The lovely ladies of Baobab Ridge - Meet Lebo
THE HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST...
For 34-year-old Lebo Chiloane, the last six years spent at Baobab Ridge have changed her life. Born and raised in Acornhoek, she left Makgoka High School with dreams of becoming an engineer, attending the Mapulaneng Technical College on the Sir Val Duncan Campus in Namakgale outside Phalaborwa.
After her studies she took a two-year gap to have her daughter, who's now 13 years old, and decided to put engineering on hold so she could get a job. So in 2012 she joined the team at Pick 'n' Pay in Hoedspruit, eventually being promoted to work with the safari lodges in the area that the busy supermarket supplies groceries to.
"This was my introduction to the safari lodge industry," explains Lebo. "I got to know all of the safari camps and the managers through helping to put together their orders and arrange their deliveries," she says. "Baobab Ridge was one of my clients and in 2015 I found out there was an opening at the lodge. So on 5 December I started my new life in the African wilderness," she laughs.
Lebo learned quickly, starting out as a scullery assistant, cleaner and waitress so she could understand each aspect of running a busy safari lodge. In 2018 she was promoted to "front of house", meeting and greeting clients and assisting with their needs and requirements as a hostess.
"It's been the perfect job for me," she says. "I love meeting new people and learning about them and where they come from. I am always open to understanding different cultures and traditions, so I absolutely love my work here."
Moving from an urban environment to the bush had its challenges, though. "I was very scared when I started here, especially of the snakes," she laughs. "But even though at first I found things a bit intimidating, I have learned so much about the environment and the wildlife, and now I wouldn't work anywhere else," Lebo says.
"Baobab Ridge has a wonderful family atmosphere and that applies to both guests and staff. As a team, we work together like family and take care of one another, and we pass the love and affection from our family to our guests, making them a part of it."
