Our team is inspired by YOU!
It’s true – at Pan African Lodge & Safaris, everything we do is with our guests in mind. We work hard to make your stay with us as awesome as possible, and to that end, we also offer MANY tours and activities under one roof. We are thankful to have a great, cohesive team that is professional and looking forward to welcoming you! Meet the Team:
Modou Ndiaye - Owner
Born in Senegal, Modou has had a deep love of nature and animals all his life. South Africa stole his heart in his early twenties, and being a people-person, Modou wanted to share the beauty and hospitality of Africa with people from all around the globe.
As a well-respected African art and Taxidermy dealer, Modou originally intended the lodge just as a place where his international clients could visit and relax. Now, it has become a special luxury destination that offers guests an all-in-one immersion in an unforgettable African safari adventure. Modou has travelled the globe and also served as a member of the Senegalise Parliament for 5 years, where his portfolio was focused on the diaspora.
Modou’s love of people, combined with his big-picture approach to life, makes everyone feel welcome and is a driving force in providing a superb holiday experience for the whole family.
Beatrice Pharoe-Ndiaye - Owner
Beatrice works hard to bring their guests the best possible luxury holiday experience, and although she grew up on the KZN coast, she appreciates the beauty and tranquility of the bush.
She brings strong guest relation and organizational skills to the team, and her impeccable style and attention to detail is evident throughout the Pan African Safari brand.
Beatrice loves it that so many of their guests become family, and has the vision to always give their guests more value and choice in their holiday experience.
Louis - Guide
Louis’ journey as a safari guide began in 2012 at Timbavati. Having grown up in a rural area, he and his friends shared a love of nature, and becoming a professional guide was a natural progression.
Louis loves what he does and gains huge satisfaction from sharing his national wildlife heritage with visitors from around the globe. He says every day is different in his wild office, and despite the choice of animals in the game-rich southern part of Kruger Park he works in, the majestic giraffe is his favorite animal.
His most memorable sighting ever, was a standoff between arch enemies, lions and buffalo. There were no fatalities that day, but it was unforgettable. Louis looks forward to helping you make some of your own special memories in Africa.
Manuel - Groundsman
Manuel loves being outdoors and his appreciation of nature inspires him to maintain the beauty of the lush gardens at Pan African Safari Lodge.
The sparkling pool that invites our guests to relax under the bright African sky with a refreshing swim, is also Manuel’s labor of love.
He says his job is more than just a way to provide for his family – he loves what he does and joyfully contributes to making our guest experience as wonderful as possible.
Patience - Housekeeping
Patience agrees with Louis – giraffes are the best, and she delights in seeing guests experience these wild visitors to the lodge gardens too.
Guest comfort and service excellence are top priorities for Patience and aside from the practical aspects of the African hospitality the lodge prides itself on, Patience loves the exchange of cultures that happens with guests – not just sharing local traditions, customs and language, with guests, but also learning more about the cultures of guests travelling from other countries.
Happiness - Housekeeping
Happiness has an apt name, as she brings her own special brand of sunshine to the team.
She delights in her housekeeping roles and in creating a welcoming environment for guests.
Happiness loves being a part of the Pan African safari team, who, according to her, are more like family. She does however disagree with the majority’s local wild favorite, and says that for her, Zebras are the best! She loves their playful energy.
Maissa Ndiaye - Barman
Walking in his father, Modou’s footsteps, Maissa has returned to his country of birth, SA, in his early twenties. He is receiving a crash course in English as he tends the bar at Pan African Safari Lodge.
He also shares Modou’s love of wildlife and nature, and although his favorite animal is a lion (which is also what Ndiaye means), he has a soft spot for the warthog family that have made their home at Pan African Safari Lodge too.
He is embracing the beauty of Kruger National Park and thrives on new experiences and meeting new people.
Riaan - Skipper & Tiger Fishing Instructor
Boats and fishing were a big part of Riaan’s life from an early age, and ever since then, his addiction to the sport has only grown stronger!
There is nowhere he would rather be than out on the water, and he is passionate about helping other people discover the tranquility of being on the boat, and the challenge and excitement of fishing – and especially reeling in ‘the big one’.
Riaan loves being immersed in nature and his career choices have included everything from diamond diving to owning a deep-sea charter service. Tiger Fishing is only possible in two locations in South Africa, and Riaan looks forward to making your Pan African Safari Tiger Fishing expedition unforgettable.
Ntombi - Chef
Ntombi has been in the hospitality industry for more than two decades, and her passion lies in food.
She loves the creativity of presenting food beautifully and especially loves preparing traditional meals for guests from around the world to enjoy.
While she loves being surrounded by nature, her favorite thing about working in the heart of the African bush, is the song of the birds. Living and working in one of the best-loved wildlife regions of the world, that is home to more than 500 bird species, means that Ntombi is surround by these beautiful wild songs all the time to inspire her mouth watering culinary creations.
Vusi - Chef
When you have a deep love of the continent you were born on, it’s not hard to find inspiration to share everything you love about it with visitors from other parts of the world – these are the unseen special ingredients in Vusi’s culinary creations.
With 18 years in the hospitality industry, he has honed his skills at creating food that is delicious, and presented with creative flair. His favorite meal to prepare is traditional oxtail.
Vusi enjoys being exposed to nature and loves zebras and giraffes in particular. He loves meeting guests from all around the world and works hard to give them unforgettable tastes of Africa.
Tryphina - Waitress
Tryphina has a deep love of people and it shines through in her smile. She finds great joy in sharing African hospitality with guests at Pan African Lodge & Safaris, and also enjoys helping people to know more about African cultures.
When it comes to the wild locals, zebras have a special place in her heart. She finds their mischief and entertaining antics delightful.
For Tryphina, there is nothing like the peace one finds in the African bush and she hopes that everyone that visits this special place will experience it too.
Given - Guide
Being a tour and safari guide is more than just a job for Given. It’s the opportunity to immerse himself in the incomparable wildlife of Africa, interesting people from all around the world, and beautiful places.
Given began his guiding career in Limpopo, in the Northern regions of Kruger Park, and loves being in the game-rich South, where he can indulge his passion for nature. His favorite animal is the Porcupine – a true wild warrior in Given’s estimation.
His most memorable safari sighting yet, was seeing a buffalo kill a lion! But, he believes there is something special happening in nature all the time and he loves helping guests experience and enjoy those moments.
Meeting new people and learning about their cultures too is something Given really enjoys.
Nontobeko - Housekeeping
There are people that have a gift of being able to create peace and order in spaces, so that all who occupy those spaces feel calm and relaxed…
Nontobeko is one of these people and she is passionate about cleaning and order, so that when guests arrive in their rooms after their travels, or safari adventures of the day, they immediately feel welcome and at peace.
Her appreciation for peace enables her to identify and embrace it in nature, and surprisingly, she does not mind the playful mischief of the local zebras – in fact, they have managed to be come her wild favorites.
Phethile - Laundry
There is something about the comfort of snuggling up in clean, crisp linen, and this is Phethile’s domain.
Phethile understands the value of attention to detail and works hard to maintain the standard of excellence in Pan African Safari Lodge’s laundry.
However, there is more to perfect laundry than clean water, top detergents and proven process, so don’t be surprised when you hear the whisper of the wild breeze on your pillow, or feel the caress of the African sunshine lingering on your sheets…
This is what Phethile is referring to when she says that well-done laundry helps to bring comfort and create a welcoming atmosphere, and she takes pride in helping our guests be as comfortable as possible.
Her favorite animals are giraffes.