We hope you have a joyful year-end celebration and cherished rest before the new year takes us all on the next wild and wonderful ride. This year, we have been looking back at some of the memories and stories from our 20 years as a lodge, as a home for the rescued Jabulani elephant herd, and as a family welcoming guests from around the world.

We chatted with elephant manager Tigere and carer Stavros, checked in with some of our housekeeping ladies and butlers, spoke with Lodge Manager Ruan and Executive Chef Alex, and shared letters from Adine about her journey at Jabulani.

This year, we were honoured to receive the “Best Immersive Experience” title in the 2025 Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence. Other highlights for our team have been the wild ones we share our reserve with and the special experiences that have come our way…

Guide Jeff says,

“I think the highlight that stands out is the family wedding at Jabulani in November – with Adine’s daughter, Lente and her new husband. It was a special and touching moment to see the whole family gathering together in happiness and to witness the daughter and son exchanging vows. It was a moment to remember.”

This was a special moment for us all… as Adine’s daughter Lente said “I do” to the love of her life under the trees at Jabulani, with Jabulani, the elephant, beside her. Lente and Jabulani have a lifelong friendship. Lente grew up alongside him, walking with him in the bush after the bull was accepted into his adopted family in our reserve. As an orphan, Jabulani found a new home with us, and Lente found a new friend with him. It was only right that Jabulani attend her wedding as a special guest and help “give her away” to the new man in her heart.

For Jabulani GM Ruan: “A standout moment for me was having the honour of representing Jabulani as the Maitre de Maison in Paris for Relais & Châteaux’s 70th anniversary in November. Together with Adine, this experience was unforgettable. I had the privilege of exploring the sights of Paris and representing Jabulani on a global platform. The positive feedback we received was incredibly touching. One memory that will stay with me forever was an extraordinary dinner at the Palace of Versailles, featuring a four-course meal prepared by three Michelin-star chefs.”

Guide Kyle says: “Starting only a few months ago, it has been a whirlwind of highlights at Jabulani, but I’d have to say seeing the joy in both guests and staff’s faces while sharing unforgettable moments stands out for me. From learning the diverse personalities of the elephants to the magic of a waterhole sundowner, no day goes by without a highlight.”

Guide Donovan’s highlight: “After spending a few days looking for hyenas, we found a female on the move. Her head was held high, and she could definitely smell something close by. We followed her to see if we could find what she was looking for. She then disappeared into the bush and we found a male leopard with a big male nyala kill. We sat there for a while watching him eat and trying to move it under a shrub for more cover as it was way too big for him to hoist into a tree.”