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Lodrick Malandula’s love for working with people started in 1998 when he was promoted to head waiter. Working in a hotel fuelled the need to take the guests he served on game drives… this inspired him to start his own business!
Lodrick Malandula isn’t just another tour guide. He has made his passion and business his life, offering people the beautiful sights, sounds, and smells of the African Bushveld with the establishment of his company, Muzi Safari Tours.
His company is based in the Hazyview area. Malandula specialises in guided game drive safari tours in the Kruger National Park. He also offers tours and trips for sightseeing, local attractions, wildlife safaris, adventure, and activities in Mpumalanga.
His passion for people and nature combined gives people the ideal opportunity for adventure and making memories. From the unique Panorama Route to specialised animal sanctuaries, visitors leave enriched and invigorated with a tailor-made tour itinerary.
The Kruger National Park sports almost a million visitors per year. Malandula uses his expertise to showcase the very best of South African nature and wildlife to leave tourists with breathtaking moments. His interest and knowledge of South Africa, its local cultures, and history and his love for people, nature, wildlife, and Mpumalanga speak volumes.
The passionate South African says his love for nature inspired him to become a tour guide.
“My love for working with people started way back in 1998 at the then-Kruger Gate Hotel where I was soon promoted to head waiter. Working in a hotel fuelled the need to take the guest I served on a game drive.”
In 2015 he started his own company along with his wife Bongi Ngwenya to create jobs for the less fortunate. The business started with two open Safari vehicles, now they have six vehicles and a 7-seater bus. Apart from game drives, they also do airport transfers.
“Many guests also want to see how Africans live, experience African food and beer, how it’s made, traditional outfits and dances, religion, and traditional doctors.”
This is also part of experiential travel that has been gaining momentum post-COVID with people wanting an in-depth experience of a country and its attractions. Lodrick says he has learned different languages from his visitors.
“I learn what they call animals in their native languages, so I can pick up where they come from even if I haven’t asked. This is truly a rewarding industry that brings people together.”
Mentor Sezanele Zondi says that Lodrick’s reason for starting a tour company was the best decision he made for himself.
“He worked for a tour company and saw a gap to start his own business. We have few qualified tours, our government needs to include such qualifications in our TVET Colleges to attract more young people within the industry. After all, tourism is one of the key sectors contributing to GDP and South Africa’s economy in terms of jobs.”
In 2019, pre-COVID, tourism contributed R209 billion to the national economy.
Sezanele’s advice to succeed in the industry:
This article was first published in Good things Guy
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Lodrick Malandula is a participant on the SAB Foundation’s Tholoana Enterprise Programme, an 18-month business accelerator powered by Fetola which supports the lasting success of businesses from across South Africa, particularly those owned by women, youth and people living with disabilities, and those in township and rural areas.
