Rodney Gerhadt has joined the Premier Hotels & Resorts group as the new reserve manager of Mpongo Private Game Reserve near East London, bringing PE-born Rodney back to his native Eastern Cape.

With substantial experience in the fields of wildlife education, conservation, game lodge and wildlife management, Rodney comes to Mpongo from top management positions in both Zambia and Botswana and will be a significant asset to the reserve.

“We are delighted to have appointed a chef of Rodney’s caliber and is an asset to our foundation of professionals at Mpongo in both the wildlife & hospitality fields,” says Premier Hotels’ CEO Samuel Nassimov.

Set on rolling hills and deep valley bushveld along the historic Umpongo River, the malaria-free 3200 ha Mpongo Private Game Reserve is the closest wildlife experience to East London (only 35km away) which presents the opportunity for travelers to enjoy a beach and bush experience in close proximity.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the growth of Mpongo. It’s great to be back to my roots and I aim to make the reserve a primary wildlife destination in this part of the Eastern Cape,” says Rodney.

Home to the Big 4 of free-ranging elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard along with a lion camp, as well as giraffe, monkeys, zebra, brown hyena, hippo and numerous grassland species of antelope, Mpongo Private Game Reserve is owned & managed by the Premier Hotel & Resorts group who have a collection of hotels in the Western Cape, KZN, Gauteng and Eastern Cape including the new East London International Convention Centre. www.premierhotels.co.za