During my lifetime in the safari hospitality industry I have met so many people, had an enormous amount of laughs, shared a bit of knowledge and learnt a whole lot, at the end of the day it is the people around you that make your experiences in life unique.
I can only imagine when you book your first Safari, the excitement of what to expect, especially in deepest, darkest Africa. From the moment you enter the airport and depart the runway the feeling is a mixture of uncertainty and exhilaration. When you arrive at the airport you go through the lengthy customs process and maybe only then feel that you have reached your destination. Walking through the airport doors and locating the sign with your name on it, is the probably one of the most crucial stages of your journey. At this specific moment first impressions are what count.
The staff at the Vuyani Safari Lodge is definitely one of the most diverse groups of people I have ever met. Every single person is unique in their own superior way, and it is on a very rare occasion that you don’t see a big smile on their faces. Their friendliness and passion are rather contagious, and they can make even one of the dullest days seem pretty bright.
Pierre has an inimitable sense of humour and can make you laugh till you cry; he is most definitely the person to have around when you are having a bit of an “off” day, he also loves guiding in the Kruger Park. Jesse has a very dry sense of humour and an infectious smile; one cannot help but grin when he enters a room, and his drives are never less than extraordinary. Andre is incredibly sweet and always has a smile on his face, I don’t think that I have ever seen Andre not smile, and that tends to bring out the sunshine, he happily drives all the guests wherever they need to be. Rina is more reserved and will have the corners of the mouth turned up, which is not quite a smile, but there are indications that it will appear at any minute, she is very organized and makes sure things run smoothly in the office. Craig has a very calming effect on people, he has a personality that exudes confidence and that makes everyone around him feel very secure. The kitchen staff i.e. Rose and Phillamon are always laughing when going about their business – that gives all of us a feeling of well-being. The housekeeping staffs is always up for a laugh and have the most beautiful bright smiles – if this does not improve your day then there I think one might be missing out on the finer things in life. Shane who is the newest addition to Vuyani Safari Lodge has an extremely tranquil personality and that makes him fun to be around.
So each of the staff members has their own distinctive personality and this is what makes your safari experience at Vuyani Safari Lodge that much more gratifying. So if you have been to Vuyani you might recognize a little of what I have written in each person. If you have planning a holiday or already have you will soon meet these amazing individuals whom I am fortunate enough to call my colleagues. We have turned into one happy little family, and that has often happened, meet as friends, but part as family.
*Justine Ferreira – Photos by Justine 🙂