In October 2004 Dave was diagnosed as suffering from aplastic anemia, a very rare medical condition where the bone marrow ceases to produce blood cells, but often with fatal consequences.
Dave coped bravely with this illness by way of regular blood transfusions, but his condition deteriorated rapidly early in the year and he passed away on 12 February 2005. 
 
Our family would like to honour and remember Dave by recording on his web-site excerpts from some of the many tributes that have poured in from many countries:

“It was a real privilege to have known Dave, he was a true gentleman in a world that hurries by and has no time for such old fashioned things now. He was a very courageous and determined man.
 He will be missed by me very much and I feel humbled and honoured that for a short time, we all shared a moment of tranquility and peace at that moonlit braai, in such a special place that he loved so much. I will remember that forever!  Dave is in my prayers tonight, his passing will be sadly missed, the world is a poorer place without him, but we are all enriched by having known him.”

“For Dave, Umzinyathi was not only a business, but a passion for the wild, and he wanted to share that with other people, like myself, and so many of us in our business.
He will be truly missed by many that have crossed his path, as he was a true soft spoken gentleman.”

“Unfortunately I only knew Dave for the short time we all spent together at Imfolozi, but listening to him speak about the game reserve, the animals and his passion for the place is an experience I will long remember.”

“Dave will be missed ‑ especially in the bush camps... he died having done what was closest to his heart. That is a blessing. “

“Dave loved life, his family, and he lived it to the full.
He was a man of integrity, a man of principle, a man of compassion, a man of great courage, drive & self-determination, a man of intense loyalty, and man who could be trusted as a friend and as a colleague.
He always gave of his best, and he was loved and respected by many people in many parts of the world.
We can all be proud of Dave, and we must always remember that we have been enriched for the impact that he has made on our lives. “

Dave was the visionary who established Umzinyathi Safaris, it was his drive and enthusiasm that made Umzinyathi Safaris so popular with his clients.

Dave was a conservationist at heart, he was well acquainted with the African bush, the signs of the wild and the habits of wild animals. His knowledge was derived through hands-on experience earned from many years on foot in “Big Five” country.

 “Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you will die tomorrow”:
Dave lived his dream to the very end literally, determined to see the places he loved one last time. Only two weeks prior to his death Dave had undertaken a safari trip to Imfolozi Game Reserve and then onto Kruger National Park, the two game reserves that he loved most of all.

For the future Umzinyathi Safaris will continue to function and provide “Big 5” wildlife safaris and tours, in keeping with the spirit of Dave’s vision.