Meet the team

Garth Wolff

Owner

Garth Wolff is a successful businessman and entrepreneur who founded
his primary business, eTravel, in May 1999 and introduced the Independent
Travel Consultant (ITC) model to South Africa. This model has since become a
substantial part of the South African travel industry with over 250 ITCs now
part of the eTravel family.

Garth has two main passions, both beginning at a very young age: aviation
and the bush.

In 2015, Garth obtained his Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) and bought a
Cessna 182 the same year.

Some of his first flights after obtaining his PPL brought him to
Hoedspruit, where he subsequently built a house, and became involved with
the Blue Canyon Private Game Reserve and acquiring property.

As with flying, Garth’s passion for the bush was instilled in him by his
late father, at an early age with annual family holidays to the Kruger
National Park. His fondest childhood memories are those of pushing a
plastic train set in the sand at Satara Rest Camp, riding his bicycle
around the camp and helping carve out the wooden doors of the Stanley
Cottage which his aunt donated in the mid 1980’s.

The same plastic train set was used by his children and has been looked
after over the years and will hopefully be used by his grandchildren in
the future.

As the years passed, Garth’s love for the bush grew and so did the
holidays to the Lowveld, ranging from camping trips in the Kruger to
experiencing the luxury of private lodges in later years. Garth’s dreams
have always been to fly, to own “a piece of heaven in the African bush”
and ultimately to build his own lodge.

After many years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice, these dreams have
finally become a reality.

Garth bought his first piece of land in the Blue Canyon Private Game
Reserve in 2017 (Leopard’s Bend), followed by 2 more properties in 2018
(Bokmakirrie)and 2019 (Scheema) respectively and now owns over 3000
hectares within the 9600 hectare reserve.

Being a bush lover and developing a passion for all conservation, Garth
felt that it was his responsibility to take the next step which has
translated into Garth founding the Leopard’s Bend Wildlife Foundation to
obtain funding to further protect the endangered species on the reserve.

Lodge Manageress

From a young age, Anja Immelman was drawn to the world of hospitality. Raised in Limpopo, she spent much of her childhood in her mother and grandmother’s small coffee shop, where she happily assisted with baking and welcomed every guest with a bright smile. It was there that her love for people and service first took root, nurtured by the joy of making others feel at home.

As Anja grew older, she developed a deep connection to nature through frequent visits to the Kruger National Park. Her early love for animals blossomed into a lasting appreciation for the African bush, naturally steering her toward a career in the lodge industry—where hospitality and wildlife beautifully intertwine.

While she gained experience across various areas of the industry, it was Anja’s genuine interest in people and cultures that led her to pursue Guest Relations. Rather than working behind the scenes, she thrives on meaningful guest interactions and creating memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression. For Anja, it’s the personal connections and shared stories that make this work not just a job, but a true calling.

Darryn Gates (Section Ranger Leopard’s Bend)

Darryn grew up in KwaZulu-Natal, where his love for the outdoors and fascination with the natural world took root from an early age. His career has taken him across some of South Africa’s most diverse landscapes, from remote eco-lodges to well-established safari destinations.

With a background in guiding, lodge operations, and sustainable building, he has spent years refining his expertise in conservation management and immersive bush experiences. His time constructing an eco-lodge using vernacular building techniques was a humbling yet enriching chapter one that deepened his appreciation for sustainability in wild spaces. Now, as Section Ranger at Leopard’s Bend, he looks forward to applying his knowledge to the ongoing conservation and management of this remarkable area.