As part of a R230 million investment, &Beyond has announced major renovations across the group’s portfolio of lodges and camps.
&Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge in Botswana has been rebuilt and will reopen in July.
The new design drew inspiration from the elusive pangolin’s body armour of scales, and organic materials such as wood have been used. The redesign reduced the group’s environmental footprint in the Okavango Delta, with over 500 truckloads of cement removed by the time the lodge reopens. Other environmentally friendly initiatives undertaken in the rebuild include re-using as much material as possible while the lodge’s combined solar electricity and hot water system will produce more than 200 000 kilowatt hours of energy per year.
Refurbishment work at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp in Kenya is entering its final phase, with the new tents and guest areas planned to reopen by July 1. The new superior luxury tents will be 50% larger than the current tents and will feature a more contemporary feel, including built-in daybeds to accommodate private veranda living.
At Kichwa, three new family units, each made up of two interconnecting tents, will cater for families. While the tents have separate entrances, they are connected by a passageway that will allow children to get to and from their parents’ tent without needing to go outside. Two sets of the family tents include a private outdoor area, while the third set enjoys spectacular Mara views and proximity to the main guest area.
The company is also renovating properties in Tanzania, including &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp, &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge and &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
Building work at Grumeti has been completed, with new softs and furniture due to be installed by October. The camp’s new design features hues of wildebeest grey with natural stone and bone, as well as bleached cypress.
The tents at Grumeti have also been refurbished and now offer views of the Grumeti River, while the canvas entrances have been replaced with convenient sliding doors opening on to a private veranda. Two tents also form a family unit with an enclosed entrance lobby and inter-leading walkway with wooden walls and roof. The camp’s guest area has also been restyled and now includes an extended veranda for intimate outdoor dining.
&Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge has been refurbished and the lodge’s pool deck has been replaced and extended, while the pool itself was stripped down, repainted and waterproofed.
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is undergoing a number of upgrades, which include a new arrival area, updated furnishings in the main guest areas and a refreshed deck for the lodge’s South Camp. Construction of an underground wine cellar is under way, which will accommodate up to 14 guests for intimate dining, special celebrations of small meetings. Guest suites are also due to receive new showers featuring hexagonal mosaics and white marble, as well as heated towel rails.
The renovation project, which started in 2013, will also see a comprehensive refurbishment at &Beyond Benguerra Island, Mozambique. The island lodge will be closed for the renovation from the beginning of October, before reopening in April 2015.
