Blog Post
Every journey has a guide. Someone who understands that a great trip is about where you go and how it makes you feel. That means the warmth of the welcome, the story told around a fire, the moment Namibia reveals itself in a way you didn’t expect.
That kind of experience doesn’t happen by accident. It is tailored, with intention, by people who are deeply in love with this land and everything it offers.
Maryke van Lill is one of those people. And as of 1 March 2026, she leads O&L Leisure as Managing Director.
The person behind the passion
If you have ever felt the magic of “Namibia Through Our Eyes” in our photography, in the stories we tell and in the authentic way our destinations, you have already felt Maryke’s influence.
As General Manager: Marketing, she was the architect of that philosophy. She transformed it from a tagline into a living, evolving promise: a commitment to showing the world Namibia’s landscapes, people and spirit exactly as we experience them every day.
With more than 15 years spanning marketing, brand strategy, innovation and client leadership, Maryke has spent her career asking one question above all others: what will make this better for our guests?
“The O&L Persona will remain the daily guide in our leadership and decision-making. Together with our strong Senior Leadership Team, we will continue to create extraordinary experiences that showcase Namibia through our eyes,” says Maryke.
She steps into this role with a clear vision: to deepen the experience of every traveller who chooses Namibia and to ensure that O&L Leisure is one of the best and most unique ways to discover it.
Her focus is on sustainable, premium experiences that go beyond the beautiful and the comfortable. Experiences that feel true, that connect you to place and people and that will linger long after you have returned home. “I am committed to growing intra-African travel, to strengthening the partnerships that bring the world to Namibia and to championing Brand Namibia as a world-class destination on the global stage.”
