Mike T. Kavindama
Maun
Summary
Lodge Manager with 15+ yeas of Safari experiences, managing different upper markets to budgets passionate about giving and enhancing guests experience, equipped to handle range of daily operations needs and emergency situations at properties. Ready for any challenge facing business or customers. Adapts quickly to changing needs, hard worker, team player and expertly resolves conflicts.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Lodge Couple Manager
Bushways Safaris Lodges
Chobe-Kasane/Khwai-Moremi
02.2017 - 02.2024
- Duties: Include all aspects of the management of the camp
- Understand personal guest needs through interaction
- Ensure that minimum standards are adhered to in all departments
- Promote and instill an ethic of Guest Care and Guest interaction throughout all departments
- Promote and instill a passion for Going the Extra Mile throughout all departments
- Closely manage all guest activities together with other management, waiters, guides, housekeepers and other staff as necessary
- Assist with monthly planning – training, guest requirement and staffing levels
- Familiarize myself and adhere to the Company Policies and Procedures
- To oversee operations of other Camps in the Area based
- Include handling of all bookings Planning for the operations Ordering of supplies Hosting of guests and planning of their activities
- Processing of payments for the guests Supervising and overseeing all the staff
- Ensure entertainment, safety and needs of all guests by means of professional guidance and services
- Ensure personal discipline to staff at all times and comply with high standards set by company
- Daily, weekly and monthly administration, to accurately record and control orders, receipts, Monitor daily consumption of bar, housekeeping, fuels, gas and sundry stocks Kitchen management and overseas preparation and presentation of meals
- General maintenance of the camp, and security of all plant and machinery, radios, boats, mokoros
Camp Manager
Fallen Baobab Camp, Kana Kara
Okavango Delta
02.2016 - 10.2016
- Overall management of the lodge, including guests’ activities, hosting, housekeeping
- Monthly banking, camp administration, catering, stock takes,
- Staff management and National park relations
- Dealing with emergencies of any nature Ensure entertainment, safety and needs of all guests by means of professional guidance and services
- Ensure personal discipline to staff at all times and comply with high standards set by company Daily, weekly and monthly administration, to accurately record and control orders, receipts,
- Monitor daily consumption of bar, housekeeping, fuels, gas and sundry stocks Kitchen management and overseas preparation and presentation of meals
- General maintenance of the camp, and security of all plant and machinery, radios, boats, mokoros
Lodge Couple Managers
Moremi Crossing
Under One Botswana Sky
07.2014 - 09.2015
- Overall management of the lodge, including guests’ activities, hosting, housekeeping Monthly banking, camp administration, catering, curio shop, stock takes,
- Staff management and National park relations
- Dealing with emergencies of any nature
- Ensure entertainment, safety and needs of all guests by means of professional guidance and services
- Ensure personal discipline to staff at all times and comply with high standards set by company
- Daily, weekly and monthly administration, to accurately record and control orders, receipts,
- Monitor daily consumption of bar, housekeeping, fuels, gas and sundry stocks Kitchen management and overseas preparation and presentation of meals
- General maintenance of the camp, and security of all plant and machinery, radios, boats, mokoros
General Manager
Wilderness Safaris, Wilderness Tented Camp
Okavango Delta, Khwai-Moremi
08.2013 - 07.2014
- Handle logistic for multiple departments Overseas large staff compliment
- Coordinates game drives activities for guests
- Banking
- General maintenance of the camp
- Overseas of the housekeeping, and food and beverage departments
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff members to ensure efficient operations.
- Managed all aspects of daily business operations including budgeting, staffing, scheduling, inventory control, customer service.
- Developed and implemented operational strategies to improve efficiency, reduce costs and maximize customer satisfaction.
Lodge Manager
Wilderness Safaris, Baobab Safaris Lodge
03.2011 - 01.2013
- Operation of the Lodge/ Camp, housekeeping, Food and Beverage and general camp maintenance
- Motivate staff and hosting of guests in camp
- Ordering of guests fresh and staff ration and budget management
- Development and maintenance of high service to guests
- Enforce personal discipline to staff at all times
- Daily, weekly and monthly administration work and weekly banking
- Training of citizen staff to management level
- Ensuring the safety of guests and provide first aid
Administration/Personnel Officer/Acting Suppliers Officer
Ministry of Education
08.2009 - 02.2011
- Procurement of goods
- Prepares purchase order
- Development and implementation of HR initiatives and procedures of the College
- Recruitment and training
- Performance management systems
- Budget recurrent
- File management and attend to all employees’ correspondences
- Staff welfare and prepares terminal benefits and gratuity
- Supervisor for industrial class employees
- Prepares casualty returns for newly and promoted officers
- Responsible for the generally admin work of the college
- Authorizes the movement of Government vehicles
- Advices management of government regulations and labour laws
- Preparation of Annual college budget
Assistant Manager
Wilderness Safari, Moremi Tented Camp
05.2007 - 08.2009
- Assist in the Operation of the Lodge/ Camp
- Host guests
- Development and maintenance of high service to guests
- Enforce personal discipline to staff at all times
- Daily, weekly and monthly administration work
Trainee Lodge Manager
Okavango Wilderness Safari
04.2007 - 05.2007
- Kingspool Camp and Xigera Camp
- Work closely with team members to deliver project requirements, develop solutions and meet deadlines
- Setting-up bush dinners and bush brunch for guests as 'WoW' activities, and private dinners Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals
- Motivated and encouraged team members to communicate more openly and constructively with each other
- Meet and greet of all international guests arrivals Demonstrated self-reliance by meeting and exceeding workflow needs
- Daily room checks with housekeepers and room orientation Assisted guests at check-in, providing information on various services within the camp Assist Camp Managers with the running of the lodge operations on daily basis and monthly admin reports
Trainee Lodge Manager
Okavango Wilderness Safari
01.2007 - 03.2007
- Work closely with team members to deliver project requirements, develop solutions and meet deadlines
- Setting up bush dinners and bush brunch for guests as 'WoW' activities, and private dinners Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals
- Motivated and encouraged team members to communicate more openly and constructively with each other
- Meet and greet of all international guests arrivals Demonstrated self-reliance by meeting and exceeding workflow needs
- Daily room checks with house keepers and room orientation Assisted guests at check-in, providing information on various services within the camp Assist Camp Managers with the running of the lodge operations on daily basis and monthly admin reports
Education
BA degree - public administration and environmental sciences
University of Botswana
01.2006
BGSE -
St Joseph’s College
01.2001
JC Certificate -
Etsha Secondary School
01.1999
Diploma - Operations Management
Alison College
Certificate in lodge management level-1 and level-2, Wilderness Safari Training facility -
Skills
- Administration
- Computer literate
- Covid-19 Test Training skills
- Emergency first Aid
- Fire fighting
- Hold a clean driving license
- HR valve chain and strategy
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Payroll administration
- Procumbent product knowledge
- Team work
References
References:
Tapera Sithole, Ops Manager, Wilderness Safaris, at taperas@wilderness.co.bw, 6860086/71327253
Jost Kabozu, General Manager, Baobab Safari, Wilderness Safari, 6200216/7, cell. 73872700/ 71805225
Sundra Rubins HR & Foundation Liasing Officer Manager, P/ bag 342, Maun-Botswana, Bushways Safaris, +267 73376373/71662244
Languages
Timeline
Lodge Couple Manager
Bushways Safaris Lodges
02.2017 - 02.2024
Camp Manager
Fallen Baobab Camp, Kana Kara
02.2016 - 10.2016
Lodge Couple Managers
Moremi Crossing
07.2014 - 09.2015
General Manager
Wilderness Safaris, Wilderness Tented Camp
08.2013 - 07.2014
Lodge Manager
Wilderness Safaris, Baobab Safaris Lodge
03.2011 - 01.2013
Administration/Personnel Officer/Acting Suppliers Officer
Ministry of Education
08.2009 - 02.2011
Assistant Manager
Wilderness Safari, Moremi Tented Camp
05.2007 - 08.2009
Trainee Lodge Manager
Okavango Wilderness Safari
04.2007 - 05.2007
Trainee Lodge Manager
Okavango Wilderness Safari
01.2007 - 03.2007
BA degree - public administration and environmental sciences
University of Botswana
BGSE -
St Joseph’s College
JC Certificate -
Etsha Secondary School
Diploma - Operations Management
Alison College
Certificate in lodge management level-1 and level-2, Wilderness Safari Training facility -
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