Chef Carol Sibuyi is from Kashorty village near Hluvukani and originally dreamed of becoming a teacher. Encouraged by her father to attend chef school to fund her university studies, she unexpectedly fell in love with cooking. Since joining Pungwe in 2021, Carol has impressed with her dedication and culinary talent.

For Emmah Mathebula, Pungwe is special. As head of housekeeping since 1998, she has supported her family in Hluvukani, including four sons and many grandchildren, all of whom now have good jobs thanks to Pungwe. Similarly, Salphina Khosa, who started at Pungwe in 1992, provides for her five children and two grandchildren. She plans to remain at the camp until she retires, feeling a strong connection to the bush, which she considers her home.

Housekeepers Patience Mathebula and Lucky Seya have worked at Pungwe for more than a decade and come from the village of Gothenburg, near the Manyeleti's main gates. Patience takes great pride in her work, ensuring guests enjoy their stay. Lucky says her work at Pungwe has given her family a brighter future, with her two children aspiring to be a teacher and a safari guide.

Safari guide Never Mathebula found not only a job but a sense of family and purpose when he joined the team in 2009. Inspired by his father who was a ranger in the Manyeleti and with his encouragement, Never pursued tracking and guiding, eventually earning the nickname "Clever Never." He takes pride in sharing his knowledge of the bush, and his Shangaan heritage with guests and his community, following in his late father’s footsteps and cherishing Pungwe as his second home.

Pungwe guide Isaac Baloyi has been sharing his deep knowledge of the African wilderness since 2001, following in the footsteps of his father, a Kruger Park guide. Known for his passion for walking safaris, Isaac loves connecting with nature and sharing fascinating insights with his guests, like why elephants move water pipes into the bush. His favourite animal, the impala, always brightens his day. A father of four, Isaac is a role model in his community, teaching local children about conservation and the importance of protecting wildlife, all while inspiring the next generation of guides.

Wonder Boy Sibuyi is from Thorndale and left city life in Johannesburg after years as a builder to pursue his passion for tracking in the bush. That was well over a decade ago and he hasn't looked back. After training at Londolozi and temping as a tracker, he became a permanent part of the Pungwe team, finding joy in tracking wildlife and guiding guests on game drives. A father of four, Wonder's return to the Greater Kruger secured his family's future and reconnected him with his love for the wilderness. Passionate about birding, his favourite is the pearl-spotted owlet, and he relishes the daily discoveries that tracking brings.

Every morning at 4am, Pungwe's maintenance manager, Nandrick Mthabine, quietly brings the camp to life, lighting fires and ensuring everything is in perfect order before guests wake. Nandrick has been with Pungwe since 2014 after returning to his roots from an industrial career in Gauteng. Born in Gothenburg village, he traded city life for the tranquility of the bush, where his favourite task is fixing water pipes disturbed by elephants, the animals he loves most. Nandrick feels at home at Pungwe and plans to stay as long as he's able!

A name synonymous with safari in South Africa's Greater Kruger and one of the country's most respected guides and guide trainer, mentor and assessor, Michel Girardin has been involved with Pungwe since its beginnings more than three decades ago. A champion of sustainable tourism, Michel is Pungwe's anchor and a stalwart of the local communities he holds so dear. Fluent in Shangaan, he is known locally as "maShangaan" - a title of respect and admiration bestowed on him by the people of the Manyeleti.

Chef Carol Sibuyi is from Kashorty village near Hluvukani and originally dreamed of becoming a teacher. Encouraged by her father to attend chef school to fund her university studies, she unexpectedly fell in love with cooking. Since joining Pungwe in 2021, Carol has impressed with her dedication and culinary talent.

For Emmah Mathebula, Pungwe is special. As head of housekeeping since 1998, she has supported her family in Hluvukani, including four sons and many grandchildren, all of whom now have good jobs thanks to Pungwe. Similarly, Salphina Khosa, who started at Pungwe in 1992, provides for her five children and two grandchildren. She plans to remain at the camp until she retires, feeling a strong connection to the bush, which she considers her home.

Housekeepers Patience Mathebula and Lucky Seya have worked at Pungwe for more than a decade and come from the village of Gothenburg, near the Manyeleti's main gates. Patience takes great pride in her work, ensuring guests enjoy their stay. Lucky says her work at Pungwe has given her family a brighter future, with her two children aspiring to be a teacher and a safari guide.

Safari guide Never Mathebula found not only a job but a sense of family and purpose when he joined the team in 2009. Inspired by his father who was a ranger in the Manyeleti and with his encouragement, Never pursued tracking and guiding, eventually earning the nickname "Clever Never." He takes pride in sharing his knowledge of the bush, and his Shangaan heritage with guests and his community, following in his late father’s footsteps and cherishing Pungwe as his second home.

Pungwe guide Isaac Baloyi has been sharing his deep knowledge of the African wilderness since 2001, following in the footsteps of his father, a Kruger Park guide. Known for his passion for walking safaris, Isaac loves connecting with nature and sharing fascinating insights with his guests, like why elephants move water pipes into the bush. His favourite animal, the impala, always brightens his day. A father of four, Isaac is a role model in his community, teaching local children about conservation and the importance of protecting wildlife, all while inspiring the next generation of guides.

Wonder Boy Sibuyi is from Thorndale and left city life in Johannesburg after years as a builder to pursue his passion for tracking in the bush. That was well over a decade ago and he hasn't looked back. After training at Londolozi and temping as a tracker, he became a permanent part of the Pungwe team, finding joy in tracking wildlife and guiding guests on game drives. A father of four, Wonder's return to the Greater Kruger secured his family's future and reconnected him with his love for the wilderness. Passionate about birding, his favourite is the pearl-spotted owlet, and he relishes the daily discoveries that tracking brings.

Every morning at 4am, Pungwe's maintenance manager, Nandrick Mthabine, quietly brings the camp to life, lighting fires and ensuring everything is in perfect order before guests wake. Nandrick has been with Pungwe since 2014 after returning to his roots from an industrial career in Gauteng. Born in Gothenburg village, he traded city life for the tranquility of the bush, where his favourite task is fixing water pipes disturbed by elephants, the animals he loves most. Nandrick feels at home at Pungwe and plans to stay as long as he's able!

A name synonymous with safari in South Africa's Greater Kruger and one of the country's most respected guides and guide trainer, mentor and assessor, Michel Girardin has been involved with Pungwe since its beginnings more than three decades ago. A champion of sustainable tourism, Michel is Pungwe's anchor and a stalwart of the local communities he holds so dear. Fluent in Shangaan, he is known locally as "maShangaan" - a title of respect and admiration bestowed on him by the people of the Manyeleti.

Chef Carol Sibuyi is from Kashorty village near Hluvukani and originally dreamed of becoming a teacher. Encouraged by her father to attend chef school to fund her university studies, she unexpectedly fell in love with cooking. Since joining Pungwe in 2021, Carol has impressed with her dedication and culinary talent.

For Emmah Mathebula, Pungwe is special. As head of housekeeping since 1998, she has supported her family in Hluvukani, including four sons and many grandchildren, all of whom now have good jobs thanks to Pungwe. Similarly, Salphina Khosa, who started at Pungwe in 1992, provides for her five children and two grandchildren. She plans to remain at the camp until she retires, feeling a strong connection to the bush, which she considers her home.

Housekeepers Patience Mathebula and Lucky Seya have worked at Pungwe for more than a decade and come from the village of Gothenburg, near the Manyeleti's main gates. Patience takes great pride in her work, ensuring guests enjoy their stay. Lucky says her work at Pungwe has given her family a brighter future, with her two children aspiring to be a teacher and a safari guide.

Safari guide Never Mathebula found not only a job but a sense of family and purpose when he joined the team in 2009. Inspired by his father who was a ranger in the Manyeleti and with his encouragement, Never pursued tracking and guiding, eventually earning the nickname "Clever Never." He takes pride in sharing his knowledge of the bush, and his Shangaan heritage with guests and his community, following in his late father’s footsteps and cherishing Pungwe as his second home.

Pungwe guide Isaac Baloyi has been sharing his deep knowledge of the African wilderness since 2001, following in the footsteps of his father, a Kruger Park guide. Known for his passion for walking safaris, Isaac loves connecting with nature and sharing fascinating insights with his guests, like why elephants move water pipes into the bush. His favourite animal, the impala, always brightens his day. A father of four, Isaac is a role model in his community, teaching local children about conservation and the importance of protecting wildlife, all while inspiring the next generation of guides.

Wonder Boy Sibuyi is from Thorndale and left city life in Johannesburg after years as a builder to pursue his passion for tracking in the bush. That was well over a decade ago and he hasn't looked back. After training at Londolozi and temping as a tracker, he became a permanent part of the Pungwe team, finding joy in tracking wildlife and guiding guests on game drives. A father of four, Wonder's return to the Greater Kruger secured his family's future and reconnected him with his love for the wilderness. Passionate about birding, his favourite is the pearl-spotted owlet, and he relishes the daily discoveries that tracking brings.

Every morning at 4am, Pungwe's maintenance manager, Nandrick Mthabine, quietly brings the camp to life, lighting fires and ensuring everything is in perfect order before guests wake. Nandrick has been with Pungwe since 2014 after returning to his roots from an industrial career in Gauteng. Born in Gothenburg village, he traded city life for the tranquility of the bush, where his favourite task is fixing water pipes disturbed by elephants, the animals he loves most. Nandrick feels at home at Pungwe and plans to stay as long as he's able!

A name synonymous with safari in South Africa's Greater Kruger and one of the country's most respected guides and guide trainer, mentor and assessor, Michel Girardin has been involved with Pungwe since its beginnings more than three decades ago. A champion of sustainable tourism, Michel is Pungwe's anchor and a stalwart of the local communities he holds so dear. Fluent in Shangaan, he is known locally as "maShangaan" - a title of respect and admiration bestowed on him by the people of the Manyeleti.