Drienie Viljoen introduces a new standard in Eco-Luxury at Monwana Game Lodge
Monwana Game Lodge is redefining eco-conscious luxury safari travel. GM Drienie Viljoen shares Monwana in the Greater Kruger National Park.
Monwana Game Lodge is redefining the benchmark for luxury safari experiences in South Africa.
This establishment believes that true luxury is not measured by things, but by human connection and experiences. The award-winning, eco-conscious Monwana Game Lodge favours quiet consideration over ostentation.
Furthermore, the property upholds sustainability as its operational foundation. Monwana integrates low-impact design, advanced recycling, and energy-efficient technology to ensure its presence actively contributes to the long-term health of the Thornybush Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park.
Creating Quiet Luxury at Monwana Game Lodge
Monwana’s General Manager, Drienie Viljoen, believes that leadership stems directly from the team’s strength, so they empower staff to take ownership, prioritising their personal motivation over rigid technical training. This fluid structure encourages individuals to use their natural strengths, leading to exceptional service delivery and creating proud brand ambassadors for the South African tourism industry.
Monwana Game Lodge is a benchmark for luxury. How do you define luxury?
Luxury can be defined in many ways, but the ultimate luxury is a feeling.
At Monwana, luxury is about connection. Although many touch points of luxury add to comfort, the feeling you are left with that lingers in your bones long after you have left, is the ultimate definition of pure luxury, not in the tangible, but something within, that can be shared, a connection to the place and its people and ultimately to yourself.
Real luxury isn’t showy, it’s quiet and considerate.
What was the appeal of Monwana Game Lodge‘s location in Thornybush?
When I met the founder, the level of care they showed for their team stood out. The place has a feeling of home, with the family’s love for the land and their belief in nurturing people, while still holding a clear expectation of excellence was something I felt drawn to.
How does Monwana stand out from other luxury hotels locally and internationally?
Monwana stands out because our difference isn’t manufactured, it’s lived. It begins with the land, held with deep respect, and continues through the people. Our team is our greatest asset. They have pride.
We also understand that travellers are different and that times and needs change, and this is why we believe in the first contact with the guest on the ground as one of the key factors. The guests are not bound to any rigid program; we listen attentively to subtle cues to give anticipatory service.
We believe in offering the unexpected. We cannot put all our differentiators that make you feel on paper, and we have the tangible ones, like all the 5-star establishments should tick off their lists, but we want our guests to feel something and to be moved by the place and the people.
Transformational travel and anticipatory service are our key objectives.
Mentoring Leadership at Monwana Game Lodge
How do you mentor exceptional talent within the hospitality industry?
We mentor very differently from what I have experienced before. We believe in people taking ownership and pride, and having deep self-respect. The technical training of SOPs is the easy part, but the magic happens when you ignite someone’s inner driver, the belief that they can do better and improve all the time.
The structure at Monwana is fluid; job descriptions are there as a guideline, but we look at natural strengths and talents and the roles change as people do. I see staff frightened or unsure at first, but the dynamic has worked.
When people thrive in what they do, they become more attentive, creative and confident; it’s a win-win.
It is not always easy; the nudges and truthful talks can be unsettling for some. Not everyone learns the same way. The expectation is that they walk with us, not wait for us to pull them along. Ultimately, it is for them to grow, and we have seen some great success stories.
Eco-Conscious Design at Monwana Game Lodge
How do you integrate sustainability and best environmental practices at Monwana Game Lodge without compromising the luxury offering and operational ethos?
At Monwana, sustainability isn’t a layer added onto luxury; it’s the foundation. The owner first started with the sustainable side of the lodge, and our founder was deeply involved with the Thornybush Nature Reserve team to ensure that our presence contributes to the long-term health of the land, wildlife, and the surrounding community.
Our low-impact design and advanced back-of-house systems, greywater recycling, energy-efficient tech, and responsible water management allow us to run lightly while still maintaining high standards. We even take guests behind the scenes to understand our efforts, it’s one of their favourite experiences, when they see how we care for the land, the systems that support it, and the people on the ground, the experience becomes part of the luxury we believe in.
Promoting South African Tourism at Monwana Game Lodge
How does Monwana Game Lodge boost tourism and luxury travel in South Africa?
This is an answer based on my feelings, but I believe stakeholders should build experiences rooted in authenticity, about the land and the people. Travellers are evolving fast, and they want meaning, connection, and a sense of place.
If stakeholders invested in storytelling and curated connections, tourism will grow in what people have less of today, meaningful connections. We are constantly on the go, and with all the technology around us, we are more connected than ever, but disconnected from so much more that matters.
What is the most crucial piece of advice you would offer to a luxury brand facing a reputation crisis, especially concerning online reviews or guest complaints?
The most important response to a reputation crisis is to lead with empathy. Most guests simply want their feelings acknowledged. Be attentive to where their experience fell short, and validate their emotion before addressing the facts.
When a guest feels heard and respected, there is an opportunity to mend. If it is possible, invite them back to experience your property on the level they felt they needed to be met, and take care in learning from the experience; there’s always a way to do things better.
How has your understanding of professional success changed, comparing when you first started in hospitality to your current role managing a major luxury property?
In the beginning, I thought that success was about how well I performed. After many lessons, I learnt that my success in only as strong as my team is. I’m still learning every day. None of us is beyond that. We’re human with work, personal lives, moms, Dads, partners, and we all have emotions.
When you understand the human aspect of the workspace dynamics, you can lead with grace.
What principles have consistently guided your decision-making and leadership?
Staying human and understanding everyone else also is, has played a huge part. Also, understanding that not everyone thinks the same as me has been one of my biggest shifts, and sometimes still a struggle, but being aware of it makes a big difference.
Having your idea set in stone and everyone following isn’t really real growth towards anything. Learning that my team can also carry me and lead me, has been a great asset. Tapping into someone else’s great idea with the goal post always in mind has led to many brilliant ideas. I don’t always have all the answers, and I am grateful to the people along the way who have taught me.
On a personal note, what has the hospitality industry taught you about people?
People are beautifully complicated. Some days they respond well, other days they don’t. Sometimes we are aligned, and sometimes we are not; everyone is so different. But in the end, everyone just wants to feel connected, heard and seen. Its like a dynamic at home, families and relationships, none of them are perfect, but grace goes a long way.
Hospitality at Monwana Game Lodge mirrors this: when staff choose to grow with us, it means that we all grow together in this journey. Hospitality reminds us that every human dynamic has a reason, and that when you can support that dynamic, it creates magic.
