MEET THE SANTORINI FAMILY

MICHAEL & SAMANTHA

Michael & Samantha are recently married and joined the Santorini team in May 2022. They started working together in the wedding and events industry in Pretoria in 2012. After a holiday to Mozambique in 2017, they absolutely fell in love with the country and its people. Both of them, being persistently adventurous by nature packed up their lives in South Africa and made the move to Mozambique in 2018, which they now call home. They love working in hospitality as it allows them to meet many people and learn about the different cultures throughout the world. They dream of travelling internationally to experience for themselves, the stories their guests have shared.

WYNAND & HEIDI

Wynand and Heidi joined the Santorini Family in 2016 . They met in 2013 in Madikwe Game Reserve, and enjoyed their first holiday together in Mozambique, a place that has become so close to their hearts. Wynand is a chef by trade and has a passion for fishing. He loves the available fresh produce in the area, and enjoys dusting off his apron every now and again to get in the kitchen with the excellent local chefs.

Heidi is from England, and is passionate about travel and cultural experiences. After travelling several countries in her twenties she has fallen in love with the wonder and wilderness of Africa. Heidi most enjoys staff interaction and development, and dedicates a lot of her time to the Santorini upliftment programs.

NELA

Helena Maria Joao was born in Beira and grew up and went to school in Maputo, the Capital of Mozambique. She met her husband in 2003 and was invited to Benguerra where she trained and became a Spa therapist. Within 3 months, she managed to master the English language from her Portuguese background. She has two kids, Diogo and Rafia who are 11 and 9.

Nela enjoys travelling, listening to good music. As a young girl, she dreamt of being an air stewardess. She now loves to do Spa treatments. She really enjoys cooking local dishes, especially for her husband, and spends most of her free time working on new local foods and flavours. Her favourite dish is Feijoada.

ZULMIRA

Zulmira, otherwise known as Mira was born in Vilanculos but grew up in Maputo where she got most of her education. She completed her High school in Vilanculos.

She has always wanted to work in the Hospitality industry and so she started working on the islands as a waitress, She then managed to work her way up to become the housekeeping supervisor at one of the main island Lodges.

Mira enjoys people, she is outgoing and loves dancing, music, being with friends and spending time with her two boys. She attends the local Catholic Church in Vilanculos. Her dream is to become one of the best Spa Therapists.

PAULINO

Paulino grew up in Vilanculos. He was born into a large family of  ten – five brothers and five sisters.

His favourite sport is fishing and he also enjoys watching music videos, his favourite artist being Brian Adams.

The best moment of his life was when his daughter was born.

He says he wants to work hard so that he can buy himself a car and he has recently just passed his drivers licence !!! His dream journey is to travel to South Africa. (This dream came true in 2016)

JOAO

Born in Vilankulos, the first of his 4 sisters and 4 brothers. He is married with two children aged 16 and 4.

Joao learned to cook at a resort on one of the islands where he worked for 8 years developing his skills. His dream is to become one of the best chefs.

He enjoys reading culinary books and listening to rock music. He also enjoys watching football and basketball. His bucket list includes travelling to other countries someday. His moto: “be respectful, responsible and improve daily to become a better person.”

TOMAS

Tomas has been part of the Santorini family for 8 years. He was employed as a gardener and impressed us with his painting skills but was quickly promoted to a scullery assistant where his love for the kitchen and food started blooming. Under the teaching hands of our Head Chef Joao, Tomas has embraced the opportunity to learn the inner workings of the Villa Kitchen over the last 8 years. He is now Chef Joao’s right hand man and helps create the beautiful dishes our guests love so much. He lives in Vilanculos with his wife and 2 children and dreams about becoming an executive chef one day. He enjoys working with his hands and even has Mechanical skills.
He is a friendly young man with bright eyes and an even brighter future as a chef!

ALBERTINA

Albertina was born in one of the villages in Vilanculos in 1976. She is one of the longest serving staff member at Santorini having joined Santorini in 2011.

She always beams with pride as she recounts her journey to become what she is today. From humble beginnings to one of the best Housekeepers. She loves her job and she says she would never swop it for anything different.

She holds a certificate in Housekeeping Ethics from a college in Inhambane. She is working hard so that she can be able to send her children to university – her life goal. She is a dedicated Christian and is a big fan and patron of the Santorini Football Club.

CALISTRO

Calistro was born on the 11th of May 1990. He is married and has 3 boys with the oldest one being 7 years old. He has lived in Vilanculos all his life.

One day he wants to travel around Mozambique and also to other Southern Africa countries too. In his spare time, he enjoys riding his motorbike, he says he is an adrenalin junky.

Calistro started working for Santorini in 2015. He is a peoples person and he enjoys to serve. He gets his satisfaction when his guests are happy. He has a passion for the hospitality industry and he dreams of one day running his very own restaurant.

PEDRO

Pedro was born and raised in Vilanculos, started out back of house as a staff cook in 2017, hardly knowing a word of English!

After a few months we thought that he needs to be seen by our guests would make an amazing host. He has been thriving for a few years and we are so pleased that he is reaching his full potential, front of house!

Pedro enjoys music and can often be heard singing from anywhere in the villa. He lives in town with his Fiancé.

OBADIAS

Obadias is never without a smile.

He is our Activities Coordinator who is always ready at the beach with a paddle in hand to get you out on a kayak or paddle-board. He also loves nothing more than to play a game of volleyball with our guests!

Obadias is from Vilanculos and lives with his family.

IZIDINE

Izidine was born and raised in Vilanculos. He started at Santorini as a painter in 2016. In 2019 he was moved permanently into the Maintenance department after showing his potential over the years.

He is a Christian and attends the 12 Apostles Church in town. He enjoys reading, gospel music and traveling.

Izidine lives in town with his fiancé and two children.

CHRISTI

Christi joined the Santorini family back in 2013 when she and her husband were appointed as management couple, for what was a much smaller Villa back then with only 5 suites. She managed the Villa for 2 years before returning to South Africa to take over the reservations on a full time basis.

She visits the Villa often and is euphoric by the constant upgrades that the Villas has received the last 7 years.

She now lives in Hoedspruit-South Africa- with her husband and son and although she loves the bush her heart will always be in Vilanculos with sand between her toes.

KIM

Kim has headed up the sales for Santorini Mozambique since we launched to the market in August 2013. She has been in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years with a passion for Southern Africa, and Santorini Mozambique is her ultimate beach destination – personalised service, attention to detail, remote and homely with the most incredible views!

Kim resides in KZN, South Africa with her husband and two children, she was born in Scotland and moved to South Africa when she was a young girl.

NATALIE

Natalie lives in Ballito, Kwazulu Natal with her husband and 2 children. Born in Johannesburg, there was always a love for the ocean, and her family made the decision to change their lifestyle and move down to the coast.

Natalie’s background is doing sales and marketing for luxury game lodges, but simply fell in love with Santorini the first time she saw the breathtaking pictures of it. Her first visit to the villa was one of the most special trips of her life.

Being apart of the Santorini team is a dream come true.