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‘I’m a people’s person, I love working with people, it gives me no greater pleasure than to plan someone’s holiday’
Evelyn Ntwampe (better known as Eve) was born in South Africa in a small village called Ga-Seleka in Ellisras in the Northern Province near the Botswana Border. Growing up in Seleka was not an easy job, Evelyn’s family lived on a farm, each family member had the responsibility to help run the farm and everyday chores included feeding the cows, goats, pigs and chicken’s. Afternoons where spent ploughing mealies, green beans and watermelons. When they weren’t taking care of the farm they spent afternoons swimming in the river, climbing mountains and playing with neighbours.
Evelyn and her family rarely had the opportunity to travel, and so when she finally joined the travel industry and was afforded the opportunity to visit some of Africa’s best destinations, it was no wonder she was literally swept off her feet!
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Evelyn’s first taste for the industry came by way of a cashier’s position in a small casino in Edenvale – Circus Circus. After interacting with clients, learning more about people and their cultures, Evelyn enrolled to study Hotel Management and Catering at Allenby College in Wynberg. On completion of the course, she had to participate in a six month practical at the Town Lodge at the Airport.
Her first job was for a hotel in Wynberg, Johannesburg – Sandton Park Hotel as a Front Office Receptionist, she was later promoted to Front Office Manager. After four years in this position, Evelyn decided it was time to ‘spread her wings’ and so she applied for a position at the then, CC Africa (now &Beyond) in lodge reservations as an Administrator. She was soon promoted to Lodge Reservations Consultant and so her travels began! Evelyn travelled to many &Beyond properties, these included stays at Bongani Mountain Lodge, Ngala Lodge, Phinda Forest Lodge and Mountain Lodge, Madikwe Safari Lodge, Londolozi Kirkman’s Camp and Exeter Lodges.
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After four and a half years with &Beyond, Evelyn felt the need to learn about other properties and destinations and so in January 2007 she joined the team at Journey Beyond. In the time she has been with us, Evelyn has visited properties all over Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Her favourite destination thus far is Botswana:
“As we flew over the Delta, I looked out the window and all I could see was water, it was like nothing I had ever seen before. At Chobe River, I saw more Elephants together than you could ever imagine. What an amazing experience this trip was, and now I spend my days planning trips for clients to experience the same thing – I couldn’t imagine a better job!”
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