Abigail de Swardt, Roam Private Game Reserve

Where have you served as GM? 

This is my first appointment/promotion to GM

 

Have you had any mentor/mentors along the way & how important were they, to your development?

My current employer has played a huge role in my development as a GM, he has taught me how to slow down, research a bit more and consider other perspectives. My father has also always been a mentor to me and taught me most of the skills I use day to day.

 

Have you ever had to open a lodge and would you say that requires a unique skill set? If not, would you be interested in doing so or not? 

When I joined Roam the property had just opened as an Eco-Tourism destination, my husband and I had a lot of treading water to do our first year, but as a team, along with the owner, we pulled it off and presented a fantastic product to the market. We utilized all the skills we had learnt during our early days in hospitality as well as those learnt during our studies. Launching a lodge while running a game reserve is not for the faint hearted. I would love to open another location.

 

From the first day you served as a GM, until today, you must have learnt so much. If you could share any one piece of sage guidance, to new GM’s, what would it be?

Take it slow, take the time to understand the business/property as it currently is and where the owner wants it to go before over extending and changing things.

 

I imagine that being the GM of a property, isolated in the Great Karoo, would come with different dynamics to being the GM of a property, in a big city. The same would go for managing a beach property on an island or a bush lodge in a remote corner of the world. Can you share how one adapts to managing in different locations (environments)?

Believe it or not this is not the most isolated I’ve ever been, the worst was being 170km from fresh milk! The key to adaptation is to lean on your strengths. I love net working and researching. So, when in an isolated environment it’s best to get to know the neighbours and find out how they source supplies, then build a network and contacts that support you, develop the relationships and give as much as you take.

 

Being the general manager of a lodge/game reserve, during the Coronavirus Pandemic must have been very challenging. What was the key to survival and did you ‘gain (or learn)’ anything, from the adverse situation?

Our work on the reserve didn’t stop, but not having guests during the height of the pandemic gave us a chance to refocus our efforts on plans of expansion and improvements. When we were able to welcome guests again, being a small intimate property, we were fortunate that we were able to offer South Africans an escape from the pressure of the pandemic in the isolated Karoo. Always lean on your strengths and provide guests with an experience better than their expectation.

 

Your favourite thing about serving, at your current post? 

My favourite thing is also the most stressful. It’s the same as being a mom, can’t live with your kids can’t live without them. I love the new challenges that come up day to day, but more than that, I love figuring out solutions to those challenges.

 

How important is it for general managers, such as yourself, visit other properties? 

The more properties one can visit the more one learns. And it’s not always about “stealing idea” to improve your own product, sometimes it just about appreciating that you are different and being reminded of that.

 

How is your establishment contributing to the greater good & making the world a better place (you can mention uplifting projects and or simply that you are creating jobs etc)?

Roam is home to the first free-ranging cheetah to walk the area in over 150 years, we have dedicated the space to reintroducing species that once roamed the area. Through doing this we increase the tourism potential of, not only Roam, but surrounding properties and in doing so provide jobs where there were previously none.

 

Interesting Insights about the General Manager:

 

What is your ideal or favourite vacation destination? 

Anywhere that I don’t have to cook or clean, even better if I don’t have to decide what to do.

 

What is your favourite wine?

I’m a red wine fan, lately I’ve been enjoying the drier reds, the best bottle I’ve had recently was a Springfield Whole Berry Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, bust mostly I drink from the box.

 

What is your favourite dish?

Pizza, hands down, always a winner… But it must have bacon, feta, peppadews and avo on it.

 

What favourite hidden gem or attraction, near your establishment, should we visit?

Our property is the hidden gem! But on the way its worth stopping in Meiringspoort (if travelling from Route 62) at the waterfall or if coming from Cape Town taking some time to wander through Prince Albert.