James and Jemma first met in 2017 at Nambiti Private Game Reserve. That year, James was taking a gap year to participate in wildlife conservation efforts across Africa. It was during his very first elephant relocation project that he was introduced to Jemma. Shortly after the relocation, their paths crossed again—and what began as a chance meeting soon blossomed into a close and meaningful friendship.

At the beginning of 2020, James and Jemma’s friendship began to flourish. Both were studying at Stellenbosch University when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill. Despite the challenges of lockdown, they remained in close contact, visiting each other’s family homes and deepening their connection. Their relationship grew stronger during this time, and they officially began dating in May 2020.

In early 2021, Jemma returned to Cape Town to complete her undergraduate degree, marking the beginning of two years of long-distance for the couple. Despite the physical distance between them, James and Jemma remained deeply committed to one another - frequently traveling between KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town to spend time together.

After navigating a global pandemic and two years of long distance, Jemma graduated from Stellenbosch University and returned to KwaZulu-Natal to enter the working world and begin the next chapter of their journey together.

James and Jemma’s love for one another continued to deepen as they settled into life together. Both now work in the greater Durban area and spend most of their weekends surrounded by family and friends—or enjoying time together in the bush, a shared passion that has remained close to their hearts.

Eight years after they first met, on the 6th of April 2025, James and Jemma got engaged! Surrounded by both their families, James planned the perfect 'bush' proposal on the Rowles' family farm in Waterfall. She said YES! In a beautiful coincidence, Jemma’s grandparents, Geoff and Dalis, also became engaged on the very same day—6th April 1959.