Mike Medcalf studied at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in the late 80’s/early 90’s. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in both Civil Engineering as well as Land Surveying. This combination of degrees has served him well over the years and has been a valuable combination of study for both Land Surveying consulting as well as working on engineering survey projects.
After his studies, Mike completed his article training at a small country practice in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, where he was mentored by a very experienced and respected professional land surveyor. After completing his articles and registering as a professional land surveyor, Mike soon became a partner in the small country practice. Here Mike grew the practice into a company that had multiple offices over the entire Eastern Cape and at one stage employed in excess of 40 staff in a combined Land Surveying and Town planning practice. Over the 25 odd years of practicing, mostly as lead partner, based in East London, Mike was exposed to various interesting as well as challenging projects. Projects under leadership of Mike covers some 2000+ farm subdivisions, 20000+ township erven, layout planning of townships and residential developments up to 3000 erven in size. Mike carried out many sectional title surveys, from sectional title division of granny flats up to the sectional title survey of multi story blocks of flats, walkup developments etc. Mike is also highly experienced in the field of engineering surveys, including establishment of survey control (permanent reference points), topographical surveys for roads, sewer, water pipelines, township development etc. He also has invaluable experience in hyrographic surveys (dams and river bed surveys), large scale site surveys, such as a survey done of all the runways at the East London airport, volumertic surveys of stock piles and quarries and the normal site survey of properties to be developed.
In early 2018, Mike resigned from the Eastern Cape practice to pursue a dream to do extensive overland travel with his wife. Detailed planning was completed on an overland journey from Cape Town, up the East Coast of Africa, into Turkey, Russia and then through various countries in Europe, the UK, Ireland back through Europe and eventually to Morocco and homeward down the West coast of Africa. A journey through 42 countries over some 45000km. Three weeks before the planned departure in April 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic locked down most international borders and the journey has been put on hold. After leaving the Eastern Cape, Mike and his wife have settled in Riverside Village, Little Brak just outside of Mossel Bay. After not practicing for three years, in early 2021, Mikes passion for Land Surveying prompted him to start a small low key practice from his home on the banks of the Little Brak River where he hopes to serve the local community and surrounding areas of the Southern Cape, in an ethical, professional and friendly manner.