Helping make Chef Carol's dreams come true

Cooking up a storm in the Manyeleti!

Being a chef was not in Carol Sibuyi's plans. Her dream was to be a teacher.  Her father, a farmworker, suggested she go to chef school after she matriculated from school with the idea that she could earn money as a chef with which to pay for university and her teacher's qualification.


That she has fallen in love with cooking along the way is a happy accident, she says! She has also fallen in love with the Manyeleti and the African wilderness and all of the amazing wild animals that call it home.


Born and raised in the village of Kashorty near Hluvukani, Carol is just 22 years old. She was 20 when she started at Pungwe in 2021 and has impressed us with her incredible work ethic and considerable culinary talent.


"At first I was very afraid of working here," she laughs. "I thought the wild animals were going to kill me. But I have learned and now I am much braver, even when there are elephants and lions in camp," she giggles, confessing that she used to run from hyenas hanging around the kitchen.


She loves interacting with Pungwe's guests and gets a real buzz out of preparing fabulous food for them. "My favourite to make is carrot cake and I also love making individual crustless vegetable quiches, but I also like the fact that I get to cook around the campfire a lot and chat to the guests when I present their meals to them."


Working in tourism has impressed Carol, especially in the way that it benefits the local communities around the Manyeleti. "This camp is doing very good work for the local people here," she says. "Not just with the jobs, but also with the conservation and the creche, and also the schools it worked with especially during COVID19," she adds.


"All of us here at Pungwe come from around here, close to the Manyeleti. Before I came to work here, I had not been to the Manyeleti and I did not know anything about wildlife, conservation or how important it is that we protect this land. Now I understand," she says, nodding her head wisely.


Carol was planning on starting a teaching course in the new year, but her love of Pungwe has tugged at her heartstrings and she has made an important life decision, electing to stay with us indefinitely and focus on her culinary skills.


"Pungwe is a wonderful place. It's very cool and we are all like a family here. In fact, this is my second home and my second family, and it will always be a special place for me. It has given me a big opportunity as well, and I want to see where that takes me, learning as much as I can and continuing to apply myself to being the best chef I can be," she says.



  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
Pungwe - Meet the Manyeleti's master of disguise

Meet the Manyeleti's master of disguise

By Sharon Gilbert-Rivett • 23 Apr, 2024
The flap-necked chameleon isn't your average reptile. This charismatic creature, found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, boasts a dazzling array of adaptations that make it a true superstar of its environment. From its impressive vision and lightning-fast tongue to its surprising social life and dramatic threat displays, the flap-necked chameleon is a captivating resident of the Manyeleti...

The latest updates on the Manyeleti's lions

25 Mar, 2024
A lot has changed since we last wrote about the various lion dynasties on the Manyeleti some three years ago. The Manyeleti is renowned for its lions, and watching their lives play out in this breathtaking, pristine wilderness of ours is always a privilege, in good times and in bad. Here, then, is an overview of the lion prides we are observing regularly at present...
Pungwe - Blazing trails in sustainability

Blazing trails in sustainability

28 Feb, 2024
It may be small in size, but when it comes to heart, Pungwe's is as big as it gets. A champion of sustainable tourism, Pungwe's commitment to people and planet runs deep and true and is the pillar on which the Pungwe brand has been built. We understand that the key to protecting wilderness areas like the Manyeleti and the iconic species that call them home is harmony between conservation efforts, tourism, and the livelihoods of local communities...
Pungwe Safari Camp | Fun with pint-sized pachyderms

Fun with pint-sized pachyderms

30 Jan, 2024
When you're spending your mornings, afternoon and evenings exploring the wilderness of the Manyeleti on Pungwe game drives, you may be lucky enough to come across the creatures that most often steal the safari limelight - baby elephants! These adorable bundles of joy, born after the world's longest gestation period, are as fascinating as they are endearing, and an absolute privilege to see in their natural habitat. Let's find out more about the

Getting the shot!

12 Dec, 2023
Whether you're a keen amateur, talented wannabe or seasoned professional, capturing Africa's iconic wildlife species on camera is invariably at the top of every discerning photographer's bucket list. Pungwe is fortunate to play host to regular photographic groups and guests who return again and again to flex their lenses, thanks to a team of staff who understand photographers' needs and the unbeatable beauty and biodiversity of the Manyeleti.

Summer - the time of birding plenty

24 Nov, 2023
The Manyeleti is known for its grassy plains and mixed woodland, creating a variety of habitats that make it an excellent destination for birdwatching. The summer months, which typically span from November to February each year, are particularly interesting for birders, as this is the time when many migratory bird species arrive in the region...

The Manyeleti's most overlooked mammal

31 Oct, 2023
It's usually the first animal you see when you go on your first safari and at first is an exciting, but when you get to your 100th impala, interest in this beautiful antelope can begin to wane, which is sad because while it's one of the most numerous animals in the African bush, it's also one of the most interesting.
Pungwe Safari Camp - Falling in love with leopards

Falling in love with leopards

29 Aug, 2023
Widely regarded as the most charismatic of Africa's big cats, the leopard is also adaptable, opportunistic, and extremely photogenic. The Manyeleti is blessed with one of the healthiest populations of this fabulous feline in the Greater Kruger, making Pungwe a hot "spot" for cat lovers!
Pungwe Safari Camp - Enraptured by raptors!

Enraptured by raptors!

31 Jul, 2023
With well over 300 bird species recorded in the Manyeleti, it's a bird-lover's paradise, especially where birds of prey are concerned. The avian equivalent of celebrated terrestrial hunters like lion, leopard, cheetah and painted wolves (African wild dogs), our raptors are many and varied, from Africa's largest eagle to the most diminutive of owls. Here are a few we see regularly that have been captured on camera by our guests...
Pungwe Safari Camp - Wrap up warm!

Wrap up warm!

20 Jun, 2023
Despite Africa's legendary sun-filled days in South Africa's winter months, from June to September, a safari can get more than a bit nippy and require some warm clothing, especially in the early mornings and evenings.
More Posts
Share by: