SAFARI STYLE
Chic new Karongwe lodge attracts swathes of swish guests
Demand for swanky safari accommodation so high that a new lodge has been built in nine months
Demand for swanky safari accommodation in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve near Kruger National Park is so high that a new lodge has been built in nine months. The 11-bedroom Becks Safari Lodge had an occupancy rate of 60% before it opened. Owners Sonia and Rudolph Hanni run four other lodges in the reserve. The reservations were from South African and foreign guests. At R6,500 per person per night, it’s lavish but not ludicrous, says Brian West, sales and marketing manager for Karongwe Portfolio. He is negotiating with local discount booking services Bush Breaks, Mtbeds and Kulula to offer reductions for locals. "The fact that we got Becks up to 60% occupancy before we even opened the doors is testament to the demand in the area," West says. "Karongwe is known for offering good value for money – we’re not exorbitantly priced compared with some of the opulent lodges that are charging anything from R13,000 to R38,000 a night." The large and luxurious Becks took nine months to build,...
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