Shawu’s Hills luxury Safari Hotel opens doors to investors

Boosted by the robust post-pandemic tourism rebound, South Africa’s hotel and hospitality sector currently offers hot investment prospects, according to Peter Rowell, head of Hotel Broking for Seeff.
 
This trend is particularly pronounced in South Africa’s safari tourism market, which, according to a report by Grand View Research, was valued at an estimated $11.7 billion in 2023. This impressive market is projected to almost double in value, reaching an estimated $23.1 billion by 2030, reflecting a powerful compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%.
 
Various factors support this growth, including increased global consumer preference for authentic and responsible travel experiences. This upward trend is creating renewed interest in investing in the sector with safari-styled products, especially in or near the wildlife reserves, being a primary choice not just for local investors, but also international investors from the UK, Germany, the Middle East and elsewhere.
 
The luxury safari market is a significant growth area, with the private safari segment alone expected to grow at an 11% CAGR over the forecast period, as noted in the Grand View Research report. This shift towards higher-end, personalised experiences is a key factor in the sector’s increasing revenue. Travellers are no longer just looking for a holiday, but a bespoke, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The opportunity lies in meeting that demand with products that offer exclusivity and a connection to nature, and there is plenty of opportunities here for investors, he says.
 
He cites the example of the new Shawu’s Hills Wildlife Estate, a premium eco-residential development which has recently obtained the rights to build a luxury, 4-Star Safari Hotel, offering an excellent opportunity in this sought-after sector. The name, “Shawu’s” is derived from the surrounding hills where one of Kruger’s biggest elephants by the same name once roamed. The development is on the Crocodile River, close to the Kruger National Park and the Mozambique border.
 
The proposed Safari Hotel is set to boast 123 rooms in different categories (standard, superior, premier) as well as private villas to allow for tiered pricing. Additionally, there will be a phenomenal 6.5 kilometres of river frontage with incredible wildlife sightings and sunsets from the comfort of their hotel, a truly unforgettable experience for guests.
 
The location is just 12 km from the Crocodile Bridge Gate to the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s flagship game reserve and a popular destination for over one million visitors annually from around the world. Given the enormous popularity of the Kruger, accommodation occupancy rates are high, particularly in the busiest wildlife sighting months. Introducing more accommodation in such a spectacular wildlife setting would therefore be welcomed, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in a sought-after hospitality product.
 
Seeff Properties is partnering with Shawu’s Hills Wildlife Estate in their search for a qualified investor who would be excited to embrace the opportunity to bring this impressive hotel to life. Peter Rowell, head of Hotel Broking for Seeff, says the proposed hotel layout is an environmentally well-constructed design that blends in naturally, and the independent professional property development report shows a promising return on investment.