspecies Communication, released internationally in 2013.
Anna's goal is to raise awareness and advance the relationships among human and non-human animals, on both the personal and spiritual levels. In her communication and conservation work, she guides people to deepen their connection with all species in an honouring manner, and is inspired by being a voice for the animals and natural environments.
More about Khoi Khonnexion
Profound musicians who embody the deep culture of our indigenous people preserving and honoring their wisdom through their music, spoken word and art.
"Making music is the most primeval form of human expression, imbued with a mystical power to communicate at an instinctual level that transcends language and speaks directly to the soul. The San bushmen of the Kalahari desert are Africa's oldest inhabitants and, for them, music and dance are not merely creative expressions, but an integral part of their being. The bow and arrow that was used for hunting, was also used to make music. The chord of the bow functioned as a single string, monochord, on which to discover and explore harmonic over tones. The making and playing of the mouth bow, takes the audience on a journey to contextualize the hunting bow and arrow, and demonstrates aspectsof the musical properties of the bow, reflecting on the task of the players, as they embody the music and dance, as "an integral part of their being.
More about Isaac and Oum Gert Kruiper
Brothers Isaak and Oum Gert are of the last Khomani San Bushmen Doctors and master trackers. When they read the tracks of an animal or insect, we are not only enticed by the deep story of that animal but also by the interconnection of the track the story of the animal and nature. They hold knowledge of the plants and medicines of the land. Both teach at the veldt school in the Kalagadi Park.
More about Lydia Kruiper
Lydia Kruiper holds the knowledge of plants and medicines along with her husband Isak. She is a master healer, using a combination of deep seeing, touch, plants and medicines. They are both powerful healers and wisdom keepers that carry the stories of origin. They both lead programs at the veld school, for Khomani San Bushmen children in the Kalahari desert.
More about Dr Dominique Santos
Dr. Dominique Santos obtained a doctorate in Anthropology from Goldsmiths, University of London exploring the intersections of popular music and experiences of social change amongst various multi-racial communities in South Africa over several generations. She was born in Cape Town, bred in Johannesburg and buttered in London. A trained play worker, she has combined her academic interests with community activism to be a co-founder with Ntsiki McKay-Anderson of the Hummingbird Play Association in Johannesburg, innovating pop-up playgrounds in the inner city and presenting the resulting findings on the relationship between nature, play and transformation of urban space for the benefit of children to UNICEF. Her current work as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Anthropology Department at the University of the Free State, South Africa explores the meeting points of decolonisation, heritage, dreaming and community engagement to consider how indigenous knowledge systems can be applied to heritage preservation. She is an accomplished lucid dreamer, using dreams as an important springboard for action in the waking world. She has facilitated dream groups for better self-awareness and healing, consulted on a number of community play projects in London and Johannesburg and has written for outlets from The Conversation to the Sunday Times South Africa.