At Rare Earth, we believe hospitality is more than service – it’s about creating moments that leave a lasting imprint. From the very beginning, our teams have embraced the spirit of what restaurateur Will Guidara calls unreasonable hospitality: going above and beyond in ways that can’t be scripted, only sparked by genuine passion and attention to the people we welcome.
Each month, our team internally celebrates a story where this value comes to life. While we don’t always share these moments externally, a recent engagement at Pel’s Post felt too meaningful not to acknowledge.
A Place of Memory
For Shelby and her husband-to-be, Dylan, Pel’s Post is more than just a safari retreat – it’s a place where family, memory, and love are deeply rooted.
The connection began in 2020, when Dylan’s mom sadly passed away. Before her passing, she had won a stay at Pel’s Post but never had the chance to use it. To honour her memory, Dylan’s dad took his daughter in her stead and purchased an additional stay for Dylan and his brother.
When the family visited in 2021, they came with the intention of scattering Dylan’s mom’s ashes. With the Makuleke Concession’s blessing, they planted a baobab tree in her honour. The next morning, an elephant wandered into camp and uprooted the newly planted tree, carrying the ashes away. Though unexpected, the family found the moment both amusing and profound – as if she was being woven directly into the life cycle of the park. Undeterred, they planted a second baobab tree in the same place.
A Proposal Rooted in Meaning
Years later, when Dylan was deciding where to propose, Pel’s Post was the natural choice. Not just for its extraordinary beauty, but because it had become the place where his mother’s memory lived on. The hope that the baobab tree would still be standing four years later added another layer of significance.
On 8 August 2025, Dylan and Shelby arrived at Pel’s Post, with Shelby unaware of what had been planned. Just before the proposal, Dylan took a quiet walk to the site of the tree. Despite a cyclone earlier that year that had destroyed half the camp’s decking, the baobab still stood tall – resilient, enduring, and deeply symbolic of the moment to come.
Behind the Scenes
For the Rare Earth team, the biggest challenge was keeping the secret. Destination Specialist Jamie-Leigh McLoughlin recalls how the team created a cover story: a ‘fake’ voucher, which Shelby believed they had won through signing up to our membership programme, complete with a staged ‘marketing shoot’ to make everything convincing. These small, thoughtful details ensured Shelby remained unsuspecting, making the big reveal all the more magical.
The Heart of Hospitality
What makes moments like this powerful isn’t just the proposal itself, but the thought, care, and creativity woven into every detail. As Jamie-Leigh explains,
“Seeing the joy and emotion of such a life-changing moment energises our team and reminds us why every bit of effort matters. These experiences stay with our guests – and with us – long after the weekend is over.”
For Shelby and Dylan, it was impossible to single out just one highlight. Yet one gesture stood out: the continuity and care provided by Nompi, the hostess at Pel’s Post. She had been there in 2021 when the baobab was planted, and four years later, she was there again to welcome and look after them during their engagement. Her presence brought a profound sense of connection and made the experience feel even more magical.
A Lasting Memory
In Shelby’s words,
“What was once just a vision in Dylan’s mind became a moment that was intimate, unforgettable, and perfectly reflective of our story.”
To Jamie-Leigh and the Rare Earth team, to the Pel’s Post staff: Dylan, Ashleigh, the guiding team, and especially Nompi – thank you. This was unreasonable hospitality in its truest form: a story of memory, resilience, and love that will stay with us all.
