In the warm afternoon sun, we meet Ernest in the bar at Rhulani. A short opportunity to dive into the world of a passionate barman in the bush.

Cucumber, apple and a little mint are lying on the bar's workspace. Ernest starts to chop the ingredients. With a smile he admits: "A few years ago, at another lodge, I was told to prepare a sherry just when the guests returned from game drive, I was so frightened and had no idea what I should do, but from then on I knew that I needed to learn, learn, learn."

Today Ernest is the ever-popular barman at Rhulani who pleases guests with refreshing drinks and a broad, winning smile. He flips the chopped ingredients into the glass. “It is not difficult for me to smile, as I do my job with passion and I enjoy the interaction with guests.” He opens the freezer and looks for some crushed ice.

Ernest started working at Rhulani about two years ago. "Rhulani is completely different to all other lodges that I have seen before. The team is fantastic and what is the biggest difference is the privilege to receive training.” He adds some crushed ice into the glass and mixes everything.

As most of the staff, Ernest lives in a nearby village, about 80km away from Rhulani, on the main road between Zeerust and Gaborone. "My grandfather left me a piece of land where I will eventually build a house with my future wife," says Ernest, proudly. "I have been with my future wife for the last ten years, but we must still save money for our wedding and to be able to complete our home." Ernest takes from the shelf a bottle of Pimm's and adds 2 shots into the glass. “We have to be patient as a few days ago, my mother passed away and I had to settle many details, so it is not easy to save money.”

Nevertheless, on the piece of land there is now already a small, charming house, where Ernest spends his off-days and meets with his friends. "I immediately had to build a house, because otherwise my ancestors would have been angry with me”, says Ernest with a little grin, while he picks a can of ginger ale from the refrigerator. Ernest's future wife also works in a lodge in Madikwe, but does not have the same working cycle and lives in another village. "It may be that we do not see each other for 2 months," says Ernest, but he mentions that with the communication possibilities of today, this is not a big problem.

Ernest tops up the glass with ginger ale, adds a stick and a beautiful garniture. Rhulani's signature drink, a “Pimms’s Cocktail” is ready. "I really don’t know what to improve at Rhulani. Our strategy is perfect, we are constantly changing so many things, and our guests keep asking about what’s new. So, I am sure that we will soon be in the Top 5 Game Lodges in Africa."

Ernest serves the cocktail on a tray in the outside lounge. At the waterhole some elephants squirt water, and the afternoon sun gives a unique, warm light. “Your delicious Pimm’s cocktail, enjoy it!” says Ernest, in this unique moment of tranquillity in the true African bush, where one wishes it should never end.