1. &Beyond
Plot 536 Mathiba Road,
Maun
Botswana
March 31st
, 2015
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
This is to state that Chris Cole worked extensively with me for a period of 3 years,
from June 2010 until March 2013 in his capacity as the Procurement Manager for
&Beyond Botswana.
&Beyond is one of the world’s leading Safari companies, and it operates and owns
33 luxury lodges and camps in 15 African countries, as well as having 3 luxury
lodges in India.
As our Procurement Manager, Chris set up systems to manage the draconian
logistics of ordering and delivering food, services and equipment into and out of
the Okavango Delta and neighbouring parks.
A single delivery would mean, not only it’s arrival through Customs from South
Africa to land locked Botswana, but thence from central &Beyond Maun’s
procurement all items packaged, weighed and delivering to trucks or airplanes
heading into the delta.
Every item of fuel and equipment, every drop of drinking water and food is
transported by various means – air, boat, car, truck or tractor and trailer, into the
Delta and needs to be organised and co-ordinated via Procurement. Not only is the
intense heat a major factor, but also bad dirt roads, huge water crossings and, due
to seasonal floods, the inability to move items into the Delta at certain times of
year except by air.
However, apart from unforeseeable circumstances, all schedules were kept strictly
on time, with weekly schedules set in place at the most cost efficient price for
delivery.
Afro Ventures Botswana (Pty) Limited
Trading as: &BEYOND
Reg. No: 1844
Plot 568, Mathiba Road, (opp Airport), Maun, Botswana
Private Bag | BO 34, Boseja | Maun.
Telephone: +09267 686 1979 | Fax: +09267 686 1972
Directors: H Coetzee | JM King | JH Rann
Company Secretary: JP De Villiers

2. Every scrap of rubbish and rubble, as a result of the daily running of these lodges,
is continuously extracted from this World Heritage site, an undertaking that is
extremely complex due to rigorous government regulations.
Chris, as our Procurement Manager, had to make sure that the company was
completely compliant with these regulations, to ensure our on-going ability to
operate in this prime wilderness area without loosing our licence.
He had to have great relationships with government officials and suppliers, as well
as the ability to get on well with the management of the 4 lodges and 5 Mobile
Lodges and camps that fell under his umbrella.
He worked long hours to make sure all tasks were done on time, going out of his
way to ensure the goods ordered were received. He assessed the market and found
local suppliers. He negotiated better prices with current suppliers. He managed a
team of 3 permanent staff, taking on and managing a large crew when needed.
All copied invoices were sent with delivery schedules to the relevant lodges, with
originals collated and systematically put through to our accounts department for
payment. All items in the process of delivery were kept as stock under
Procurement’s aegis, and stock takes were taken at month end.
On a personal basis, Chris was great to work with, popular with all the staff and
someone you always knew you could rely on to fulfil his job with extreme
efficiency.
Yours sincerely
Amanda Collins
Amanda Collins | Regional Chef Trainer | &BEYOND |
amanda.collins@andBeyond.com
| T +267 686 1979 | M +267 74621504 | F +267 686 1972 |Maun | Botswana |
www.andBeyond.com