Recreation Africa

Meet Estelle Wainwright,

Estelle is the new General Manager at Kedar Heritage Lodge, Conference Centre & Spa. She started her career at Southern Sun at the age of 17 and has been in the industry for over 30 years. She worked herself up from reception through most departments and in 1990 was the first female Food and Beverage Manager in the Sun International Hotel group.  

She has since worked in most of the big groups like the old Holiday Inn, Southern Sun and Sun International. Her first General Manager position was with Legacy Hotels & Resorts and she grew within this Group. The great rapport she enjoyed was evident in the fact that she remained with the organisation for over 15 years. This is a rapport she is striving to maintain with Kedar Heritage Lodge, Conference Centre & Spa, and we must say, so far, so good!

Estelle’s love for the hospitality industry goes beyond the “workplace” and into her personal life. She is an absolutely avid traveller who has been to over 37 countries (including Russia, USA, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, UK, Tanzania, Turkey, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Seychelles, Mauritius, the Maldives and China). She says, “The best education anyone can get is seeing other countries and cultures”.

A big passion for Estelle is her love for animals. She is involved with animal rescue and she helps various groups including Pigs n Paws, Thabazimbi Animal Rescue and the Rustenburg SPCA. She is also involved with Ban Animal Trading South Africa and passionate about saving our endangered wildlife like the rhino.  She is, “very happy to go and toyi-toyi” for these causes if need be.

Estelle is excited about joining the Recreation Africa Group family and has big plans, to take a really good establishment and make it great!

She believes that with anything you do, do it to the best of your ability. Set goals and when you achieve them set new ones. “It’s the small things that count” Estelle says and on a personal level she believes when your hand is open to give it is also open to receive.

Estelle’s plans for the future are many but one she would like to implement as soon as possible is to facilitate historical tours (including school tours) at Kedar Heritage Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa. These tours would include periodic lectures from experts (both local and international) to promote South African history and tourism and to improve young people’s knowledge and understanding.