Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa appoints GM Couple
Jaces and Althi Bornman have been appointed as general managers of Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa in the Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg. The couple brings with them extensive experience gained in the safari industry, including at Madikwe Hills where they first met while working as field guides.
They both have a deep passion for nature and wildlife; Althi having spent several years of her adolescence with her family in the rainforests of Sierra Leone in West Africa. After a year of studying zoology, she worked in marketing and sales before she departed for the USA where she was employed as an Au Pair. On her return to South Africa, she completed various training courses in guiding, tracking and wildlife management, gaining experience along the way that led to her management appointment at Mhondoro, where she shares her passion for the luxury hospitality industry with her team and guests from all around the world.
Jaces has more than 10 years’ experience as a field guide. His career path includes a stint as financial advisor before his most recent position as lodge manager at Itaga Lodge in the greater Mabalingwe Nature Reserve. At Mhondoro he now also heads up the maintenance team where he has the opportunity to put into practice his interest in steel-, wood, plumbing and electrical work. Having been raised by deaf parents, he is not only fluent in sign language, but has also developed unique observation and communications skills that further enhance his interactions with humans and animals alike.
MORE ABOUT MHONDORO SAFARI LODGE & VILLA
Located in Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg (Limpopo), MHONDORO SAFARI LODGE & VILLA is a luxury safari destination of note. A mere 2h45-minute drive from Johannesburg, the landscape is breathtaking rich and diverse, stretching across 35 000 hectares. The reserve is home to the Big 5, including a large white rhino population that is protected within the malaria-free reserve. Guided walks are popular with guests, as is watching the ‘resident’ herd of elephants who visit the waterhole at the lodge on a regular basis and who love a drink from the natural, salt-water swimming pools. #poolellie
The superb wildlife experience is complemented by Mhondoro’s luxurious accommodation, indulgent spa treatments, fine cuisine and passionate service. Dutch-owned, Mhondoro is a gourmand’s delight and a fusion of African chic and edgy European influences. The exclusive 5-star lodge sleeps only 24 guests, with accommodation including two child-friendly Family suites, a romantic Honeymoon suite, and a 2-bedroom Executive Suite. Guest suites are spacious with full bathrooms, outdoor showers, private decks and most have private plunge pools. Mhondoro Villa is the ultimate in luxury and privacy for families or friends travelling together. It features a magnificent master suite and two additional bedrooms and comes with a private gym, yoga or massage room and a heated swimming pool, a game-viewing safari vehicle with personal guide, and the services of a chef, butler and housekeeping staff.
Unique features at Mhondoro include the ultimate photographer’s dream: a waterhole with underground hide that is connected with the main lodge by a tunnel, as well as a stardeck and three heated swimming pools with an infrared sauna. The Spa offers facials, massages, manicures and pedicures, as well as a private, outdoor spa deck overlooking the reserve to offer the ultimate relaxation.
