Hunter Hotels beefs up management team
05. Aug, 2009
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Craig Riddle: General Manager at Marataba Safari Company
Mary-Ann du Plessis captains Tsala Treetop Lodge and Villas
“My life has been a rich and rewarding journey and the paths I have taken are many but each has brought me closer to actually living my dreams.”
Born in Pretoria and with childhood memories in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, Mary – Ann was ready at an early age to be in awe of the bush. Her passion for the travel and tourism industry was cemented during her stint as an exchange student in Europe and the opportunity to explore life, people and her passion for travel, launched her career in the hospitality industry.
Further trips to the UK, USA and Singapore during various times of her life made her realize that Africa and Southern Africa was her home. On her return to South Africa, she decided to explore the Kwa Zulu Natal bush where she developed her creative spirit and excitement for working with people and animals.
Her working experience as a tour operator also taught her many aspects of the hotel and lodge sector, and her appointment at Tsala Treetop Lodge and Villas, has become a new highlight in her career.
Being sporty and adventurous, her new position as General Manager at Tsala will enable her to focus on the many thrills and local attractions of Plettenberg Bay and will certainly ensure that the guests staying at the lodge will have many insights into the local tourism delights of the Garden Route environs.
May many stories, tales and adventures start with Tsala as we welcome Mary – Ann to her new forest home. We hope to read her written word as she further explores her Travel Writing skills for the future.
New General Manager: Craig Riddle – Marataba Safari Company
Born and bred in Zambia, Craig learnt his love of the bush from his dad and was going out on outdoor adventures as far back as he can remember. After school he joined the legendary Norman Carr which served as his introduction into the professional side of the bush and he qualified as a guide back in 1988. He specialized in walking and driving safaris in the South Luangwa National Park, and then moved to the lower Zambezi National Park to help start up the first ever river safari operation on the Zambian side with Lou Games and Zambezi River Safaris. The Eastern Transvaal was another area of bush experience during his time at Mohlobetsi just outside of Hoedspruit, however Zambia had always fuelled his passion for the bush and he returned to North Kafue National Park on the Busanga plains for a while. During his time in the Copperbelt area of Zambia, he assisted at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage and took care of Chimpanzees and prior to joining Hunter Hotels, he was involved in operational and developmental roles in various lodges in Botswana.
Craig has been appointed as General Manager at Marataba Safari Company, Marakele National Park, a Malaria – free Big Five private concession area owned and managed by Hunter Hotels in the Limpopo Province, just 3 hours drive from Johannesburg. We welcome Craig to his new frontier at Marataba.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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