OUR STORY
THE MAGIC OF AFRICA
Africa is more than a destination.
It’s a feeling.
The hush of dawn over the bushveld.
The rhythm of footsteps on red earth.
The sand between your toes.
The warmth of firelight on a face you love.
It’s where stories begin and where they’re passed down for generations.
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Elephants are more than icons of Africa, they are deeply symbolic of what Private Places is all about:
Family, loyalty, connection, and moving together as one.
Look closely at our logo, and it shall all be apparent.
This is who we are.
A brand rooted in the spirit of Africa, shaped by the power of togetherness. We believe travel should connect us to nature, to each other, to the quiet wonder of the world.
At Private Places, we don’t just create escapes, we craft journeys worth remembering. Exclusive stays where your family or group becomes the only guests, and the only priority. At Private Places, we don’t just offer beautiful properties, we offer space to reconnect. To gather. To breathe. To share something real with the people who matter most.
Our Logo defines us - It’s who we are.
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Because when you journey with those you love, you discover more than Africa, you discover what matters most.
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Private Places
Discover Africa. Together.
DISCOVER AFRICA.TOGETHER
PASSIONATE EXPLORERS
MEET THE
PRIVATE PLACES TEAM
Private Places is a team of passionate Southern African explorers, who revel in creating bespoke, private experiences for families, friends, tour groups and corporate executives travelling together.
We are proud of where we live. We love where we live. You will, too.
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Join us in discovering the Southern African continent's most exclusive and captivating destinations.
Craig Gettliffe
Founder and MD
Craig founded iHolidays with a long-time friend and business partner Brent, having initially started with customised skiing holidays oveseas, a passion that they mutually shared. With Brent moving ‘down-under’ Craig decided to focus more on exclusive use properties in the bush which is the foundation that the current business has been built.
He’s inspired and motivated by sharing his passion for travel in Africa with both new and repeat iHolidays clients. When time allows prefers nothing more than spending time with his family and friends in the bush and savouring those epic African sunsets.
Helena Tilston
Bookings
Helena has travel in her blood. She’s been involved in the travel industry for her entire career having started way back in 1995 and having spent time working at Beachcomber Tours and then successfully running her own travel business. She joined iHolidays in 2018 and has been managing all things related to guest bookings since then.
She revels in curating and planning guest holidays and adventures and loves receiving amazing feedback from our guests after they have stayed at one of our properties.
Malegodi Kamogelo Thobejane (MK)
Trails Guide
MK has a passion for the bush that is unparalleled. Its his happy space and he loves nothing more than to share his wealth of knowledge with our guests. He has been guiding since 2017 and in this relatively short period of time gained a wealth of experience. MK’s love for the bush is supported by his passion for photography and continued yearning for advancing his skills and knowledge base.
MK will be providing our guests with the opportunity to get close and personal with the bush by taking them on private guided bush walks during their stay at our Safari Lodges.
Ross
Lodge Operations
With a deep-rooted connection to the safari world, Ross brings both passion and experience to the Private Places team. After starting his career in psychology, he followed his love for wildlife photography and storytelling, which naturally led him into lodge operations and guest experiences.
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Having spent much of his life surrounded by the bushveld through family holidays, dinner table stories, and now his professional career, Ross has truly found his calling in the safari industry. He thrives on the daily challenges of managing safari lodges in some of Africa’s most spectacular locations and is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for every guest.