TRP News 07/04/2025

Knowledge Hub
Apr 11
21 min read

VALUE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL

To Have a Culture of Mutual Respect, Trust and Integrity

PRIMROSE HOUSE

Human Resources

Since the opening of our new office in October, we’ve been hard at work getting the upstairs area ready. This space will soon be available as a beautiful venue for training, especially for our Cape Town properties. Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of hosting Lessons in Conservation, which was attended by teams from both The Silo Hotel and Birkenhead House. It was a meaningful session and a wonderful use of the new training space.

If you’re interested in booking the training venue, please reach out to either Nicky Farmer (Head of Talent) or Estelle van der Merwe (Group HR Manager) at least one week in advance. This helps us manage catering, as we order food ahead of time to ensure you’re well taken care of.

We would also like to take a moment to recognise and congratulate our finance team for an outstanding achievement. They managed to complete the financial year-end reporting by 19 March, an incredible feat accomplished in just 13 working days. This came alongside a restructuring of the team and their processes, making the accomplishment even more impressive. Well done to everyone involved!

On the topic of personal achievements, we’re so proud of two members of our Head Office team who took part in the Two Oceans Marathon this past weekend. The weather in Cape Town was nothing short of spectacular, and we’re hopeful it left a lasting impression on visitors to the city. Andrew Damoto (Accounts Payable Accountant) completed the 21km race in just 2 hours and 9 minutes, while Tamryn Pieterse (IR/HR Generalist) tackled the Ultra Marathon, an incredible 56km, in 5 hours and 44 minutes. Congratulations to both of you!

Training continues on Wednesdays, if you missed Adrian Kaplan’s (Executive Head of Marketing) first session, we highly recommend watching the recording—it’s one of the best insights into who we are as a brand and what we stand for.

We’re also pleased to share that as of April, the Head Office team has officially joined Connecteam. This means everyone across the company is now using the platform. Some properties had expressed concern about location tracking, please note that this setting has been removed, and no one is being tracked. It is, however, a legal requirement under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act to keep accurate time records, so everyone must clock in and out or use the schedule feature to indicate shift times. We understand this might feel like a hassle, but it’s an essential part of our compliance and operations.

Connecteam is far more than a clocking system. We encourage everyone to download the app for the full experience. If storage space is an issue, you can access it via your computer or a kiosk device on-site. A variety of training courses are already live on the app, including culture training with Victor, induction to TRP, accountability, disciplinary courses, and others. If you’re interested in exploring more, speak to your HR representative, some may already be visible on your profile.

There are also great features like access to cross-property messaging (without displaying phone numbers), an organogram, birthdays and anniversaries, manager recognition tools, and incident reporting. This last feature is especially important for reporting any workplace injuries, so we can log them with the Compensation Fund. Some properties are also using it for operational purposes, and general expense claims will now also be processed through the app. Policies, performance reviews, exit interviews, and our upcoming engagement survey will be made available through Connecteam as well.

As we wrap up, good luck to Liz Biden (Founder and Co-Chair) and the Royal Malewane team as you prepare to welcome your first guests to Masiya's Camp next week. We know there’s a lot of pressure, but we’re confident the result will be stunning, and we can’t wait to see the photos of our guests enjoying their stay.

Marketing

We’re delighted to share a glimpse into the latest happenings from the marketing team, with exciting developments across events, content, and digital platforms.

This past month has been particularly strong on the PR front, with excellent global media coverage across a variety of top-tier publications. From weddings and honeymoons at La Residence to compelling conservation features, our stories are reaching a wide and influential audience.

In March, we hosted a group of six influential German journalists for a one-night stay at Franschhoek House. These Cape Town-based writers contribute to leading German publications and had a fantastic experience, thanks to the warm hospitality of the team at La Residence.

The recent Vault exhibition and the opening of Gabrielle Kruger’s work, held in collaboration with Brundyn Arts and Culture, was a major highlight. It was a wonderfully successful event that continues to affirm our identity as an art-focused hotel, with a strong emphasis on contemporary African art. This forms an integral part of our narrative and helps position us uniquely in the market.

On the digital front, the team has been making continual improvements to our website. Daily tweaks are being made, but a key recent focus has been enhancing the visibility of our private villas, exclusive-use stays, and private residences in Hermanus. These sections have been separated out in the site’s navigation to make it easier for guests to explore the differences in offerings and services. This strategic move allows us to distinguish between lodges, villas, hotels, and private residences, important for sales and marketing, as each product serves different audiences with unique needs. Properties like Royal Malewane, for instance, are now presented as a portfolio of seven unique offerings: four lodges and camps, and three private villas. Each has its own identity and dedicated page to showcase the full experience.

The blog continues to be a valuable platform for storytelling and SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Rich, engaging stories not only draw readers in but also help direct organic traffic to our site. We post around two to three blog articles each month, keeping content fresh and relevant. A great example is Cheslin Cornelissen's (Executive Chef) personal journey at La Residence, featured through a heartfelt video in one of our latest posts.

Video content continues to play a growing role in our content strategy. We recently launched the hero video for Franschhoek House, an immersive piece that’s also been adapted into short-form videos for social media, including Instagram and Facebook. These short, themed cuts are proving highly effective, aligned with how people consume content today. The team is also producing a continuous stream of video content, including lifestyle pieces like the Farmstead clips featuring Tyron van der Walt (Professional Field Guide) and Lucas Mathonsi (Head Tracker). These offer a warm, authentic look into life in the bush, with more of this style of content planned for the coming months.

Supporting the Farmstead campaign, we’ve launched beautifully crafted mailers around themes like romance and honeymoons. The team is also actively working with influencers to generate new, vibrant content across social media and the website. In addition, internal communications to trade publications have helped announce recent appointments, including Nigel Pace (Executive Head of Sales) and Hoon Kim (Sales Manager - Asia Pacific), with encouraging media pickup.

From a social media perspective, the results are impressive. Over the past month, Instagram alone saw 950 000 impressions, a 26% increase from the previous month. Organic engagement rose slightly too, and importantly, all of this is achieved without paid promotions. Our audience continues to grow organically, drawn to the brand and its stories by choice rather than incentive.

Fresh content creation is ongoing, with two recent photo shoots capturing the beauty of our private residences in Hermanus. The shoots at Voelklip House near Birkenhead House and the Lighthouse have generated stunning imagery now being incorporated into new collateral, fact sheets, and website updates. A recent shoot at The Silo Hotel spa added even more visual richness to our portfolio, with gorgeous new photography and video reels.

The design team has also been hard at work developing updated materials, such as the corporate retreat fact sheets for Birkenhead House, and revised collateral for La Residence.

A series of striking new ads has been created, and as always, we’re finishing on a high note with some extraordinary wildlife photography from Lourenco Afonso (Wildlife Photographer and Social Media Content Creator), images that capture the magic of the bush and round off our content update beautifully.

Sales

The sales team has been hard at work, taking The Royal Portfolio story across the globe with renewed energy and impact.

Nigel Pace (Executive Head of Sales) and Ian Taylor (Sales and Revenue Manager) recently travelled to Johannesburg where they held 13 appointments with DMCs. Their trip included a memorable stop in Heidelberg to meet with the team at Karan Beef Farm, home to over 100 000 head of cattle! While they were momentarily delayed by a full-on cow crossing, the visit proved to be both productive and memorable.

Just days into his new role, Hoon Kim (Sales Manager - Asia Pacific) was thrown straight into the deep end with a whirlwind sales trip to Asia. After a few days in the Cape Town office, he flew to Singapore and then onto India, where he represented The Royal Portfolio at the Luxury Tribe trade show. His signature smile featured in every photo, and he made an outstanding impression, bringing in excellent feedback, meaningful enquiries, and new bookings. It was an eye-opening introduction to the region, but one he handled brilliantly.

Anton Noll (Sales Manager - UK and Europe) has just returned from a successful few weeks in Europe, including time in the Netherlands, Germany and several cities in Switzerland. One delightful highlight was the branded Lindt chocolates he had made with The Royal Portfolio logo, sadly none survived the trip back, which we’ll take as a good sign. He also visited South Africa House in Amsterdam, a key venue for several top tour operators selling South Africa.

On the North American front, Werner Krause (Sales Manager - USA) braved the icy winds and looming tornadoes of Chicago, to attend the Brownell Travel Academy and connect with key partners during a series of productive sales calls. The feedback was extremely positive, and the trip proved a valuable opportunity to strengthen our presence in this important market.

With trade show season now in full swing, preparations are underway for We Are Africa, which the entire sales team (except Felipe) will be attending. Felipe Bonahora (Sales Manager - Latin America) will instead be heading back to Latin America to continue developing relationships in that region. Ian and Nigel are also preparing for Indaba, which kicks off on the 12th of May in Durban.

Events

It’s been a busy time for the events team as we work closely with all properties to refresh and refine our packages. A big thank you to the Marketing team for their support, your input has helped fine-tune offerings and create new opportunities.

Some of the exciting updates include a beautifully refreshed wedding brochure and the soon-to-be-launched corporate retreat package for Birkenhead House, which we’re particularly excited about.

We’ve also hosted several successful events recently, including a stylish luncheon at the Terrace Room, a group presentation and a memorable gathering at The Vineyard Venue, where our incredible team helped create special moments for our guests.

The Bahamas Project - Briland

We’re excited to give you an exclusive look at the early stages of our latest international project, The Briland Club in the Bahamas.

This remarkable development is set on Harbour Island, just off the coast of the Bahamas, and it’s one of the few properties that stretches all the way from the harbour side across to the ocean side. That means we have the opportunity to design across both stunning waterfronts, an incredibly unique prospect.

On the harbour side, you’ll find the marina, where boats will dock daily, along with a stylish restaurant and bar. The iconic “Haunted House,” a 1940s structure, will be carefully replicated, creating a dining destination complete with indoor and outdoor seating, landscaped gardens, a Speakeasy, and lounge.

We’re also developing a beautiful wellness area, including a spa, sauna, steam room, gym, hair and nail salon, a central pool, and a tranquil relaxation courtyard. Meanwhile, the recreation area will be upgraded to offer pickleball and padel courts, a clubhouse, tea house, crew area, and a fun space for kids and teens.

Across on the ocean side, plans are underway for a boutique twenty key hotel, along with ocean-facing cottages. While we are still in the early design and drawing stages, our vision is coming to life quickly, and we can’t wait to share more as it progresses.

A huge thank you to Nick Daneel, who’s been working closely with the Briland team onsite and flying The Royal Portfolio flag high. Despite it being 04h00 in the Bahamas when this update was shared, Nick shared some images from his time in the Bahamas.

PROPERTIES UPDATE

Birkenhead House

As we begin to wind down after a busy season, the Birkenhead House team wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the wonderful highlights and exceptional contributions that have made this period so memorable, for both our guests and each other.

Customer satisfaction continues to be one of the most powerful indicators of our success, and it’s clear that our guests are leaving with more than just beautiful memories of our properties. Long-time guests Gary and Lisa, who now visit us twice a year for twelve days at a time, continue to form strong bonds with our team. They enjoyed a few rounds of golf with Shane Brummer (General Manager). Guests like Randy and Allen, who have been returning for over twenty-three years, reminded us of the importance of relationships. Their recent stay at Birkenhead brought together a group that included Lynn from Leading Hotels and other long-standing friends of The Royal Portfolio. It was a wonderful example of how our properties foster genuine connections and shared experiences.

Gary and Lisa ended their stay with a heartfelt gathering in the card room, where staff and guests came together to connect more deeply, an evening filled with canapés, laughs, and a real sense of community. These are the kinds of moments that our guests take home and share with others abroad, and it's exactly what sets our experiences apart. Thank you for continuing to create these special memories.

Another familiar face, Frank from Germany, stayed with us again this season. A loyal Royal Portfolio guest who visits up to five times a year, Frank has a unique passion for food. He enjoys stepping into the kitchen, sharing his culinary preferences, and collaborating with our chefs. His energy and enthusiasm are always welcome, and his love for what we offer speaks volumes about the consistency and quality of our hospitality.

We also had the pleasure of hosting Nathan Verlyn, a prominent US-based influencer in the surfing world. Invited by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Nathan spent time exploring the cultural side of surfing in South Africa. Together with Cass Craig and Clive Biggs (Head Chef), he went mussel picking and shared stories about the roots of surfing and its social impact. Although Werner Krause (Sales Manager - USA) joined him for a surf lesson, let’s just say there’s room for improvement, some core muscle training may be in order!

In terms of employee engagement, we’ve seen some real stars shine. Bonolo Buti (Seasonal Receptionist) recently graduated cum laude in her Hospitality Degree, and we’re incredibly proud of her. Wayne, as many of you know, has moved on to Masiya's Camp where he’s been getting things off the ground with great energy, and a few fashionable choices, like khaki shorts and veldskoene. Our Employee of the Month honours went to Nicola Koegelenberg (Pastry Chef) and Gift Ngobese (Waiter), who have both made extraordinary progress in their roles. Their dedication and professionalism are an inspiration, and it’s clear that they are truly coming into their own.

A big thank you also goes out to Gershwin Coetzee, one of our brilliant tour guides. Originally from Arniston, Gershwin was challenged to show off his meat braaiing skills—and he certainly delivered. The steak he prepared for the staff was so good, some of the guests couldn’t resist having a taste too.

One particularly touching moment came when a long-staying guest realised that a deeply sentimental pair of earrings had gone missing. Without saying a word to anyone, she had nearly given up hope, until, on the final night of her stay, she returned from dinner to find them placed gently on her bedside table. Thanks to the honesty and care of our housekeeping team, a potentially upsetting situation became an unforgettable one. The guest was moved to tears and expressed that this act of integrity would keep her coming back for years to come.

On Human Rights Day, the team celebrated with cupcakes, good humour, and time together. And in another highlight, Gift Ngobese (Waiter) returned from completing his WSET course with a spark of creativity. He set up his own cocktail bar for an evening with guests, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere. The cocktails were a hit, and the evening was one to remember.

We also took part in valuable conservation training at head office in Cape Town. It was an enlightening experience that deepened our understanding of the incredible work our conservation partners are doing.

Community engagement remains close to our hearts. Our ongoing partnership with the local night shelter, where staff take turns preparing and delivering meals, is a small but powerful way we give back. The spa has also seen some beautiful improvements thanks to Sheron Ndlovu’s (Head Spa Therapist) excellent leadership and care. Her attention to detail and dedication to creating a serene space have not gone unnoticed.

To each and every employee at Birkenhead House, thank you. It’s been a long, busy season, and your hard work has been nothing short of extraordinary. As we head into winter and prepare for maintenance and a much-deserved break, let’s take pride in what we’ve achieved and look forward to an even better season ahead.

The Silo Hotel

As we reflect on another exciting month across The Royal Portfolio, it’s clear that our employees continue to be the heart of everything we do, creating unforgettable guest experiences, uplifting communities, and building each other up in ways that truly matter.

From a guest experience perspective, we’ve had some touching highlights. A romantic turndown for the Sullivan guests was beautifully executed, and the feedback was nothing short of glowing. Guests were genuinely moved, and the moment became one they raved about the next day. Another thoughtful initiative was the introduction of personalised caps gifted to some of our most loyal return visitors, a simple yet meaningful gesture that helps strengthen the connection they feel to our properties. As always, the heartfelt notes we receive from guests like Mila remind us of the real impact we make every day.

At The Silo Hotel, employee wellness took center stage with an engaging Wellness Day. The day featured dental services, wellness checks through Discovery, and even a friendly competition for the “Best Discovery Vitality Age,” which was proudly won by Janice Langeveldt (Waiter). Congratulations, Janice!

We also celebrated some amazing employee development milestones. Liam Charles, one of our maintenance technicians, successfully completed training to become a certified refrigeration practitioner. In the kitchen, Likhona Yam, our first-year intern, completed her first cooking exam with outstanding results. Congratulations on your excellent work, Likhona!

The kitchen team l also had an exciting opportunity: Yamkela Gantsho (Chef de Partie), Nkululeko Mateke (Commis Chef), Pakamani Mphoswa (Demi Chef), and Zizi Magaiyana (Assistant Night Chef) were selected for a prestigious estate visit in preparation for the Young Chefs competition. Their journey will include cellar tours, wine tastings, and a cook-off in May. We’re incredibly proud to see our team stepping into the spotlight.

Social impact remains a cornerstone of our culture. Shane Brummer (BH General Manager), Craig Versfeld (LR General Manager), Andre Webber (Assistant F&B Manager), and Johandri Ras (TS Deputy General Manager) participated in the Letters of Love Metropolitan Golf Day, which raised nearly half a million rand for charity. And through our ongoing partnership with Leliebloem, Silo team members continue their bi-weekly visits, bringing joy and mentorship to the children. We also donated prams to Atlantic Hope to assist with the safe transport of babies in need.

This month’s Project of the Month focused on Salt River High School, where we raised an impressive R70 000 to help sponsor a teacher, an initiative that ensures continuity and quality in education for students facing resource challenges. This contribution will fund several months of teaching, and it’s a testament to what we can achieve together.

In the world of art and culture, The Silo Hotel hosted two standout exhibitions. Gabrielle Kruger, who showcased her unique blend of technical sculpture and canvas work in Blurred Lines. Even more special was our Acquisitions Exhibition, which highlighted the works we’ve collected over the years. This event drew art curators, collectors, and guests alike, and was made possible thanks to the incredible collaboration between maintenance, marketing, and front-of-house teams.

Financial highlights this month include a last-minute seven-night penthouse booking by guests Angelina and Samuel. Huge thanks to the reservations team and the travel desk for pulling together an exceptional itinerary under tight timelines, your hard work truly paid off. And kudos to the sales team for their continued efforts; your site visits, client dinners, and inspections have been invaluable in keeping our rooms full.

Our team spirit shone just as brightly outside of work too. Silo staff members participated in the SPAR Women’s Challenge and enjoyed the morning out in the sunshine.

And finally, we celebrate two outstanding team members: Chelsea Jephthah (Assistant Concierge), who was named Employee of the Month for her radiant energy and guest-centered service, and Bianca Schreuder (Head Pastry Chef), our Employee of the Quarter, whose leadership in the kitchen has been exceptional. Congratulations to you both.

To everyone across The Royal Portfolio, thank you for your passion, your professionalism, and your heart. Let’s continue to support one another, elevate our guest experiences, and make a positive impact wherever we can.

La Residence

We had a truly lovely March, filled with special guests, exciting updates, and memorable moments.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Alan Carr, who joined us a few weeks ago. He was an absolute delight, constantly laughing, full of compliments (especially about our rosé, which he loved having complimentary with his booking). His humor had all of us in stitches daily, and we really enjoyed hosting him.

The Santa family also stayed with us at Franschhoek House. Although they had a full itinerary planned, they ended up canceling their dinner bookings and simply stayed in-house, proof that the experience we offer is compelling enough to change plans for! A huge thanks to the team who made their stay so enjoyable.

We’ve reintroduced Coal evenings along with live entertainment, and the response has been incredible. We recently welcomed the Papier family band, three generations of local musicians, including a 9-year-old who plays 13 instruments! The band performed for our Coal evening, and the guests were dancing, crying, and completely captivated. Guest feedback has been glowing, especially with personal mentions of the team, well done, everyone!

We've also kicked off a new initiative we’re calling “Spring Cleaning in Autumn,” where we use quieter days to deep clean and reorganize across departments. Housekeeping, Front Office, and Front of House have all done a fantastic job, thank you to everyone involved!

Our Purpose and Values Committee has been restructured, and we’re thrilled to congratulate Nuzaan Magier (Junior Duty Manager) on becoming President, and Byron van der Valk (Junior Duty Manager) as Vice President. Together with the management team, we’ll be focusing on ensuring our guest, team, and company experiences remain aligned with our purpose and values.

This March, we also moved away from Employee of the Month and proudly introduced our first Culture Champ of the Month, congratulations to Byron! He’s consistently mentioned in guest feedback for his calm, warm presence and the special way he enhances guest experiences. We appreciate you, Byron!

Another exciting initiative, we’re making sure all team members truly understand our property and have seen all the rooms. Byron has taken the lead, whenever we have open rooms, he gives the team a guided tour, just like we would for visiting agents or special guests. It’s a great learning opportunity and we’re grateful for his enthusiasm.

We also completed a light audit to ensure everything is working as it should. And just this week, we kicked off our olive harvest, thank you to Eddie Paul (Estate Manager) and the team for leading the way. We’re excited to see what the harvest yields!

Two new romantic bicycles have arrived at La Residence, perfect for guests and some lovely Instagram moments. Over at Franschhoek House, we’ve been soaking in the stunning sunsets, and our guests are just as enchanted as we are. March also saw a few special events at the Vineyard Venue, thank you to Leana Nienaber (Group Events Co-ordinator) for the planning.

Thank you all for your continued energy, care, and commitment to excellence.

Royal Malewane

April has been a month of joyful moments, creative learning, and meaningful connections throughout our lodges. From special guest experiences to thoughtful community initiatives, our teams continue to lead with heart and passion.

At Malewane and Farmstead, we had the pleasure of hosting a number of content creators and influencers. Their visits were filled with magic, from memorable sundowners to immersive safari experiences. Time and again, their feedback has centered on our incredible people. Whether it was the warmth of the welcome or the thoughtful touches along the way, it’s clear that what resonated most deeply was the spirit and care shown by each of you.

Over at Waterside, the lodge was alive with laughter and music as the Albaadi family enjoyed a hands-on pizza-making experience and playful games with our team. The children loved every moment, and the evening ended in song, capturing the joy and connection that defines the Waterside experience.

Recognition remains a vital part of our culture, and this month we’re proud to celebrate Thomas Makamu (Staff Driver), as our Employee of the Quarter. His consistency, professionalism, and positivity continue to uplift those around him. We also commend the Farmstead Housekeeping and Duty Manager team for winning the Culture Cup, thanks to their thoughtful community outreach initiative. They spent time in the local village cleaning homes, mowing lawns, and doing deep cleans for residents, a reminder that even small gestures can make a big difference.

Farmstead’s front of house team recently joined the kitchen to gain firsthand experience of the behind-the-scenes culinary process. This not only broadened their understanding of our food offering but strengthened the team’s ability to communicate menus and daily specials with confidence and pride. Meanwhile, the March Track & Sign assessments brought great energy and strong results to the safari team, showcasing the value of ongoing learning.

Waterside used its recent 10-day closure as an opportunity to run immersive masterclasses across departments. From learning how to change vehicle tires, with the ladies confidently leading the way, to engaging lodge orientation sessions and bush walks with the guiding team, the focus was on practical skills and deeper cross-functional understanding. Spa therapists shadowed the housekeeping team, developing sharper attention to detail and appreciation for what goes into preparing a perfect room. The F&B team added an extra spark by launching daily themes like glassware polishing and anticipating guest needs, subtle shifts that are already enhancing the guest experience.

A more unexpected challenge came in the form of a determined porcupine at Farmstead, intent on nibbling its way across the lawn and gardens. But with some creative thinking, and a mix of chili paste and strategic netting, the team found an effective, nature-friendly solution that’s so far keeping the prickly visitor at bay.

The Farmstead front of house team, who partnered with Dr. Kamry from Lowveld Dental to visit the local crèche. With lots of laughs, big smiles, and brightly colored toothbrushes, they led an engaging session on dental hygiene that left the children inspired and excited to care for their teeth.

Waterside welcomed the canine unit for an engaging demonstration, giving our staff a deeper understanding of their training methods and role in ensuring safety. Not only was it informative and interactive, but the visit highlighted how our team can call on them in the future when needed, a reminder of the support available within our extended network.

With a brief quiet period, our teams took the opportunity to focus on maintenance and upgrades. At Malewane, the spa roof received a much-needed refresh, and Room 6 got a full floor makeover with beautiful new finishes. Farmstead spa beds were given a fresh coat of paint, and the gym at Malewane underwent impressive maintenance, now looking spotless and refreshed thanks to the team’s hard work.

More upgrades followed, with Waterside’s spa receiving a facelift, including painting and refitting. The generator was relocated to the staff village in preparation for the exciting new solar project. The library also saw improvements, with new tiling installed to elevate the space.

We now also have a new tractor in action, which will be shared between lodges for transporting water and supplies, a great resource for logistics. Our guiding team recently attended the regional FGASA meeting at the CRC, where important topics were discussed to enhance the guest experience. During this quieter stretch, the maintenance team continued their proactive efforts, clearing overhanging branches and pathways around Malewane to ensure safety and preserve the lodge’s natural beauty.

Around the lodges, our staff have been hard at work with deep cleaning and deck oiling, particularly at Malewane, where the fresh finish has brought renewed charm to the outdoor spaces. The maintenance team has also been busy supporting other sites like Masiya's Camp with critical deliveries and upkeep.

And finally, a very exciting update from Masiya's Camp. With opening day drawing closer, the energy on site is palpable. From pool installations and bar counters to intricate lighting installations and guest rooms undergoing final touches, the camp is beginning to shine. One especially beautiful image captured what guests will see as they return from dinner or game drive, tents softly glowing in the night, promising warmth and luxury. Though there’s still work to be done, the camp is coming together beautifully, and we’re excited for what’s to come.

As always, a big thank you to all our teams for your hard work, pride, and positivity. Each act of service, every upgrade, and every warm welcome contributes to the exceptional experiences we deliver daily. Let’s carry this momentum into the weeks ahead.

FOUNDATION UPDATE

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how the Foundation is structured and operates. Here's what you need to know:

Established: 2018, as a Trust.
Trustees: Ali (Chairperson), Liz, Matt, Phil, Simon, and Michel (Auditor).
Admin Team: Emma, Laura, Lee-anne, and Eddy (Finance) at Head Office manage day-to-day operations.
Property Committees: Each property has its own committee responsible for implementing projects and working with local partners. Interested in getting involved? Chat to your HOD or HR.

Legal & Donor Info:

The Foundation is a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), allowing us to issue Section 18a tax certificates to South African donors.
International donors can receive tax benefits via fiscal sponsors in Paris, Africa, and the US.

Trust Objectives (All projects must align with one or more):

Poverty relief & anti-poverty efforts
Community development
Job creation & skills development
Education
Healthcare services
Youth leadership & development
Nature conservation & environmental protection

Impact & Allocation Highlights:

Supporting over 700 children through regular contributions to schools—providing education, food, teachers, training, and more.
Budget Allocation:
- 40% to schools & crèches
- 33% to community & social services
- 27% to conservation

Our Partners include:

From a conservation perspective, in March, five European Rollers were tagged as part of the ongoing BirdLife SA migration project, three at Thornybush Nature Reserve and two in Timbavati. All five birds have begun their migration, with some covering incredible distances in just a few days. Bird #26, for example, travelled 3,200 kilometres in six days, while Bird #24 covered 2,500 kilometres. The purpose of this tagging is to better understand their migratory patterns and identify potential threats along the way. If a tag stops transmitting, the team can investigate whether something went wrong in transit, which helps with long-term species protection.

Researchers Kim and Ryan have been staying at the Conservation and Research Centre and recently tagged a young Southern Ground Hornbill just before it fledged. These birds are now fitted with Bluetooth trackers, which require close proximity to download data. Guides on the reserve are encouraged to install an app on their phones so they can assist in capturing this data and forwarding it to the research team. Observing the birds at such a young stage in the wild was described as a truly special experience.

Lastly, the Tracker Institute has continued to thrive, with Juan Pinto (Director of Conservation and WIidlife) running two recent training courses.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT TRP

Our Careers page is the reference point for all open positions available across The Royal Portfolio group. We accept internal and external applications here, and always, internal applications are given preference.

In order to ensure your application stands out, please apply via the Careers page and let your HOD and property HR Manager know of your desire to develop yourself further.

Feel free to share the site with your industry friends and networks too, in order to help us reach a wider network of exceptional candidates.

You can click here, or scan the QR code to visit the website.