Eco-lodge The Homestead to open in South Africa in 2022

A new eco-luxury lodge located on South Africa’s Nambiti Private Game Reserve is set to debut in early 2022.

The Homestead will feature 12 ultra-luxury lodges complete with rooftop gardens, infinity pools and wildlife viewing; a spa and fitness centre; and multiple food and beverage outlets showcasing organic and locally sourced food.

Six of the lodges are designed for couples or solo travellers, while the remaining six can be booked privately or connected to one another for groups travelling together. The luxury eco-lodge will also be available for private buyouts.

Tailored excursions are set to include visits to Africa’s most important battlefields, animal photography classes, hiking, stargazing and anti-poaching learning sessions.

The property is helmed by Wayne Scholes, chief executive of technology, sports and entertainment company Really Epic Dog Group. Scholes purchased the land in 2019 after "falling in love" with the historic site, which still retains some of its original 19th-century structure, and the Nambiti Private Game Reserve, regarded as one of South Africa’s most ambitious conservation initiatives and one of the few reserves where the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) can be experienced.

“The Homestead was born in a moment where we witnessed the impact we can make in the people and places around us," said Scholes.

"This was the genesis of The Homestead, and it is still at the centre of our ethos today. We look forward to soon welcoming guests to South Africa and The Homestead, where they can immerse themselves in the incredible beauty of Nambiti.

“Our surrounding wildlife is extraordinary, home to the famous big five alongside lesser-known species, and our aim is to invite guests to be a part of the experience and recognise the power we all have to affect the people and places around us. The land holds a special meaning and significance to me personally and I couldn’t be prouder of what we are doing.”

A statement from The Homestead said sustainability would be “at its core”, with the property designed to blend in with the natural landscape using local ironstone.

Its central feature is an elevated 180-metre long structure that connects to a natural escarpment and lake. Once complete, the roof will be planted using the same grass that covers the nearby grasslands.

Other sustainable initiatives the lodge will be inplementing will include rainwater tanks, French drains to drive important nutrients back into the ecosystem, tree-planting and solar panels.

The Homestead will also introduce all-electric vehicles to its game drives, each of which will reportedly prevent approximately nine metric tons of CO2 emissions every year. For a single three-hour game drive, the property said each vehicle will save 60 litres of oxygens while their batteries will last fifteen years. The quietness of the vehicles will also reduce any potential wildlife disturbance, the lodge said.

Guests will be encouraged to immerse themselves in the local homeland by getting involved with anti-poaching programmes, participating in educational schemes and learning first-hand about the land ownership structure and pillars of the community.

The Homestead will be a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Durban and a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Johannesburg.