About Us
Our History, Vision and Promise
When we welcomed our first guest to Rhulani Safari Lodge on 27 September 2013, it began an exciting and incredible adventure. From that day on, our journey has been characterised by as much joy and passion as sweat and sacrifice.
Since 1 March 2013, Rhulani has belonged to the Swiss owners Marisa Silva and Rolf Steiner. Their vision is to position Rhulani as the most intriguing and beautiful safari option in Africa, motivating them to rethink and improve the lodge’s product and service offerings every day.
”We want our guests to decelerate from everyday life in an environment of the highest quality and excellent service and, at the same time, hear, see and feel the fascinating nature around us.”
The African bush radiates a fascinating magic that is hard to describe in words. Every day we are astonished to discover the miracles nature creates and how the elements interact.
Many of our guests tell us how they are touched by a sunset, the silence or an evening at the campfire under the stars. Or they start to cry in a vehicle parked next to a peacefully sleeping lion. As we live in an increasingly crazy world where we look for the extremes, isn’t this just amazing? It is as if we are reminded that untouched nature offers everything we need so that we feel completely well and lack nothing.
This is what led Marisa and Rolf to invest in this small, unique place and build an oasis of peace. The ultimate goal is to convey this special "Rhulani feeling" – we want our guests to decelerate from everyday life in an environment of the highest quality and excellent service and, at the same time, hear, see and feel the fascinating nature around us. Rhulani is a Shangaan word that means “relax”.
We welcome you warmly and thank you for choosing us for your immersion in Madikwe Game Reserve. We wish you an unforgettable, magical time with us.
Our Promise
A Five-Star Experience
We offer our guests a first-class experience of the highest quality in all aspects and confirm our five-star grading by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa every year.
Top Service
We look after our guests like royalty and apply the service standards of the South African Butler Academy, with whom we have a continuous training agreement.
Food Safety
We identify and manage food safety-related risk according to the highest standards, which are confirmed through the internationally recognised HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certification.
Guest Security
We give top priority to the safety of our guests and offer access to medical care in the event of an emergency through Africa SAFE-T.
Environmental Responsibility
We protect the nature that surrounds us and are covered for accidental incidents through general public liability insurance coverage of R20-million.
Resource Management
We use our natural resources sparingly, eliminate plastic on our property, and use the scarce water reserves carefully.
Clean Energy
We produce electricity for our guests and the lodge ourselves using a solar system and are independent of government electricity.
Conservation and Community
We give support to the wildlife conservation activities in Madikwe Game Reserve and to the surrounding communities.