On arrival at Buffalo Thorn lodge, the meet and greet team consists of our lodge management couple Evan & Jumari, and our 5 Staff members. They are there for one supreme purpose – to attend to all your needs during your stay.
Evan van Niekerk and Jumari Nel joined the Buffalo Thorn team in December 2019. During the Covid pandemic they stayed on-site, kept an eye on all lodge related matters and became actively involved in observational patrols for Black Rhino Game Reserve and the Pilanesberg National Park. In a time of crisis, exceptional people see beyond their own needs and reach out to others. Covid 19 and the Omicron variant have abated somewhat, but our ranger couple are going from strength to strength.
Evan has been a Field Guide in the Northwest and Lowveld area since 2011, and has been managing lodges since 2016.
Jumari has been a Field Guide in the Northwest area since 2017 and has been managing lodges since 2017. This is a couple with skin in the game and the skill to create defining moments for our guests who quickly become family.
At the end of December 2020 Evan decided to surprise Jumari with a romantic picnic on Marius link in the Tamboti forest. He had some of his colleague’s set up the area with lanterns, fairy-lights and a picnic table adorned with delicacies that included copious amounts of bubbly. More than all of that combined…. was a ring!
A date was set for 22/10/22 and the planning started for the big day.
The wedding was held at Excalibur Boutique Hotel in Rustenburg and was officiated by Buffalo Thorns very own Dr. Alan Bougardt. An English-speaking Alan performed the whole ceremony in Afrikaans nogal!
Here are some sneak peek photos of the wedding shoot.
Now back at the reserve as newlyweds, Evan and Jumari van Niekerk are looking forward to hosting you at Buffalo Thorn Lodge. Now that Evan is a married man, he is allowed to wear a long pant!
Kind regards
The BTL Team