29/08/2026
โ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ณ๐ขโ ๐ฟโค๏ธ
๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐, ๐ฐ๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ณ๐ข ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ โ women whose stories are woven into the history, hospitality and heart of this very special place. ๐งก
At the centre of that story is Jacqueline Burger, the woman who, together with her husband Stan, helped build Iwamanzi from the ground up. Jacqueline arrived in South Africa in 1994, at the dawn of the Rainbow Nation, and her fluency in German, Dutch and English opened the door to a career in tourism as a guide. From an old Land Cruiser and a second-hand combi, she and Stan built a safari business, eventually buying the land in 2004, opening Iwamanzi in 2005 and transforming a dilapidated cattle farm into the wildlife paradise it is today. ๐๐ฆ
But Jacquelineโs role has never simply been about owning a lodge. She has been involved in almost every part of its journey โ from interior design, bookings, marketing and bookkeeping to hosting guests, managing staff, organising events and operating tours across Southern Africa. Yet perhaps her greatest passion is giving back. She cares deeply about the education and future of the children of her staff and supports local schools and the community centre. For Jacqueline, Iwamanzi is a legacy. โItโs not just what we do, it is what we are.โ And her greatest accolade is seeing the people around her grow, build successful careers and create better futures for themselves. โค๏ธ
Then there is Rhoda Dube, Iwamanziโs beloved โHome Queenโ. For 26 years, Rhoda has been an indispensable part of the Burger family and the Iwamanzi story. She helped create the space that allowed the lodge and reserve to grow, while developing a remarkable gift for caring for young wild animals found abandoned in the bush. ๐พ Her warmth, versatility and quiet grace have made her a true pillar of the Iwamanzi family. As she says, โBe tough even when things are difficult. Love and own what you do.โ
Edna Chogadama, Chef and Lodge Manager, has been part of Iwamanzi since 2008. A qualified driving instructor by profession, she discovered her passion for hospitality after starting in housekeeping and then dedicated her spare time to learning โ completing hospitality courses and training as a massage therapist before ultimately following her passion for culinary arts. Today, she leads both the kitchen and lodge with ambition, spiritual strength and a calm wisdom that comes from experience. ๐ฝ๏ธ๐ฟ Her philosophy is simple: โDiscipline today builds the leader of tomorrow.โ
For Chiedza โMagogoโ Mashamba, 16 years at Iwamanzi have been a journey of continual learning. Starting with a camp-cook background, she grew into the formidable Head Chef she is today โ capable of creating an intimate dinner for two or orchestrating the intricate demands of a 50-guest wedding with the same calm precision. ๐ฉ๐พโ๐ณโจ She describes Jacqueline as someone with a good heart and a great life coach, and her own message to women is beautifully direct: โBe strong. Donโt give up on your dreams.โ
And Nobuhle โBuhleโ Mathuthu is proof that opportunity grows when determination meets hard work. Joining Iwamanzi in 2013 in the laundry department, Buhleโs organisational ability and drive soon saw her take responsibility for Narrow Point Self-Catering Lodge. Today she is a true multi-tasking powerhouse, overseeing Narrow Point while still keeping an eye on laundry, the vegetable gardens, fruit orchards, butchery and offices. ๐ฑ๐ช Her message is one every aspiring leader can carry with them: โBelieve in yourself. Take yourself to the next level. Donโt wait for others to do it for you.โ
Five women. Five very different journeys. One extraordinary legacy. ๐ฟโค๏ธ
This Womenโs Month, we celebrate Jacqueline, Rhoda, Edna, Chiedza and Buhle โ and the countless women whose strength, resilience, kindness, talent and determination continue to make Iwamanzi Wilderness Reserve and Luxury Lodge what it is today.
Hereโs to the women of Iwamanzi โ the heart behind the hospitality, the strength behind the scenes, and an unforgettable part of the story. ๐๐ฆโจ
www.iwamanzi.com
