Meet the Crew

Born in Durban and raised by the Agulhas current, Mike Waller's life has been defined by the East Coast's final frontiers. While his academic foundation was forged at the University of Cape Town in South African History and Politics and the UKZN School of Law (LLB), his true education took place in the impact zone of the Indian Ocean and the thickets of Northern Zululand.

After establishing his foundation as a PADI Master Scuba Dive Instructor and a registered FGASA Field Guide, Mike spent years leading expeditions for ultra-high-net-worth clients across the Pacific and Central America. Having captained ocean-going vessels and managed high-end adventure hospitality in the world's most remote regions, he returned home to dismantle the 'canned' tourism narrative often sold by commercial agents and influencers.

East Coast Collective is his response. By combining local street smarts with logistical precision and a deep intellectual understanding of South Africa, Mike offers guests something far beyond a holiday: a face-to-face encounter with the raw, unscripted pulse of Africa. His goal is to move guests out of the confined boundaries of traditional travel and place them in the center of a life-altering duality where you can find the barrel of a lifetime at dawn and stand before a tusker by dusk.