A Life Dedicated to Africa's Wild Places
Of Swiss-French and New Zealand Māori heritage, Michel Girardin's roots in Southern Africa run deep. His paternal great-grandfather, Dr. Georges Liengme, arrived from Switzerland in 1890 and lived with the last King of the Shangaan, Gungunyane, from 1891 to 1896 at Manjacaze in Mozambique. Georges went on to found Elim Hospital in Limpopo — now a declared National Heritage Monument. This profound connection to the Shangaan and Tsonga culture is one Michel embraces wholeheartedly, and the Girardin family has been rooted in Limpopo for over 130 years.
Michel's own journey in safari tourism spans more than four decades. After establishing Sun Game Lodges for the Southern Group in the 1990s, he spent nearly 18 years as Operations Director at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand — one of Africa's most iconic luxury safari properties — where he had the honour of hosting Tata Nelson Mandela on his visits to the reserve.
Michel and his wife Clare later took over Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge in the heart of Venda country, where they pioneered the Ribola Art Route — connecting 30 local artists, from potters and wood carvers to internationally acclaimed sculptors like Noria Mabasa and the late Jackson Hlungwane. Michel describes Limpopo as a blend of culture, contours and colours — with its extraordinary landscapes, ancient kingdoms, and rich Venda and Shangaan heritage.
Today, through Michel Girardin and Associates, he advises lodges, conservancies, and tourism organisations on building operations that are both commercially successful and ethically sound. His involvement with Fair Trade Tourism dates back to 1999 when FTTSA was established under the auspices of the IUCN, and he was elected to the Fair Trade Tourism Board in May 2025.
Michel Girardin interviewed on Painted Dog TV, 2023
