MAVIS FUNEKA MASINGILI – Matriarch, true bread-winner and the longest standing member of Idwala

Mavis making her famous bread

Today's profile is about a very special lady who joined Idwala one week after opening, on 13 November 2005. She has been a strong member of the team and has truly grown in the past five years. 

Born on 12 April 1967, Mavis is the oldest lady employed at Idwala Game Lodge. As the third of six children, Mavis has always been surrounded by family and keeps them very close to her heart. She grew up in Seven Fountains, a small community only a stone’s throw from Idwala, and knows the area very well.

Making a poster for Rhino Day 

Her hospitality career started out in the heart of the Garden Route, at the popular local pub, Hop Inn in George. She enjoyed the brief time she spent there but needed to return to the Eastern Cape. She was visiting a relative on Rockcliff Farm when she heard that there was an oppurtunity to work at Idwala. Since then she’s never looked back! Mavis says her favourite part of working at Idwala is the breakfast waiteressing and she especially loves creating the centre pieces for the table.

With two of her colleagues at Idwala

Mamma Mavis, as she is fondly called, has two children in Grahamstown, one still at school and the other having just graduated from high school. Every chance she gets, she travels to Grahamstown to see them. Mavis enjoys sewing when she has some time off. The other ladies look towards Mavis for guidance and advice as she avoids gossip and only likes honest people. Her dream is to have a holiday by the sea.

Mavis is trained as a lodge assistant and can assist in all departments. She has a knack for cooking and preparing food. Mavis makes the delicious bread that is served every morning and she enjoys baking. Lucky for Idwala, this is where Mavis wants to stay!!