Caroline Nake, born and raised in Ronaldsey in Bushbuckridge, overcame significant challenges to become a successful entrepreneur and owner of Tinyiko Kruger Lodge. Her journey from poverty to business success is a story of resilience and determination.
“I don’t talk about my upbringing without shedding tears, when I look at where I am today,” Nake said
Growing up, Nake faced hardships, including living in extreme poverty without a proper house. Determined to change her life, she vowed to build a big house where her family could have a home.
From a young age, she took on work to pay for her education, supported by a family friend who treated her like a daughter. Despite a failed marriage and other difficulties, she remained focused on building a better future.
Reflecting on her journey, Nake said: “I didn’t want my upbringing to define my future. Tinyiko Kruger Lodge is more than a business — it’s a dream come true.”
Her break into the hospitality industry came in 2010 during the Fifa World Cup, when she successfully marketed a guest house, filling it with bookings. This opportunity led to managing two guest houses and later purchasing land in Marloth Park, where she opened Tinyiko Kruger Lodge in 2017 with eight rooms. Tinyiko, meaning “gift” in Xitsonga, offers accommodation in Marloth Park — a nature conservation area bordering the Kruger National Park.
Today, the lodge has grown to 19 rooms and attracts both local and international guests, offering a unique tri-country experience near the Kruger National Park.
The lodge is situated where guests can enjoy day trips to Mozambique or Swaziland and still make it back in time for dinner.
“It is about 25 minutes from Tinyiko Kruger Lodge to the Lebombo border post, entering Maputo. People, have breakfast here at Tinyiko and drive to Lebombo, or we take them to Mozambique to eat lunch there and come back and have dinner at our establishment.
“At the same time, we are 45 minutes from the Mananga border to enter Eswatini. So you can be in three countries — South Africa, Mozambique and Eswatini,” she said.
Nake said that as a black female entrepreneur, she has faced significant challenges in establishing and growing her business.
She spoke about the challenges of being the first black woman to establish a business in a predominantly white area, facing resistance that made her journey more difficult.
“I was the first black woman to come and build a business here. There were so many challenges, but it’s history now,” she said.
Nake recently attended Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban with SANParks, showcasing her business to international buyers. The event helped her secure potential deals and international exposure.
She expressed her gratitude to SANParks for the opportunity, as it opened doors for her business to grow beyond South Africa.
“Thanks to SANParks for giving us this opportunity. The indaba helped us to market outside the country,” she said.
Nake serves as the chairperson of Women in Tourism Mpumalanga, the coordinator of the South African Township & Village Tourism Association in Mpumalanga, a committee member of the Marloth Park Property Owners Association , and a committee member of the Nkomazi Local Tourism Organisation .
Her plans are to duplicate Tinyiko by establishing at least five more lodges, franchising the brand and elevating it to five-star level.
She has won several awards, including one from the South African Council for Business Women in 2022.
Nake was one of 13 small tourism businesses supported by South African National Parks (SANParks) to exhibit at Africa’s Travel Indaba as part of SANParks’ new Vision 2040 strategy. The plan focuses on giving communities more access to conservation, ensuring they benefit from tourism and supporting sustainable development.
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