Jason Glanville and Allison Bauer are the newly appointed managers for Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge in Rwanda, bringing with them wonderful adventures and incredible hospitality experience, acquired from working in a number of private game reserves and national parks over the past seven years.
Although both grew up and went to school in Johannesburg, South Africa, it was only in 2013 that they met – in northern KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) bushveld.
After studying film and acting in Johannesburg, Jason’s curiosity for the natural world and all things great and small led him to the wilderness. He completed his guide training in 2011 and thereafter began guiding at Sabi Sand Game Reserve next to Kruger National Park. Here he spent five years, eventually becoming a senior guide and mentor, in addition to his specialist qualifications in savannah and forest birding.
When Allison, known as Ally, completed school, she decided to spend some time working while traversing the US, and through a stroke of luck found herself in California’s Yosemite National Park, where her love for the outdoors met her new-found passion for hospitality. Missing Africa, Ally returned home, and in 2013 qualified as a guide and started working at Phinda Private Game Reserve in KZN. A year later, she continued her guiding career in the Sabi Sand with Jason.
In 2015, the pair moved to Timbavati Private Nature Reserve at Hoedspruit, where Jason continued exploring the wilderness as a guide and Ally moved on to the role of Assistant Manager. After a couple of years, they moved to Katavi National Park in Tanzania as lodge managers and guide trainers. Ultimately, it was this experience that led them to Wilderness and to Rwanda.
The two joined Wilderness Rwanda in March 2019, assisting with management and guiding at Bisate Lodge and Magashi Camp. On the 1st of October they started their full-time management roles at Bisate. While their duties are largely similar, Jason will be more involved in the general maintenance of the camp and the reforestation programme, and Ally will be involved in the administration, as well as ensuring that the camp complies with Bisate’s excellent service standards.
They are naturally keen to maintain the successes of the camp and further improve guest experiences. In their roles, they will also support Bisate’s numerous ground-breaking community and conservation projects. “We could not be more excited and grateful to be part of a company which truly has conservation at its core. The vision of reforestation, land transformation and increased natural habitat is one that we hold very close, and are therefore pleased to have an opportunity to share this amazing conservation story”, notes the couple.
Having spent time at Bisate and Magashi camps, it is the gentle nature and remarkable strength of the Rwandan people that have captured Ally and Jason’s hearts. Together with the amazing Bisate staff, they are confident that the lodge will continue to excel.
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