The Lalibela A Team

Maya Merchant – Office name: “M”
Our head of reservations at Lalibela is local PE girl Maya. Maya studied tourism at Damelin before joining the Lalibela team 3 years ago.
Her relaxed and friendly demeanour hides an amazing ability for attention to detail that ensures that your reservation with us runs smoothly from start to finish. Also, Maya’s mom makes delicious samoosas which from time to time (not often enough!) we are able to enjoy.

Favourite animal – elephants…especially the little babies (all 125kg of them)

I like… "The first cup of coffee in the morning.”

Contact Maya at res@lalibela.co.za

Zingisa Siwisa – Office name: “Zingy”
Always full of fun and with a smile on her face, Zingy hails from East London and after finishing her schooling there and in Grahamstown, she moved to the friendly city of Port Elizabeth where she studied Travel and Tourism at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Getting married is the next big event in Zingy’s life and she has become an expert in planning the big day. If you have any wedding enquiries, please send them her way! No-one in the office has ever seen Zingy without a smile on her face – we have a side bet running to see just what it will take to get her angry about anything!

Favourite animal – "Cheetah, i have a thing for speed."

I like… to get excited about the day.

Contact Zingy at stay@lalibela.co.za

Vuyokazi – Office name: “Vuyo” or “V”
Vuyo is the latest addition to the Lalibela team. Quiet and shy on the surface, this belies the diva that comes out every now and then! Vuyo is from Grahamstown (The City of the Saints) and after finishing her schooling there, she moved to Port Elizabeth where she also studied Travel and Tourism at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

With such a calm and steady nature, we are all waiting for a client or colleague to ruffle her feathers!

Favourite animal – Hippo, they are just plain cute.

I like… The challenge that each day holds in this exciting industry.

Contact Vuyokazi at bookings@lalibela.co.za

Gail Davies – Office name -“Gail”
Gail busies herself in the marketing department at Lalibela. This of course gives her many opportunities to travel to various exotic locations around the world on the pretence of actually working – making everyone else very jealous indeed. When in the office however, she is super efficient and we therefore allow her to occasionally help us out in reservations when we are snowed under……or when we want to take a break and watch someone else do some work!

Favourite animal – "The Meerkat, they are inquisitive, just like me."

I like…"The fact that no 2 days are the same in our offices!”

Contact Gail at marketing@lalibela.co.za

Vernon Wait – Office name: “depends whether he is present or out of the office…”
The Boss! Vernon has been involved with Lalibela from the start and is one of the shareholders. His visionary ideas have helped make Lalibela what it is today (we have to say that because he pays our salaries…). Unfortunately this creative aspect of his personality means that attention to detail in an office environment is definitely not one of his strengths. As a result, he is not allowed anywhere NEAR the reservations system and only occasionally do we allow him to answer the phone!

Favourite animal – The very rare “lesser spotted hard-working employee”

I like…"The relaxed atmosphere that we have in the office. It allows us to be productive and to achieve the internal goals that we set ourselves”