All our Group leaders have one thing in common - they have all walked the pilgrimage trails and have a desire to share their love of the Camino and Via Francigena with 'wanna-be' pilgrims! Because we want you to have the best possible experience we emphasise the need for you to walk your pilgrimage your way, at your own pace, no racing to keep up with fast walkers or dragging your heels to keep pace with slower walkers. The group leaders will always be there to accompany you if you need them but they are not tour guides and will not tell you how to walk Your pilgrimage.
Marion Jackson - aka - Daffy: 16 day - Via Francigena 14 - 29 May 2020
Marion was always involved in some form of sport or gym. She started walking in 1995, joined a club and did a lot of competitive race walking for a few years entering numerous full and half marathons In 1999 she did the 80k Cape Town Big Walk; in 2000 the Comrades Marathon with Syl and in 2001 the Coast-to-Coast in walk in England with Syl.
Marion no longer does competitive walking, but enjoys hiking and walking for fun. The bug bit hard after walking to Rome on the Via Francigena with Syl in 2006; then she walked the 800 km Camino Frances in Spain with Syl in 2007, the Camino Aragones and Camino Ingles in 2009 and led a Camino group for amaWalkers in 2015. In 2016 she led an amaWalkers group from Switzerland to Rome on the Via Francigena.
Marion is looking forward to returning to the Camino Frances to lead a group in May 2019.
Marion Jackson - aka - Daffy: 16 day - Via Francigena 14 - 29 May 2020
Marion was always involved in some form of sport or gym. She started walking in 1995, joined a club and did a lot of competitive race walking for a few years entering numerous full and half marathons In 1999 she did the 80k Cape Town Big Walk; in 2000 the Comrades Marathon with Syl and in 2001 the Coast-to-Coast in walk in England with Syl.
Marion no longer does competitive walking, but enjoys hiking and walking for fun. The bug bit hard after walking to Rome on the Via Francigena with Syl in 2006; then she walked the 800 km Camino Frances in Spain with Syl in 2007, the Camino Aragones and Camino Ingles in 2009 and led a Camino group for amaWalkers in 2015. In 2016 she led an amaWalkers group from Switzerland to Rome on the Via Francigena.
Marion is looking forward to returning to the Camino Frances to lead a group in May 2019.
Jeremy Grest - 16-day Via Francigena May 2020
Jeremy is a retired Political Scientist who now volunteers with an NPO that teaches English to refugees, and manages a social science journal. He has been a keen walker and hiker most of his adult life. In his younger days he would take off with heavy backpack and scale the heights of the Natal Drakensberg Mountains, sleeping in caves on the way, or in shepherds’ huts vacated in the winter by the herd boys in the highlands of Lesotho. Camping holidays in the mountains and day walks with children followed.
When he first heard about the Camino de Santiago, several years ago, it immediately struck a deep inner chord, and he determined to walk it to help find his compass when he retired. He and Judith walked the Camino Frances together in 2013. They stayed in albergues and covered about half its length, starting in St. Jean, taking the bus across la meseta and ending in Santiago. The experience was profound in so many ways, and the generosity of hospitaleros encountered along the way motivated both pilgrims to attend the workshop run by Sylvia and Jenny to qualify as Voluntarios Hospitaleros in order to be able to return to other pilgrims something of what they had received by serving in Alpriate, an albergue on the Caminho Portuguese in 2016 and 2018. They led an amaWalkers Camino group on the Camino Frances in 2016 and the Camino Aragones in 2018.
Judith Shier-Grest grew up in a family of ‘walkers’ but it was only as an adult that she began to really enjoy walking and hiking. Its magic had seeped in by then, and it is something she continued to do over the years, raising a family, and working as an ‘information specialist’. She has had the good fortune to have both a consistent and regular walking friend, and her husband, Jeremy, with whom to share her love of walking.
Walking the Camino Frances in 2013 reminded her that this is what humans are meant to do. Being out there, under the sky and in the flow of the practice of walking, day after day, brought a new understanding of the value of such a walk, and the love of the Camino was ignited. She found both Spain, and many of the people she encountered on the Camino delightful. Judith completed a Hospitaleros voluntarios course with Sylvia and Jenny in 2015 and served with Jeremy in Portugal in 2016 and 2018.
She has hiked with Jeremy in the Drakensburg and Western Cape, in the UK, including the walks on the South Downs and the Scottish borders. In 2014 they completed a section of the North Downs Way which forms part of the Pilgrim’s Way to Canterbury. She and Jeremy led amaWalkers Camino groups on the Camino Frances in 2016 and the Camino Aragones in 2018.
Judith has a deep interest in ‘well-being’ and now works as a cranio-sacral therapist and HeartMath coach.
Jeremy is a retired Political Scientist who now volunteers with an NPO that teaches English to refugees, and manages a social science journal. He has been a keen walker and hiker most of his adult life. In his younger days he would take off with heavy backpack and scale the heights of the Natal Drakensberg Mountains, sleeping in caves on the way, or in shepherds’ huts vacated in the winter by the herd boys in the highlands of Lesotho. Camping holidays in the mountains and day walks with children followed.
When he first heard about the Camino de Santiago, several years ago, it immediately struck a deep inner chord, and he determined to walk it to help find his compass when he retired. He and Judith walked the Camino Frances together in 2013. They stayed in albergues and covered about half its length, starting in St. Jean, taking the bus across la meseta and ending in Santiago. The experience was profound in so many ways, and the generosity of hospitaleros encountered along the way motivated both pilgrims to attend the workshop run by Sylvia and Jenny to qualify as Voluntarios Hospitaleros in order to be able to return to other pilgrims something of what they had received by serving in Alpriate, an albergue on the Caminho Portuguese in 2016 and 2018. They led an amaWalkers Camino group on the Camino Frances in 2016 and the Camino Aragones in 2018.
Judith Shier-Grest grew up in a family of ‘walkers’ but it was only as an adult that she began to really enjoy walking and hiking. Its magic had seeped in by then, and it is something she continued to do over the years, raising a family, and working as an ‘information specialist’. She has had the good fortune to have both a consistent and regular walking friend, and her husband, Jeremy, with whom to share her love of walking.
Walking the Camino Frances in 2013 reminded her that this is what humans are meant to do. Being out there, under the sky and in the flow of the practice of walking, day after day, brought a new understanding of the value of such a walk, and the love of the Camino was ignited. She found both Spain, and many of the people she encountered on the Camino delightful. Judith completed a Hospitaleros voluntarios course with Sylvia and Jenny in 2015 and served with Jeremy in Portugal in 2016 and 2018.
She has hiked with Jeremy in the Drakensburg and Western Cape, in the UK, including the walks on the South Downs and the Scottish borders. In 2014 they completed a section of the North Downs Way which forms part of the Pilgrim’s Way to Canterbury. She and Jeremy led amaWalkers Camino groups on the Camino Frances in 2016 and the Camino Aragones in 2018.
Judith has a deep interest in ‘well-being’ and now works as a cranio-sacral therapist and HeartMath coach.
Sylvia Nilsen - Director
Sylvia, one of the founders of amaWalkers Camino, is a peripatetic traveller and self confessed pilgrimage addict who is passionate about the Camino and about encouraging others to walk 'The Way'.
In 2001 she organised a walk across England for 10 people. She organised her first Camino walk in 2002 on a 750km trek from Roncesvalles to Santiago. When she returned, she joined the newly formed Confraternity of St James of South Africa and was the Regional Co-ordinator in her Region for 7 years. She conducts annual Practical Pilgrim workshops for new pilgrims and St James Feast Days in July of each year.
In 2004 she walked over 1 200km on the Via Turonensis from Paris to Spain and earned her second Compostela, walking the same year from Sarria to Santiago. In 2006 she led pilgrims on a 700km walk from Lake Lausanne in Switzerland to Rome on sections of the Via Francigena pilgrimage trail.
In 2007 she returned to Spain, co-ordinating a walk on the Camino Frances and in 2009 she led a walk from Lourdes in the South of France, crossing the Pyrenees at the Somport Pass onto the Camino Aragones to Pamplona in Navarre.
She has also walked the Camino Ingles to Santiago twice and from Santiago to Finisterre. She has led amaWalkers groups on the 22-day amaWalkers Camino since 2011 and in 2013 and 2014 she assisted groups of not-so-able people on the last 100 km of the Camino Frances and Camino Ingles to Santiago.
Sylvia is an accredited HOSVOL (Hospitaleros Voluntarios) trainer in South Africa and has trained over 200 new volunteer hospitaleros so far. She served for two weeks as hospitalero at the San Roque albergue in Corcubion after training in the albergue in Finisterre and for 2 weeks in the San Anton albergue on the meseta in 2015.
She is the author of a number of Camino books including the pilgrim planning guide “Your Camino, on foot, bicycle and horseback in France and Spain", a historical novel "Pilgrim Footprints on the Sands of Time", co-author of "La via Francigena: Five Pilgrims to Rome" of "Camino Lingo - English/Spanish Words and Phrases for Pilgrims on el Camino de Santiago." Her latest book is 'Slackpacking the Camino Frances' for people who do not want to stay in dormitories or carry their packs every day. In May 2017 she walked a Slow Camino from Sarria to Santiago in memory of Donna Felisa Medel from Logroño whose 84 year-old daughter, Maria, still offers Felisa's famous sello offering 'Higos, Agua y Amor' (Figs, Water and Love) to passing pilgrims.
In 2017 she promoted and planned the creation of the Abbot Pfanner Trappist Trail in South Africa and in October led a group of not-so-fit pilgrims on this new trail. Sylvia is leading a private Slow Camino from Sarria to Santiago in September 2019.
Sylvia, one of the founders of amaWalkers Camino, is a peripatetic traveller and self confessed pilgrimage addict who is passionate about the Camino and about encouraging others to walk 'The Way'.
In 2001 she organised a walk across England for 10 people. She organised her first Camino walk in 2002 on a 750km trek from Roncesvalles to Santiago. When she returned, she joined the newly formed Confraternity of St James of South Africa and was the Regional Co-ordinator in her Region for 7 years. She conducts annual Practical Pilgrim workshops for new pilgrims and St James Feast Days in July of each year.
In 2004 she walked over 1 200km on the Via Turonensis from Paris to Spain and earned her second Compostela, walking the same year from Sarria to Santiago. In 2006 she led pilgrims on a 700km walk from Lake Lausanne in Switzerland to Rome on sections of the Via Francigena pilgrimage trail.
In 2007 she returned to Spain, co-ordinating a walk on the Camino Frances and in 2009 she led a walk from Lourdes in the South of France, crossing the Pyrenees at the Somport Pass onto the Camino Aragones to Pamplona in Navarre.
She has also walked the Camino Ingles to Santiago twice and from Santiago to Finisterre. She has led amaWalkers groups on the 22-day amaWalkers Camino since 2011 and in 2013 and 2014 she assisted groups of not-so-able people on the last 100 km of the Camino Frances and Camino Ingles to Santiago.
Sylvia is an accredited HOSVOL (Hospitaleros Voluntarios) trainer in South Africa and has trained over 200 new volunteer hospitaleros so far. She served for two weeks as hospitalero at the San Roque albergue in Corcubion after training in the albergue in Finisterre and for 2 weeks in the San Anton albergue on the meseta in 2015.
She is the author of a number of Camino books including the pilgrim planning guide “Your Camino, on foot, bicycle and horseback in France and Spain", a historical novel "Pilgrim Footprints on the Sands of Time", co-author of "La via Francigena: Five Pilgrims to Rome" of "Camino Lingo - English/Spanish Words and Phrases for Pilgrims on el Camino de Santiago." Her latest book is 'Slackpacking the Camino Frances' for people who do not want to stay in dormitories or carry their packs every day. In May 2017 she walked a Slow Camino from Sarria to Santiago in memory of Donna Felisa Medel from Logroño whose 84 year-old daughter, Maria, still offers Felisa's famous sello offering 'Higos, Agua y Amor' (Figs, Water and Love) to passing pilgrims.
In 2017 she promoted and planned the creation of the Abbot Pfanner Trappist Trail in South Africa and in October led a group of not-so-fit pilgrims on this new trail. Sylvia is leading a private Slow Camino from Sarria to Santiago in September 2019.
Dojema Theron
Dojema Theron is a South African, born and raised in the Little Karoo. She lived in Namibia for five years and settled in Stellenbosch nineteen years ago.
She is passionate about hiking, nature, animals and travelling. She has hiked the Inca Trail in Peru and an Amazon Expedition. In Africa she has done mountain gorilla Trekking in Uganda, hiked the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, the Otter Trail, Whale Trail, Postberg, Outeniqua and the Hoerikwagga trails in South Africa. She regularly does walks in the mountains and nature reserves of the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape.
In 2008 she discovered the Camino and embarked on her first Camino in 2009 walking the Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago Compostela. She was captivated by the unique experience of walking the Camino and knew that she would walk again. On her return she encouraged others to walk it, assisting them with their planning.
In 2012 she returned to Europe, walking the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon via Fatima to Santiago. After reaching Santiago she continued on the Camino Ingles from El Ferrol to Santiago and then continued walking to Finisterre and Muxia.
The generosity, goodwill and kindness of people on the Camino motivated her to attend the Hospitaleros Voluntarios course presented by Sylvia in March 2016. She served for two weeks as hospitalero in the Albergue San Anton on the Meseta in June 2016. A week later she joined Sylvia’s group and walked the Via Francigena to Rome. She led a group on the Camino Frances in 2017.
She has gained valuable experience organising, co-ordinating and leading groups on hikes, tours and adventure training. She works in the Wedding and Events industry and is fortunate to have the freedom to plan her work around walking and serving on the Camino.
Dojema is looking forward to sharing the mesmerising 'Via Francigena Way' with you in May 2019
Dojema Theron is a South African, born and raised in the Little Karoo. She lived in Namibia for five years and settled in Stellenbosch nineteen years ago.
She is passionate about hiking, nature, animals and travelling. She has hiked the Inca Trail in Peru and an Amazon Expedition. In Africa she has done mountain gorilla Trekking in Uganda, hiked the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, the Otter Trail, Whale Trail, Postberg, Outeniqua and the Hoerikwagga trails in South Africa. She regularly does walks in the mountains and nature reserves of the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape.
In 2008 she discovered the Camino and embarked on her first Camino in 2009 walking the Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago Compostela. She was captivated by the unique experience of walking the Camino and knew that she would walk again. On her return she encouraged others to walk it, assisting them with their planning.
In 2012 she returned to Europe, walking the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon via Fatima to Santiago. After reaching Santiago she continued on the Camino Ingles from El Ferrol to Santiago and then continued walking to Finisterre and Muxia.
The generosity, goodwill and kindness of people on the Camino motivated her to attend the Hospitaleros Voluntarios course presented by Sylvia in March 2016. She served for two weeks as hospitalero in the Albergue San Anton on the Meseta in June 2016. A week later she joined Sylvia’s group and walked the Via Francigena to Rome. She led a group on the Camino Frances in 2017.
She has gained valuable experience organising, co-ordinating and leading groups on hikes, tours and adventure training. She works in the Wedding and Events industry and is fortunate to have the freedom to plan her work around walking and serving on the Camino.
Dojema is looking forward to sharing the mesmerising 'Via Francigena Way' with you in May 2019
Brigitte Kaese
Brigitte first walked the Camino in Sept /Oct 2000. Upon receiving her first Compostela in Santiago in 2000 she was told that she was the first Namibian to have earned the certificate.
In 2011 she walked the Central Caminho Portuguese; in 2015 the Tunnel Route from Irun to Santo Domingo de Calzada and the Camino Ingles from A Coruna to Santiago. In 2016 she did the Coastal Portuguese Camino from Porto to Santiago and included the Spiritual Route from Pontevedra via the coast to Padron. In South Africa she walked the Otter Trail 1982 and the Whale Trail 1999 and whilst living abroad she spent her weekends walking the Alps to Rocciamelone, Sella and a few others as well as the San Maria Gorge in Crete.
In 2017 Brigitte walked the Via Francigena from Siena to Rome and in 2018 she led the Camino Frances group from St Jean to Santiago in May. Brigitte qualified as a HOSVOL (Hospitaleros Voluntarios) volunteer in February and aims to serve in Spain or Portugal.
Brigitte is a retired Swedish Massage Therapist and has a holistic outlook on life. She has also worked in the fast world of advertising as a Media Planner. She is looking forward to sharing her passion for the outdoors, hiking and for the Camino with her group.
Brigitte first walked the Camino in Sept /Oct 2000. Upon receiving her first Compostela in Santiago in 2000 she was told that she was the first Namibian to have earned the certificate.
In 2011 she walked the Central Caminho Portuguese; in 2015 the Tunnel Route from Irun to Santo Domingo de Calzada and the Camino Ingles from A Coruna to Santiago. In 2016 she did the Coastal Portuguese Camino from Porto to Santiago and included the Spiritual Route from Pontevedra via the coast to Padron. In South Africa she walked the Otter Trail 1982 and the Whale Trail 1999 and whilst living abroad she spent her weekends walking the Alps to Rocciamelone, Sella and a few others as well as the San Maria Gorge in Crete.
In 2017 Brigitte walked the Via Francigena from Siena to Rome and in 2018 she led the Camino Frances group from St Jean to Santiago in May. Brigitte qualified as a HOSVOL (Hospitaleros Voluntarios) volunteer in February and aims to serve in Spain or Portugal.
Brigitte is a retired Swedish Massage Therapist and has a holistic outlook on life. She has also worked in the fast world of advertising as a Media Planner. She is looking forward to sharing her passion for the outdoors, hiking and for the Camino with her group.