The Role
Live-in management couple responsible for all operations of a luxury safari lodge, including shareholder relations, guest hosting, administration, finance, procurement, staff leadership, maintenance, asset care, compliance, and twice-daily game drives or guided bush walks. One partner must lead guiding activities, while the other manages hospitality and administration. The couple will report to the board and maintain operational continuity during scheduled leave.
Summary Generated by Built In
Luxury Lodge Management Couple
Location: Vaalwater Limpopo, South Africa
Position Type: Full-time, Live-in
Availability: Immediate / Soonest
Remuneration: R45,000+ per month (Dependent on experience and qualifications) + Food Allowance
About the Property:
We are an established, exclusive 10-bed syndicated luxury lodge situated in the spectacular, The lodge caters specifically to shareholders and their private guests, delivering a highly personalised and intimate five-star wilderness experience. We are seeking a passionate, dynamic, and experienced live-in Management Couple to assume full responsibility for this premier property and ensure it is meticulously prepared according to our shareholders’ individual requirements.
The Role & Reporting Structure:
This all-encompassing role requires a multi-skilled couple who possess strong leadership abilities, exceptional hospitality standards, and sound administrative and maintenance capabilities. The management couple will report directly to the Chairman and the Board of Directors, serving as the primary point of contact for all shareholder communications.
Key Responsibilities:
- Hospitality & Shareholder Relations: Warmly meet and greet guests upon arrival. Maintain excellent, professional communication with shareholders. Tailor the lodge setup to individual shareholder preferences for each stay.
- Administration & Finance: Draw up the annual shareholder occupancy calendar. Manage lodge operational expenses, process invoicing post-stay, and oversee the procurement of groceries, consumables, lodge equipment, and assets.
- Field Guiding & Guest Activities: Conduct professional, twice-daily game drives and guided bush walks (one partner must hold the required guiding qualifications).
- Staff Leadership: Manage and motivate an intimate permanent team of three, coordinate with a professional chef (brought in as required by shareholders), and supervise part-time workers. Draw up staff rosters and allocate daily duties, including the oversight of the in-house laundry.
- Maintenance & Asset Care: Hands-on maintenance of the lodge buildings, grounds, and all on-site equipment to keep the property in tip-top condition. Oversee the upkeep and servicing of the game-viewer and secondary lodge vehicle. Conduct regular site inspections to ensure full compliance with Welgevonden Game Reserve regulations. Source and manage specialist technicians for large-scale repairs.
- Operational Continuity: Source and appoint a suitable, qualified stand-in ranger to manage the property during your scheduled weeks off.
Requirements
Requirements & Qualifications:
- Proven experience successfully managing a luxury safari lodge or high-end boutique hospitality property as a couple.
- Guiding Partner: Minimum FGASA Level 2 (NQF4) qualification, valid DEAT/NDDT registration, backup trails guide tracking, and a valid professional driving permit (PrDP).
- Hospitality/Admin Partner: Strong administrative acumen, financial tracking skills, and exceptional guest hosting capabilities.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to interface confidently with corporate board members and high-net-worth shareholders.
- Hands-on mechanical and property maintenance skills (essential for the remote bush environment).
- Strong team leadership skills with a fair, motivating management style.
Benefits
What We Offer:
- A competitive salary package starting at R45,000+ per month (negotiable based on expertise).
- A dedicated monthly food allowance.
- Comfortable, live-in management accommodation.
Skills Required
- Proven experience managing a luxury safari lodge or high-end boutique hospitality property as a couple
- FGASA Level 2 (NQF4) qualification for the guiding partner
- Valid DEAT/NDDT registration for the guiding partner
- Backup trails guide tracking qualification
- Valid professional driving permit (PrDP)
- Strong administrative and financial tracking skills
- Exceptional guest hosting and communication skills
- Ability to communicate confidently with corporate board members and high-net-worth shareholders
- Hands-on mechanical and property maintenance skills
- Strong team leadership and staff management skills
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The Company
What We Do
Bushwise is a Southern African training provider specializing in practical safari-guide and conservation education. It offers hands-on field-guide courses and practical conservation training, with programs aligned to professional certification and standards. Its courses prepare students for careers in guiding and conservation through immersive bushveld learning and experienced instruction, supporting ethical participation in safari, environmental, and wildlife stewardship sectors.
