Millicent Shai: Founder and owner – of Thaba Legae Guest Lodge (ZA)

WWhen one thinks of tourism in South Africa, the North West Province and its Magaliesberg mountain range and lush bushes come to mind. Not new to leisure and travel, the province has always held its baton, offering the famous Sun City resort and its surrounding holiday destinations. The province’s natural beauty has always added to the allure.

It is against this backdrop that Mamelodi-born Millicent Shai, who grew up in Rustenburg, took to travelling from an early age. The province’s hospitable culture planted a seed in Millicent when her grandmother took her on long walks to visit relatives in neighbouring villages in Rustenburg, savouring the province’s natural beauty. Later on, a holiday in Namibia changed all that.

SShe observed how European tourists in her group got so excited each time they saw a hill.

“This made me think of the magnificent Magaliesberg mountains surrounding Rustenburg and what a beautiful town we come from! The concept of Thaba Legae Guest Lodge was born on this 2007 trip to Namibia with my husband. On our return, we started looking for a plot to build our own guest house. We bought it the same year, developed it in 2008 and on the 1^st of June 2009 opened the doors for business.”

Thaba Legae Guest Lodge started with seven rooms and a 50-seater conference room. It is a 4-Star graded establishment and currently has 22 luxury rooms, all en-suite, two 250-seater events halls, a 120-seater chapel, bar, boma and a swimming pool with Lapa. The lodge is an accommodation, weddings and functions venue located 10km from the Rustenburg CBD, a serene setting.

For Millicent, there was no way she could pass up an opportunity to showcase her province and what it has to offer tourists. Armed with nothing but a desire to sell her beautiful town to discerning travellers, she took the plunge and has never looked back. The guest lodge offers the experience of a luxury holiday while nestled in a natural setting, with sceneries and an ambience that offers the experience of home.

Women love doing things for themselves: social clubs, stokvels, retreats, me-times, and the business cater for all those.

“We focus on the experiences that our guests will have in our country, provinces and establishments. Being authentic is what works. Collaborating with other businesses to offer full packages to showcase our products gives our visitors a good impression of who we are.”

“Our resilience during the Covid 19 pandemic made us value our employees more and involve them in seeking solutions. Against all odds, they stuck with us even when they were not being paid fully. They were multi-tasking, loyal and committed!

South Africa is a beautiful country with its diverse heritage and culture, fauna and flora, landscape, and wonderful weather, all offering value for money. The gem is its people, who are friendly, warm and welcoming! Thaba Legae Guest Lodge offers all that!” adds Milicent.

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