COVID-19 halted a surge of exponential economic growth in Africa, which was at one point leading the seven continents in development at a rate of 6 percent. However, numerous regions of Africa are projected to recover with steady upward momentum through 2022 and beyond. According to the 13th annual survey by W Hospitality Group, the industry’s leading source on growth and development in the continent, Africa counted 447 hotels representing 82,000 rooms in the pipeline at the beginning of 2021, making it clear that the hotel and tourism industry remained enthusiastic about the opportunities available in Africa, even in the face of the pandemic’s impact on demand. In fact, 217 hotels are expected to open by the end of the year.

Luxury camp and safari companies like Luxury Frontiers and andBeyond are among those demand drivers, creating lodging concepts that pay homage to the land with one-of-a-kind experiences. Currently, AndBeyond is in the process of remaking and rebranding Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp in Tanzania into the AndBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge after the original was flooded in April 2020. Working with longtime collaborators Johannesburg-based Fox Browne Creative and architect Jack Alexander, the new lodge will prioritize sustainability, running on 80 percent renewable energy.

The 22 bungalows at Kisawa Sanctuary incorporate the weaving and carpentry techniques of local artisans

Jack’s Camp in Botswana also recently underwent a renovation. For 25 years, the retreat served as an oasis in the Kalahari Desert and upgrades by the Natural Selection’s in-house team include an onsite natural history museum that features dinosaur fossils and ancient stone tools. Additional curios from across the continent are showcased in guest tents alongside paintings and antiques. “Apart from being visually striking, they add to the rich story of Africa’s wildlife and people,” says Ralph Bousfield, co-owner of Uncharted Africa Safari Company, the property’s owner.

Nina Flohr’s lifelong love affair with Africa led her to open Kisawa Sanctuary in Mozambique on Benguerra Island last year. A passion project for Flohr, Kisawa celebrates local craftsmanship with the thatching and weaving skills of Mozambican artisans on display throughout the 22 bungalows. With 40 private pool villas and oceanfront views, Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira will also land in Mozambique this year, featuring a design by South African firms Craft of Architecture and Lucy Eaton Corder Consulting. The group’s first flag on the continent, the 100 percent solar-powered resort will resemble a typical village with furniture produced in nearby Nampula.

A rendering of the spa at the Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira, opening in December in Mozambique

Global brands are also expanding to Africa, with Marriott and Accor leading the construction pipeline with 94 and 89 hotels, respectively, in development, according to W Hospitality Group. Radisson Hotel Group counts 34 hotels in its pipeline, including the palatial Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-oa-Tunya in Zambia. Two urban hotels are also scheduled to open in 2022, the MGallery Gigiri in Nairobi and the Nobu Hotel Marrakech. Part of King Mohammed VI’s Tourism Development Strategy Vision 2020, the latter will be located in the Hivernage district, steps away from the historic heart of the city.

Here, we highlight three retreats that invite visitors to submit to the majesty of their settings through elevated designs grounded in a sense of place.

Lolebezi Safari Lodge

Shown in a rendering, Lolebezi Safari Lodge will comprise eight cabins set along the Zambezi River in Zambia when it opens this year

Spread across a dozen acres of Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, the luxury safari lodge Lolebezi will reawaken local traditions when it opens this year. “It was important for the [owners] that the lodge satisfied the practicalities of family escapes and simultaneously set new standards in the realm of African hospitality to delight seasoned travelers,” says Fox Browne founder and owner Debra Fox. “They wanted a lodge that has a contemporary design, and yet it had to be modest in a way that renders it sophisticated, effortless, and timeless.”

Comprising eight river cabins that line the Zambezi River, the minimalist accommodations will feature striking details like fish scales, avian motifs, and theatrical curtains that cocoon beds in a cascade of wooden beads and mosquito nets. Perhaps most notably, cabins will be distinguished by an eco-friendly light-gauge structural steel frame that supports canvas, glass, steel, and reclaimed wood. “Although the effect is dramatic, it is undoubtedly Zambian in its authentic connection with the mighty Zambezi River and the African landscape,” adds lead architect Jack Alexander. “The design of Lolebezi lodge is a fresh take on the typical rustic tented camp for which Zambia is well-known and so well-loved.”

The Homestead

Metallic gold and onyx hues in the Homestead, shown in a rendering, nod to Africa’s rich mineral wealth

A highly bespoke experience awaits guests at the Homestead, a 12-room ultra-luxury lodge in South Africa’s Nambiti Private Game Reserve. Century-old remains of the original Homestead buildings have been revitalized by South African practices Dean Jay Architects and Egg Designs. “The design approach is rich in storytelling,” says Egg Designs founder Roche Dry, pointing to Africa’s mineral wealth as a source of inspiration for a palette of metallic, gold, and onyx hues, as well as earthy materials, such as locally mined ironstone. Formwork composites and wooden boards have been upcycled, while excavated rock like dolerite is applied to walls and columns for extra texture.

Interiors are further enlivened with striking sculptural focal points, including an abstract cobalt blue art piece, a flock of handmade birds, and a 99-foot-long ceramic tile mural that depicts the story of the property. “[Homestead owner Wayne Scholes] felt passionately about digging into what makes Africa so special and wanted to reflect that in a way that is not immediately obvious,” Dry adds. “The vision was about creating an environment that is unique, surprising, and unexpected but is also layered and soulful. A place where many discoveries can be made.”

Xigera Safari Lodge

Xigera Safari Lodge’s undulating roofs reference the wingspan of the region’s rare Pel’s Fishing Owl

Following a recent refresh, the Xigera Safari Lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta is now home to an assemblage of African craftsmanship and creativity, highlighting work from a range of artists and artisans to foster an appreciation for the Africa of today. “We set our sights on reinventing the idea of a luxury safari, with the intention of beguiling our guests’ senses and stirring their souls,” says Toni Tollman, director of design and projects for Red Carnation Hotels, which owns the hotel. “We were guided by a deep connection to the surrounding landscape and ecology, an abiding passion for African craftsmanship, impeccable attention to detail, and the desire to create personalized experiences.”

Tollman collaborated on the redesign with architects Anton de Kock and Philip Fourie with furnishings acquired from a partnership with Cape Town gallery Southern Guild. The landscape also influenced the design, with undulating roofs echoing the wingspan of the region’s rare Pel’s Fishing Owl and water lilies dotting the surrounding channels reinterpreted as a motif across the hand-beaten copper fireplace in the lounge and Xigera’s many small bronze candle holders. Timber furniture, bespoke woven textiles, and artisanal ceramics animate public areas and the 12 indoor-outdoor suites. Clay, bronze, copper, and brass round out the palette. “We wanted to create an equally wondrous world indoors,” says Tollman, “where the surfaces we touch and the objects we use speak to the life-affirming impact of the human hand.”

This article originally appeared in HD’s February/March 2022 issue.

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