About
Meet The Team
Our Matetsi Victoria Falls family, who make Matetsi Magic.
Our Matetsi Victoria Falls family, who make Matetsi Magic.
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General Manager Stian, who joined the Matetsi family in 2023, brings with him a wealth of knowledge from his experiences in 5* luxury hospitality at the One&Only and Cape Grace in Cape Town. In his own words, “I am passionate about hospitality and conservation, and I am grateful to be part of an organization whose mission it is to regenerate vast areas of pristine wilderness and create opportunities for locals. I love sharing my skills and experience with the dedicated team here at Matetsi Victoria Falls, and together creating everlasting memories for our guests, while making a positive impact on both the environment and within the local community.”
Stian has a fascinating background, having started his working career in the South African Navy in 2000. He later moved to London and held various positions including a role with the City of London and another with Crisis UK (an NGO addressing homelessness). Whilst in London he gained an International Diploma in Business Administration and qualified as a Health and Safety professional.
At the One&Only, where he began his hospitality career over 10 years ago, Stian was responsible for rooms division, front and back of house operations and was a member of the Senior Management team of the business. In 2015, Stian joined Cape Grace, a privately owned 5* luxury hospitality business, where he held various operational roles and was part of the Executive Management team responsible for setting vision and delivering world class service. Most recently, Stian was employed by the Accor group as a Cluster Director for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Stian feels right at home on Matetsi Private Game Reserve, and during his time off you will most likely find him camping and/or enjoying outdoor activities with his young family.
Our dynamic Hospitality Operations Manager, Tafadzwa (Taph) Machirori, brings together our lodge team, and oversees all aspects of our guest experience at Matetsi Victoria Falls. She loves empowering individuals, helping them bring out their full potential and being part of a collective that makes our guests’ dreams come true. During her 15+ years in the industry, Taph has gained a combination of 5* and resort experience, as well as over five years of management and leadership experience in hospitality operations. Most recently this was acknowledged by the Zimbabwe CEO network with the Gold Award for Outstanding Operations Manager – “a splendid professional character with a rare savvy approach to operational concerns”.
Taph truly has a wealth of experience and expertise. Her background, along with her excellent leadership and management skills, allow her to foster a positive team culture within our Matetsi family that delivers an exceptional guest experience.
With a passion for hospitality and innovation, Taph is skilled in developing and training teams, enriching service culture through continuous on-the-job training, and implementing and maintaining systems and standards. Taph herself has a keen attention-for-detail, is a timeous problem solver, never shies away from a challenge, and is in her element when she is working with a team that is thriving.
Having received a Chevening Scholarship, Taph completed her Masters degree in Global Innovation Management at the University of Leeds (United Kingdom) and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Zimbabwe.
Taph, who works closely with our GM Stian, joined the Matetsi team in 2023 as part of the exceptional leadership team that will take Matetsi Victoria Falls to new heights in the future.
Taph is committed to giving back, outside of work, she is the President of the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls and Deputy Chairperson of the Chevening Zimbabwe Alumni Committee. She always says “yes” to adventure and really values time with family and friends.
Travolta Chatyoka took on the role of Operations Manager for our then small ground handling division in June 2017. His focus has always been to grow the business, operate efficiently and provide excellent customer service. Through these, Travolta has developed his division into a stand-alone luxury tours and transfers operation named Signature Africa. Simultaneously, Travolta is our “go-to-guy” for a wide array of matters relating to the operation of Matetsi Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwean born and raised; Travolta started off his career in retail and sales, gaining a MSc in Marketing along the way. He joined the wider family business seven years ago, and with his hard-working nature and a drive to succeed it was clear that he had the potential to progress rapidly. He had completed a management training program, encompassing operations, logistics and sales, when the opportunity to move across to Matetsi Victoria Falls came about.
With his strong relationship-building skills, Travolta has and continues to build and maintain great relationships within the extended Matetsi Victoria Falls family, as well as with industry colleagues and guests. He is naturally skilled at bringing out the best in others and has proven himself when it comes to effectively recruiting and managing talent. With a broad-skill base and can-do attitude, Travolta is an essential member of our extended Matetsi Victoria Falls family.
Travolta is continuously honing his photography skills, and in his spare time he can be seen enjoying a game drive on Matetsi Private Game Reserve or travelling through our beautiful country Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwean born and now Victoria Falls based, Sara is passionate about showcasing everything exceptional from her beautiful country and in doing so making a strong positive impact for the region.
Our luxury safari lodge, on the banks of the Zambezi river upstream from the spectacular Victoria Falls, is the realisation of a dream that Sara and her family have had since she was a child playing in the mud on the banks of that same river. And she counts her blessings every day that this dream has become a reality, and through it she is able to conserve vast areas of pristine wilderness and create opportunities for Zimbabweans.
Sara’s journey has been an interesting one, from running barefoot on Zimbabwe’s rust-coloured earth as a child, to tinkering in a laser laboratory while obtaining a PhD from the University of Oxford. She used her time abroad to explore the world but has never called another place home. Zimbabwe has always held a place in her heart and on completion of her PhD at the age of 25, she moved back. Since then she has been fully involved with the family enterprise and has now immersed herself in Matetsi Victoria Falls.
Sara’s name is the root of the Shona word Ndinosara, which means “I remain” – an intimation in one of our local languages to her unwavering commitment to the country she calls home, to its incredible people and its rich and varied wildlife.
Passionate Zimbabwean conservationist, Brian Gurney leads our conversation and security team with admiral professionalism. His ability to inspire and motivate others is evidenced in the commitment and effectiveness of his team. Focused primarily on protecting the vast wilderness that is Matetsi Private Game Reserve, this team has also been trained as personal security should guests request this.
Together with the Gardiner family, Brian spearheads conservation efforts on property, including but not limited to reintroduction of wildlife species into the area as necessary and on-going preservation of flora and fauna species. Brian is a proactive team player whose skills and experience give him the ability to support and assist the development of colleagues within other departments in areas such as First Aid, and health and safety.
Brian holds good relationships with National Parks, local communities and other conservation organisations operating within the Victoria Falls region and across Zimbabwe. Father of two, Brian and his wife love sharing the wonders of the African wilderness with their children.
Mxolisi (Alton) Ndiweni brings a rich tapestry of culinary experiences to his role as Executive Chef at Matetsi Victoria Falls. Joining our Matetsi family in 2024, Mxolisi returned to his roots in Zimbabwe after a decade-long culinary journey across Southern and East Africa.
In Mxolisi’s own words, “To me food is love made edible.”. His passion for cuisine ignited in his late teens when he first worked in a kitchen as a casual chef. Eager to refine his skills, Mxolisi pursued formal training in Professional Cookery and Kitchen Management. It was during this time that he found his true calling in the hands-on aspects of the culinary arts, where he could express his artistic flair.
Mxolisi’s career flourished as he gained valuable experience across Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, and most recently in Zanzibar. A pivotal moment came during his tenure at The Test Kitchen, where he immersed himself in a culture of creativity, precision, and a deep appreciation for locally-sourced ingredients. This transformative experience laid the groundwork for Mxolisi’s approach to culinary excellence, emphasizing creativity and resourcefulness in the kitchen.
Now, as the Executive Chef at Matetsi Victoria Falls, Mxolisi leads our culinary team with enthusiasm and dedication. His focus on using the finest local ingredients allows him to showcase the rich flavours of Zimbabwe while incorporating influences from his diverse culinary background.
Mxolisi thrives in the fast-paced kitchen environment and finds joy in the creative process – transforming high-quality ingredients into beautiful and delicious dishes. He’s committed to elevating Zimbabwean cuisine to new heights and to crafting unforgettable dining experiences.
Beyond the kitchen, Mxolisi finds joy in spending time with his family and exploring new innovative dining concepts. Whether he’s crafting culinary masterpieces or enjoying downtime with his boys, Mxolisi’s life revolves around two constants: family and food.
Join us at Matetsi Victoria Falls and experience Mxolisi’s culinary artistry firsthand as he continues to redefine the boundaries of gastronomic delight.
Our dynamic Hospitality Operations Manager, Tafadzwa (Taph) Machirori, brings together our lodge team, and oversees all aspects of our guest experience at Matetsi Victoria Falls. She loves empowering individuals, helping them bring out their full potential and being part of a collective that makes our guests’ dreams come true. During her 15+ years in the industry, Taph has gained a combination of 5* and resort experience, as well as over five years of management and leadership experience in hospitality operations. Most recently this was acknowledged by the Zimbabwe CEO network with the Gold Award for Outstanding Operations Manager – “a splendid professional character with a rare savvy approach to operational concerns”.
Taph truly has a wealth of experience and expertise. Her background, along with her excellent leadership and management skills, allow her to foster a positive team culture within our Matetsi family that delivers an exceptional guest experience.
With a passion for hospitality and innovation, Taph is skilled in developing and training teams, enriching service culture through continuous on-the-job training, and implementing and maintaining systems and standards. Taph herself has a keen attention-for-detail, is a timeous problem solver, never shies away from a challenge, and is in her element when she is working with a team that is thriving.
Having received a Chevening Scholarship, Taph completed her Masters degree in Global Innovation Management at the University of Leeds (United Kingdom) and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Zimbabwe.
Taph, who works closely with our GM Stian, joined the Matetsi team in 2023 as part of the exceptional leadership team that will take Matetsi Victoria Falls to new heights in the future.
Taph is committed to giving back, outside of work, she is the President of the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls and Deputy Chairperson of the Chevening Zimbabwe Alumni Committee. She always says “yes” to adventure and really values time with family and friends.
Our head guide, Paul Ngorima, joined the Matetsi family in 2023 with over 20 years of experience. He leads our sizable guiding team with an admirable calmness and fairmindedness and is an innovative team player within our wider team here at Matetsi Private Game Reserve.
Paul is a qualified Zimbabwean Professional walking guide, one of the most respected qualifications in the world of guiding and has a strong background in safety and operations management.
Paul has had an extensive career in the Victoria Falls guiding space, having worked for many years with Shearwater Adventures – more recently as their Head Guide and then Safari Operations Manager.
What Paul enjoys most about working in this industry is sharing knowledge and experiences – whether it’s knowledge about local culture or a safari walk experience. He loves connecting with our guests from across the globe and sharing this beautiful part of the world with them.
Paul is also an experienced and well-travelled Tour Director, having lead groups across Southern Africa, a role which requires adaptability, open-mindedness, and resilience. To quote one of his guests “Paul’s leadership skills and depth of knowledge were instrumental in our group bonding and having the experience of our lives.” – W. Frank
One of Paul’s greatest personal achievements was being part of the establishment of a non-funded learner guides initiative that became a learning environment for some of Zimbabwe’s next generation of guides. This came about during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was no tourism. Paul started going out into bush areas surrounding Victoria Falls town with a group of younger learner guides who had little-to-no experience but had a huge desire to learn. He showed them birds and trees and nurtured their passion for nature. They were then given access to a private wilderness concession, where their positive human presence, with long patrols and overnight camp outs, helped to curb poaching activities in the area. Their reputation became known throughout the area, and the group were invited to go into other wilderness areas and became an unofficial anti-poaching presence in a time when resources were stretched, and poaching was seriously threatening wildlife populations.
Paul is a family man, who truly loves being in nature and both through work and in his spare time he loves birding, fishing, and travelling.
Zimbabwean born, Thamsanqa (Thamu) Mafu joined the Matetsi Victoria Falls family as Camp Manager in 2023 and is a proactive and committed member of our team.
Thamu has extensive expertise gained within the hospitality sector, including over four years of safari lodge management experience. Thamu’s focus is with our front of house team, including our hosts and waiters, ensuring that we take exceptional care of our guests and create a seamless guest experience – meeting and exceeding expectations.
Thamu holds a Higher National Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management and a Btech (Hons) Degree in Hotel Catering and Tourism Management. From the time he was a student Thamu thought that he wanted to specialise in Food & Beverage Management within hotels. However, when he had the opportunity to transition into the safari industry – with a move to Robins Camp in Hwange National Park (part of the Machaba group) – Thamu realised that safari is his true calling. Thamu enjoys meeting new and different people, and he really appreciates the diverse range of both guests and industry colleagues that he interacts with in this space, as well as the peaceful and calming environment of nature.
Thamu also loves being in the kitchen – his father was a chef – and if he hadn’t chosen the hospitality management route then he would have almost certainly been a chef, with a speciality in the pastry department. Fun fact: he made his own wedding cake!
When he’s home from work, Thamu bakes goodies for his family, and spends his time working with his hands, whether fixing something around the house, or in his garden, growing spinach (his wife’s favourite) amongst other veggies. Thamu is also passionate about travel – each year he takes a trip with his family. Thamu loves how travel opens our eyes and broadens our horizons – another one of the many reasons he enjoys working in the hospitality industry.
Our dynamic Hospitality Operations Manager, Tafadzwa (Taph) Machirori, brings together our lodge team, and oversees all aspects of our guest experience at Matetsi Victoria Falls. She loves empowering individuals, helping them bring out their full potential and being part of a collective that makes our guests’ dreams come true. During her 15+ years in the industry, Taph has gained a combination of 5* and resort experience, as well as over five years of management and leadership experience in hospitality operations. Most recently this was acknowledged by the Zimbabwe CEO network with the Gold Award for Outstanding Operations Manager – “a splendid professional character with a rare savvy approach to operational concerns”.
Taph truly has a wealth of experience and expertise. Her background, along with her excellent leadership and management skills, allow her to foster a positive team culture within our Matetsi family that delivers an exceptional guest experience.
With a passion for hospitality and innovation, Taph is skilled in developing and training teams, enriching service culture through continuous on-the-job training, and implementing and maintaining systems and standards. Taph herself has a keen attention-for-detail, is a timeous problem solver, never shies away from a challenge, and is in her element when she is working with a team that is thriving.
Having received a Chevening Scholarship, Taph completed her Masters degree in Global Innovation Management at the University of Leeds (United Kingdom) and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Zimbabwe.
Taph, who works closely with our GM Stian, joined the Matetsi team in 2023 as part of the exceptional leadership team that will take Matetsi Victoria Falls to new heights in the future.
Taph is committed to giving back, outside of work, she is the President of the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls and Deputy Chairperson of the Chevening Zimbabwe Alumni Committee. She always says “yes” to adventure and really values time with family and friends.
With over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, our host Andie, with his natural creative flair, is a balance of both serious and fun and he loves creating magical moments for our guests. Having joined Matetsi Victoria Falls as a butler in early 2022, the team quickly realised his growth potential, and he was promoted to Host in mid-2023.
Andie, who is not shy when there’s work to be done, has taken every opportunity to learn on the job and now has vast experience across the industry. Having started as a porter at the Holiday Inn Bulawayo, Andie worked his way up the ladder – he’s worked on switchboard and in food & beverage (to name a few areas), and more recently as a night auditor at Elephant Hills, Victoria Falls.
He loves that his role at Matetsi Victoria Falls gives him the opportunity to connect personally with our guests, to get to know them, and craft their stay to best suit their preferences – with Matetsi Victoria Falls offering a combination experience of Safari, the river, Victoria Falls, as well as relaxation and delicious cuisine and beverages – no two stays will ever look or feel the same.
One of Andie’s career highlights was when a wonderful couple who were guests at Matetsi Victoria Falls kindly invited him to join them on a helicopter experience. Andie had initially politely declined the helicopter flight opportunity; however, the guests offer was so genuine that he reconsidered at the last minute, and what Andie loved most about the whole experience was how much joy it brought his guests when he surprised them as they were being picked up for the helicopter. That flight was the first time that Andie had been airborne! Taking off he was both terrified and exhilarated. “Elephants the sizes of ants!” Needless-to-say he loved the flight – and the memory will be one that both he and our guests will hold close to their hearts forever.
In his spare time, Andie enjoys golf, fishing, and spending quality time with his two daughters (who unfortunately aren’t interested in either of the latter yet). He is very creative and is building a home for his family in Bulawayo, where he was born and raised.
What Belinda loves most about working as a Host at Matetsi Victoria Falls is knowing that what she does in her role contributes towards creating the best and most memorable experiences for our guests. She enjoys the day-to-day interactions with different guests and learning about their cultures as much as they also learn about her own Zimbabwean culture.
Belinda started in the hospitality industry working as waitress at the Shearwater restaurant in her hometown, Victoria Falls. She was then snapped up by Great Plains and trained as a butler at Mpala Jena. This move presented her with a great learning opportunity, expanding her expertise in food and beverages service, and incorporating a new, much more personalised level of service – as an amiable and empathetic individual, this was a natural fit for her.
Belinda joined the Matetsi family as a butler in mid-2021, loving the enhanced personalisation that creates what we fondly call “Matetsi Magic”. In time she picked up additional supervisory responsibilities and was officially promoted to Host, and tasked with managing our overall guest stays, in mid-2023. Her absolute delight at this promotion is a moment that those of us that were fortunate to be there will never forget. She’s hardworking and committed to ensuring our guests have the most wonderful stay at Matetsi Victoria Falls, and this promotion is tribute to that.
Belinda is ambitious and having realised that with the right attitude and focus she can develop and achieve more, she has set her sightings on upskilling and being promoted to Assistant Camp Manager in the next few years.
Outside work, Belinda loves spending as much quality time as she can with her daughter. She also likes exercising, keeping fit and socialising with friends.
Oliver, known to everyone on property as “Ollie”, has honed his craft through 15+ years of experience in luxury hospitality. He is passionate about the care and satisfaction of our guests, and offering them exceptional service.
Ollie joined Matetsi Victoria Falls pre-opening in 2016. He started off in the housekeeping department, and he was quickly snapped up as a butler when his amiable nature was noticed by management. In 2021, Ollie was promoted to his current role as host. Ollie, who has one of the biggest smiles we have ever seen, and is always attentive, takes great care of our guests.
Our host Yvonne, with her contagious laugh, is a genuine team-player, who is always willing to help.
One of Yvonne’s life highlights was visiting the Victoria Falls for the first time in 2016 – this jaw-dropping spectacle left such a strong impression on her, that she knew then that she wanted to live and work closer to the river and this Natural World Wonder.
Unsurprisingly, what Yvonne first fell in love with at Matetsi Victoria Falls is the location, which took her breath away when she first saw it – “WOW” – and this was swiftly followed by the warm welcome that she received when she was new to the team – the warm welcoming hearts – the source of the authentic Zimbabwean hospitality that we share with our guests every day.
Yvonne was initially drawn to the tourism industry as she loves working with people, after four years of working in restaurants in South Africa, Yvonne returned home to Zimbabwe to pursue her passion for hospitality.
She trained across all departments at Hwange Safari Lodge – not far from the town she was born in. She then joined African Bush Camps as a waitress in 2015 and before long she was appointed as head waiter. She was later promoted to Host, a role in which she thrives as she loves engaging with guests.
Now, with over a decade in the hospitality industry, Yvonne still loves meeting guests from different places. She enjoys experiencing both the beautiful river setting and the Victoria Falls through their eyes, as well as learning from them and about their own cultures.
When Yvonne is home from work, she is a full-time mum to her two daughters, who are looked after by their grandmother as well. Her friends describe her as a fun-loving person, and when she gets time, her guilty pleasure is watching South African soapies on TV.
Our Executive Housekeeper, Thembi Ndlovu, joined our Matetsi Victoria Falls family in 2023. After 15+ years of working in the 5* luxury hospitality space in South Africa, she finally returned home to Zimbabwe to work in her “dream job” – when Thembi was at university, she always dreamed of working at a luxury safari lodge, and now at the pinnacle of her career, she has realised that dream.
With over 15 years of experience as Executive Housekeeper and Trainer, initially at Mount Nelson and then for an extensive period at the Cape Grace, Thembi appreciates exactly what our Matetsi Victoria Falls guests require during their stay with us, and she plays a key role in standards, quality control and training.
Bulawayo born, Thembi started her working career as a high school teacher and has almost a decade of teaching experience. However, she knew her passion was in hospitality, and in 2003 she embarked on a full-time BTec degree in Hospitality and Tourism, from which she graduated with Honours in 2006, and quickly moved into the world of 5* luxury hospitality in South Africa. Thembi is also trained as a Professional Butler and trained in Mentoring, Coaching and Training.
Growing up in Zimbabwe has nurtured in Thembi both creativity and perseverance. She is a dynamic team player with outstanding communication and leadership skills. Thembi was once likened to a pineapple – she may appear spikey on the outside as she’s very focused, however, when you get to know her, you realise that on the inside she’s the sweetest. Thembi’s colleagues come to realise that she is very warm-hearted – a sister that they have never had, with whom they can speak about anything.
Thembi loves training and has most often recruited raw talent and trained up people from scratch, giving them the opportunity to enter the hospitality industry, as well as to cross train in other departments and to grow within the organisation. Thembi knows that when you understand the personality of a person you know how they can grow.
One of the absolute highlights of Thembi’s career was during a training session held by a well-regarded trainer and motivator, Grace, who brought together Thembi with her staff. They did an “I am” session focused on getting to know each other. Everyone was asked to speak about someone who had made an impact on their life and career, and in almost every instance, Thembi’s colleagues honestly and openly named her. Thembi was so emotional and incredibly humbled as she realised how positively she’d impacted the lives of her team members.
In her spare time, Thembi enjoyed playing chess, and crossing off items from her bucket list, to which she apparently recently added “swim across the Zambezi” – we trust this is her good sense of humour coming through (she is aware of the crocodiles)…
Lianne Kelly-Maartens joined Matetsi Victoria Falls as Director of Sales & Marketing in January 2024.
Lianne’s name will be familiar to many in the tourism industry – she was with Sun International for many years, before working with We Are Africa, and then Cape Grace for over 4 years. From her time in the luxury hospitality space, Lianne brings a wealth of knowledge, a vast travel industry network and formidable experience to our Matetsi team – she’s also a great storyteller and her energy abounds!
From her own personal experience, Lianne knows that hospitality and travel can be life changing – both for our guests and for our team – and that’s one of the many reasons that she loves being part of the Matetsi family. Lianne loves working with people and making magical memories a reality – in this very special place with soul, we create a magic that touches people’s hearts.
Lianne feels that Zimbabweans are some of the most hospitable people in the world. This is one of the many reasons that Lianne is proud to be part of the team that is making the Matetsi Victoria Falls vision a reality – showing the world how exceptional Zimbabwe and her people are, and being an example of how a single tourism operator can benefit not just a local area and economy, but a whole country by changing global perceptions and understanding.
As Lianne’s favourite quote says, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
When you have a chat to Lianne, ask her about her career highlights, you’ll quickly understand that what makes her eyes sparkle is shining a light on the exceptional talent in her home continent of Africa. She thrives on learning from and being part of the development and growth of others – our rising stars. Summed up in Lianne’s other favourite quote, also from Nelson Mandela, “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.”
When Lianne is not flying the Matetsi flag, she loves spending time with her family and friends, who are very important to her. Lianne also enjoys art, food, swimming, and travel – throughout the year, she might be found exploring new restaurants, swimming at a tidal pool, or visiting modern art museums and exhibition openings in her home city, Cape Town, or across the globe. She is an avid reader, most often autobiographical books, and she has a particular interest in politics, which she studied and had a career in, before she transitioned to the travel industry.
Our dynamic Hospitality Operations Manager, Tafadzwa (Taph) Machirori, brings together our lodge team, and oversees all aspects of our guest experience at Matetsi Victoria Falls. She loves empowering individuals, helping them bring out their full potential and being part of a collective that makes our guests’ dreams come true. During her 15+ years in the industry, Taph has gained a combination of 5* and resort experience, as well as over five years of management and leadership experience in hospitality operations. Most recently this was acknowledged by the Zimbabwe CEO network with the Gold Award for Outstanding Operations Manager – “a splendid professional character with a rare savvy approach to operational concerns”.
Taph truly has a wealth of experience and expertise. Her background, along with her excellent leadership and management skills, allow her to foster a positive team culture within our Matetsi family that delivers an exceptional guest experience.
With a passion for hospitality and innovation, Taph is skilled in developing and training teams, enriching service culture through continuous on-the-job training, and implementing and maintaining systems and standards. Taph herself has a keen attention-for-detail, is a timeous problem solver, never shies away from a challenge, and is in her element when she is working with a team that is thriving.
Having received a Chevening Scholarship, Taph completed her Masters degree in Global Innovation Management at the University of Leeds (United Kingdom) and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Zimbabwe.
Taph, who works closely with our GM Stian, joined the Matetsi team in 2023 as part of the exceptional leadership team that will take Matetsi Victoria Falls to new heights in the future.
Taph is committed to giving back, outside of work, she is the President of the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls and Deputy Chairperson of the Chevening Zimbabwe Alumni Committee. She always says “yes” to adventure and really values time with family and friends.
With over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having started as an intern in hotel operations, Lynwin has developed a keen attention to detail and he strongly believes that guests’ expectations should always be exceeded. Lynwin’s journey connected him with the Victoria Falls area through work back in 2017, and he joined the Matetsi family in January 2020.
Since then he has thrived on creating exceptional experiences in our remarkable destination – with our property being on a 136,000-acre private concession, Lynwin’s focus now extends to showcasing our combination experience of wildlife safari within a pristine wilderness, the mighty Zambezi river, as well as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls.
Based in Cape Town, Lynwin works very closely with our Director of Sales & Marketing, Lianne Kelly-Maartens, and remotely with co-founder, Sara Gardiner. Since joining Matetsi Victoria Falls, Lynwin has familiarised himself with the property intimately, with numerous visits to soak in a good dose of “Matetsi Magic” and connect with the team on property. Born and raised in the fascinating town of Graaff-Reinet, in his spare time, Lynwin loves taking a road trip to visit family back there, or just a drive around his beautiful home city.
With over 15 years of experience in the travel industry, Yvonne joined us as reservations manager in December 2017. Her passion for tourism and her dedication to Matetsi Victoria Falls shine through in all she does, and we are so grateful for her vibrant personality which is complemented by her focused approach and keen attention to detail.
Yvonne initially stepped into the tourism industry by undertaking a National Diploma in Tourism Management. Having done a broad range of in-service training at Blue Bay Lodge, Yvonne has a solid understanding of the operations side of hospitality, which is where she started her career. With her wonderful personality, Yvonne is well-suited to being guest-facing, but her true calling revealed itself when she took on a role in the reservations department back at Blue Bay Lodge.
In early 2009, Yvonne joined the reservations department of African Sun Hotels where her experience grew along with her passion for promoting travel to Zimbabwe. Eight years later, when a position came up with our beautiful property (that showcases everything exceptional about Zimbabwe) and allowed Yvonne to be closer to home, it was a perfect fit. As well as being a maternal figure and pillar of strength in our team, Yvonne is mother of two wonderful boys and an ultra-marathon runner.
Senior Guide at Matetsi Victoria Falls, Ophious Sibanda is an avid birder and nature lover who considers Matetsi Private Game Reserve his home. Born and raised in Hwange National Park, he knew he wanted to become a guide from a young age. What Ophious loves most about his role as a guide is that it gives him the perfect opportunity to share his deep love of nature with others and to help them understand that nature needs our protection. By exposing others to the wonders of the natural world around them, he nurtures their appreciation and respect for wildlife, so that they develop their own personal love for nature.
Ophious first came to Matetsi Private Game Reserve in the mid-90s, and it was around this time that he actively began to develop himself as a Guide. He now holds his proficiency as a Zimbabwean Professional Guide, one of the most respected qualifications in the world of guiding. Throughout his time here, Ophious has been a key driver of our conservation efforts on Matetsi Private Game Reserve and it gives him great joy to see the wildlife populations thriving like never before.
When not on duty, Ophious can be found working on his family home or still on property motivating and encouraging the team to engage in additional conservation activities.
Shane Ellis is passionate about the local produce and raw talent from his beautiful home country, Zimbabwe. As Executive Chef at Matetsi Victoria Falls, Shane loves creating exceptional menus for our guests using his own professional experience to develop a strong team of talented chefs. Since joining the team in August 2017, with the support of Sara Ellis (his wife, highly skilled pastry chef and now our Quality Assurance Manager) and Exec Head Chef Artwell Muchenje, Chef Shane has up-skilled our hot-kitchen team, trained keen individuals from scratch and nurtured some of the best pastry chefs in the region. Chef Shane brings a broad range of experience to the table from classical training at Meikles Hotel through to dining “in the bush” with Singita where he found his true calling for dining in the wilderness. He’ll be the first to tell you “While I don’t have any fancy accolades, I have worked for over a decade and a half in my country navigating challenges to champion local flavours and flair.”
Outside of work, Shane is a fun-loving family man, who loves nothing more than to jump in his jeep with his family and explore Matetsi Private Game Reserve – enjoying the stunning landscapes and rich wildlife, and occasionally doing some foraging along the way.
Jonathan Hudson, or Jono, as he’s known in the travel and hospitality industry, leads our team of passionate Zimbabwean talent. Zimbabwean born and raised himself, Jono prides himself on delivering service excellence with authentic African hospitality. Jono’s amiable manner means that he has and continues to form strong genuine bonds with guests and travel industry colleagues alike. He and his team are dedicated to ensuring that our guests leave feeling like part of the extended Matetsi Victoria Falls family.
Jono’s three decades of experience in the hospitality industry started with a strong foundation at hotel school in Switzerland. He then began his career in London where he trained in the F&B sectors of The Dorchester Hotel and the Sheraton Belgravia Hotel. Since then, he has gained extensive experience working in high-end safari lodges and hotels across Africa, most recently in his role as General Manager of Great Plains Conservation, Zimbabwe.
Jono loves spending time “in the bush” and he is very much at home on Matetsi Private Game Reserve. He and his family have planted firm roots in the Victoria Falls area and in his free time, they can be seen enjoying quiet moments on the banks of the Zambezi river.
