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Thanda

A core of long relationships provides stability and a long-term approach

Thanda consists of companies in tourism, the hospitality business, the hotel industry and property development registered in South Africa, Tanzania and Malta. The crown jewels are undoubtedly Thanda Safari in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, a private “Big 5” game reserve spanning 14,000 hectares, and Thanda Island, an exclusive and private island located in its own marine nature reserve off the coast of Tanzania. Both hotels are luxurious, five-star establishments and members of the prestigious “Leading Hotels of the World”. And then there’s our grand old dame, the 92-year-old classic cruise yacht, Over the Rainbow of London. She sails the Mediterranean with departures from her home port in Cannes, France. 

Common to these three shining stars is the dynamic, creative staff, who give our guests exceptional service and unforgettable experiences and memories in stunning, world-class environments and properties.

Long-term relationships and trust foster commitment and drive

At the heart of Thanda are long-term leaders and employees who all see themselves as part of the family. This year our CEO, Pierre Delvaux, celebrated two decades with the company. Our Reserve General Manager Truman Ndlovu, has been with us 18 years and Antigone Meda, our General Manager, came on board 7 years ago. And many members of our incredible team of Zulu and Swahili staff have been with us for just as long. Together they offer guests their authentic charm and genuine warmth. They greet everyone with a smile and an attitude that says, “nothing is a problem and everything can be solved”.

It is this core of long-term relationships, together with our common passion and drive, that is the biggest and most crucial factor for the stability and long-term sustainability of our business, as well as for the security of our employees and their families.

Furthermore, decentralised leadership is empowering and helps ensure agile and innovative solutions. When unforeseen events occur, there is zero bureaucracy, only full confidence that the issue will be resolved in the best possible way. Trust and support are the keys to effective decision-making. This confidence inspires excellence, commitment, honesty and long-term thinking.

One of the most important and exciting components for Thanda’s future growth and profitability is The Royal Thanda Club project, which we launched in South Africa in 2021. These Royal Residence villas are being constructed on 386 hectares of residential area in the Thanda Safari game reserve. This exciting project has many long-term benefits, as it will not only help to increase the number of rooms available to other visitors, it also contributes to increased employment for the regional population.

The year in brief

In 2022, the world finally reopened for travel and our business enjoyed record sales. Bookings at Thanda Safari have been the highest since the lodge opened in 2004. Our incredible Thanda Island has seen a major upswing in sales since we purchased our helicopter, a 7-seater Airbus EC 130 B4 stationed and manned full-time on the island. Guests can fly directly from Dar es Salaam International Airport to the island in just 40 minutes. They can also take a 10-minute flight to Chole Bay on Mafia Island, where they can dive at some of East Africa’s best diving sites.

Over the course of the year, Thanda Island also completed one of the largest solar cell installations in Tanzania, and the island is now electrically self-sufficient. This electricity powers the two desalination plants that produce fresh water from the sea. Even the plant that recycles the “grey water” that waters the island’s gardens and the recycling plant are powered by our self-generated electricity. All these long-term investments help reduce the island’s carbon footprint.

THANDA SAFARI
Pierre Delvaux, Managing Director & CEO
+2783-417 11 55
pierre@thanda.co.za

THANDA ISLAND
Antigone Meda, Managing Director
+2547-28 79 61 22
antigone@thandaisland.com

THANDA CLASSIC CRUISE
Tim Cooter, Captain
+4475-40 55 61 85
captain@thanda.co.za

Thanda

Thanda consists of companies in tourism, the hospitality business, the hotel industry and property development registered in South Africa, Tanzania and Malta. The crown jewels are undoubtedly Thanda Safari in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, a private “Big 5” game reserve spanning 14,000 hectares, and Thanda Island, an exclusive and private island located in its own marine nature reserve off the coast of Tanzania. Both hotels are luxurious, five-star establishments and members of the prestigious “Leading Hotels of the World”. And then there’s our grand old dame, the 92-year-old classic cruise yacht, Over the Rainbow of London. She sails the Mediterranean with departures from her home port in Cannes, France. 

Common to these three shining stars is the dynamic, creative staff, who give our guests exceptional service and unforgettable experiences and memories in stunning, world-class environments and properties.

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