Intundla celebrates 10 years since our new beginning!
In September Intundla Celebrates the 10 Year Anniversary of the devastating fire at the Game Lodge. It was a Sunday morning on the 2nd September 2007, when Teneale du Plessis received that dreadful call with only a few piercing words... "it's burning, it's all gone."
Watching the Lodge burn
So started the panic of that horrible day! At the lodge, some of the guests helped the staff remove furniture from the conference rooms and equipment from the reception area. Some even climbed on the roofs of the chalets in an effort to wet the thatch with garden hoses. Soon though, the gas bottles started exploding and everyone had to retreat to the other side of the dam. From where we simply watched the beautiful lodge burn to the ground within an hour.
Power surge caused the fire
It was later discovered that the fire was started by a power surge. After the initial damage to the Game Lodge and Conference Venue, the fire continued to rage, turning into a 3-day veld fire. The fire threatening to come back and burn what little was left.
Wedding Chapel stood untouched
Once the larger flames had died down and the smoke had disappeared a clear image of the untouched Wedding Chapel with its beautiful garden was an unbelievable site to behold. The path of the fire was clear to be seen and had somehow left the chapel and surrounding garden untouched! This Wedding Chapel still stands today, and many happy couples have said "I DO" in this chapel since then.
Rebuilding
As we rebuilt, all our staff; housekeepers, chef's, barmen, duty managers, everyone was available to help restore the beautiful lodge. Six months after the fire the Lodge and Conference Venue outside Pretoria was once again open for business.
With grateful hearts
In September every year, we remember the scorching heat of that day and the additional heat of the fire and how we had to start over. Today we are grateful we have come so far after this crippling event. Today we celebrate our beautiful bush venue and what Intundla has become!
