When people ask us what makes Tanda Tula so special, our answer is always the same: it’s the people.
The Timbavati may hold extraordinary beauty, but it’s the family of families who live and work here that give this place its soul.
Today, Don & Nina share the story of one such family;
Our dear friends and colleagues, the Mathebulas. Formen, Poshia, and their two boys, Allied and Jayden, have walked alongside us and our three sons for decades. Truly, we have grown up together – children, careers, even the grey hairs – our boys spending much of their childhoods together in the Timbavati, forging bonds as deep as our own.
Allied, Formen and Poshia Mathebula with Nina and Don Scott — a portrait of family, partnership, and the heart behind Tanda Tula.
Roots in the Klaserie
Formen’s story begins in the Klaserie Game Reserve, where his father worked in maintenance and passed on the ancestral art of tracking. As a boy, he would follow his father into the bush, learning to read the ground and the stories hidden in dust and spoor.
In Formen’s own words:
“I was born in the Klaserie. My father inspired me to track – at first it was just when we went hunting for food, but soon he took me to follow lions and leopards. I’ll never forget the first time I tracked and actually found something on foot – a leopard with a broken waist. We thought we were following the cat dragging a kill. It turned out it was dragging itself…I was fifteen, and terrified.”
There are many such stories, but the one that always makes us smile is the classic bicycle incident. Imagine young Formen pedalling his way back to camp when suddenly a leopard, hot on the heels of an impala, barrels straight between his wheels.
“The leopard wasn’t chasing me,” Formen laughs, “but I think it was as surprised as I was to find a boy on a bicycle in its path. We both bulleted off in opposite directions.”
Formen Mathebula, a true leader and mentor at Tanda Tula, whose calm strength and lifelong connection to the bush have shaped the lodge’s spirit.
Meeting a Quiet Leader
We first met Formen in the 1990s, when he was working as a tracker. He was calm, thoughtful, and quietly confident – the kind of man who steadies a room just by being in it. Over the years, we came to admire not only his skill in the bush but his ability to bridge cultures, moving with ease between worlds that so often misunderstand each other. He possesses a quiet yet powerful strength, and fulfils the role of mentor for many.
We always said that if we ever had our own lodge, we wanted him by our side. And so it was: when we took over Tanda Tula in 2009, Formen joined us – first as a senior guide, and later, through years of dedication, innate leadership, and subtle strength, he grew into his role as co-owner, director, and manager.
From the outset, we believed that if you want to keep good people, you make them partners in the journey. Real transformation in our industry could never happen without a shift in ownership, and we wanted to lead by example. No other camp in our area had done this before, but we knew it was the right thing to do – to recognise excellence, build loyalty, and create a shared legacy. Formen was the natural choice; he had earned his place through hard work, integrity, and the deep respect he inspires in everyone around him.
As he recalls,
“Before I heard about Tanda Tula, Don told me something was coming up. He said, don’t move! We have plans. I trusted him. I’m glad that I did.”
Formen was also the very first Shangaan guide in the Timbavati in the early 2000s – a milestone that will always make us proud.
Poshia – Strength and Grace
And then there is Poshia. We first knew her through the previous camp we managed, when she was in housekeeping – tall, graceful, and with an air of calm strength. One memory that stands out is a staff Christmas party, where she and Formen arrived fashionably late, dressed beautifully, and carrying themselves with quiet sophistication while chaos unfolded around them. We thought then, and still do now, that together they are a dream team.
Poshia’s journey with Tanda Tula has been just as remarkable. She spent years working in kitchens as a chef, and as part of the service team, while she raised her sons. Then, when we decided to open a spa, we asked if she might consider training as a therapist. She was hesitant at first:
“When Nina first suggested the spa, I was so scared. I didn’t know what to expect. But then I went for a full body massage myself, and walked out saying – give me more!”
Poshia Mathebula, head of Tanda Tula’s spa, with co-owner Nina Scott – a shared passion for wellness and meaningful guest experiences.
The Next Generation
Their sons are the next chapter of this story.
Allied was one of the first beneficiaries of the Tanda Tula Foundation’s scholarship programme. Moving from a local school to Southern Cross was no easy leap, but with determination and a great deal of resilience, he graduated with a university pass. Today, he’s finding his own way in the bush – tracking, guiding, and developing a keen eye for photography.
Allied Mathebula, son of Formen and Poshia, continues his family’s legacy at Tanda Tula with energy, warmth, and a growing passion for guiding and photography.
As Formen proudly says:
“At first, Allied wasn’t so interested in hospitality. Perhaps he will follow in my footsteps – guiding, tracking, even photographing wildlife. He is carving out his own path.”
Their younger son, Jayden, is still at school, full of energy and cheeky charm. Although he has not been that wild about school, this year he has bitten into grade six with great enthusiasm. Poshia smiles as she recalls:
“He told me, Mum, grade one and grade six are the best classes I’ve ever had! He makes us laugh every day.”
Reflections
Looking back over the years, what strikes us most is not only the professional achievements – though there are many – but the deep sense of humanity the Mathebulas bring to Tanda Tula. They are mentors, leaders, parents, and friends. They remind us that true sustainability isn’t just about solar panels or water conservation. It begins with people, and the greatest legacies are not built on bricks and mortar, but on trust, respect, and love.
If you’ve ever been on safari with Formen, or felt the therapy of Poshia’s hands, you’ll know why they are more than colleagues – they are part of the essence of Tanda Tula. We look forward to watching Allied and Jayden forging their own paths in life (we selfishly hope they stay close). And perhaps most importantly, we hope those paths don’t involve bicycles and leopards!
With love,
