Kerzner International will assume management of the Hospitality Division of Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s Eastern Cape from 1 April 2026. The reserve will join the group’s Rare Finds Hotels & Resorts collection, marking a significant expansion of Kerzner’s conservation-focused footprint on the African continent.
Shamwari, owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, spans 25,000 hectares of protected wilderness and is home to the Big Five and seven unique lodges, each offering tailored culinary, wellness and multi-generational experiences. Its long-standing reputation as a leader in ecological restoration and community engagement makes it among the most recognisable conservation-led safari destinations in the world.
A homecoming of sorts
For Kerzner, the move carries particular significance. The group’s origins are rooted in South Africa, and its existing African portfolio – which includes One&Only Cape Town, One&Only Nyungwe House, One&Only Le Saint Géran and Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort – reflects a sustained commitment to the region.
Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer of Kerzner International, described South Africa as ‘the heartbeat of our DNA’ and the Shamwari addition as a significant milestone in deepening the group’s commitment to the destination.
The Rare Finds platform is positioned as Kerzner’s vehicle for properties that carry distinctive identities independent of the group’s flagship brands. The collection focuses on properties defined by cultural authenticity, environmental stewardship and experiential luxury. Shamwari aligns closely with that brief.
Leadership continuity as a priority
One of the more notable aspects of the transition is the deliberate preservation of leadership. Joe Cloete, who has dedicated 34 years to Shamwari, will continue as Chief Executive Officer, ensuring stability and alignment as the reserve enters this new chapter under Kerzner’s management.
This approach – retaining institutional knowledge rather than installing new leadership – signals a management philosophy that values continuity over transformation. For a property where guest relationships, conservation expertise and community partnerships have been built over decades, that distinction matters.
Cloete described the inclusion in the Rare Finds portfolio as an endorsement of Shamwari’s ‘continuous commitment to adding value to the guest experience’ as the reserve looks to grow its international profile.
Integrating Shamwari Air into the commercial platform
As part of the agreement, Kerzner will also oversee the commercial operations of Shamwari Air, the reserve’s private aviation service. The service offers direct flights from Cape Town International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport, reducing travel time to under two hours from Cape Town and just over two hours from Johannesburg, with private lounge access at both airports.
The integration of Shamwari Air into Kerzner’s commercial platform reflects a broader industry direction. As luxury travellers increasingly expect frictionless, end-to-end experiences, the ability to control the journey from departure lounge to lodge threshold is becoming a meaningful competitive advantage.
Scale without dilution
Kerzner’s stated approach to Rare Finds properties is instructive. Rather than standardising operations across the collection, the group’s focus will be to preserve Shamwari’s individuality while integrating it into the Kerzner ecosystem, supported by operational expertise, global platforms and distribution reach.
Zuber pointed to previous Rare Finds integrations – including Bab Al Shams and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest – as examples of how this model allows properties to connect into the Kerzner ecosystem while enabling the development of future hospitality and adventure-led experiences across Africa and beyond.
For Shamwari, that translates into access to Kerzner’s international distribution network and sales infrastructure without compromising the conservation mandate that defines the reserve’s identity. The risk of brand dilution – a persistent concern whenever independent properties enter large management structures – appears to have been anticipated and addressed structurally.
Reading the wider market
The timing reflects a clear shift in luxury travel demand. According to analysis from McKinsey and Knight Frank, ‘aspirational luxury travellers’ – those with a net worth between $100,000 and $1 million – now account for 35 per cent of the global luxury travel market. This cohort tends to place high value on authenticity, environmental credentials and narrative depth – precisely the qualities that define Shamwari’s offer.
Kerzner’s portfolio strategy acknowledges this directly. Rare Finds is positioned to immerse guests in the cultural and natural offerings of each location, sitting alongside One&Only for ultra-luxury, SIRO for wellness-focused travellers, and Atlantis for entertainment-led experiences. Shamwari deepens the conservation-led dimension of that mix.
What comes next
The management transition takes effect immediately from 1 April 2026. Shamwari’s seven lodges will continue operating under their existing conservation-based model, with Kerzner’s global sales and distribution capabilities expected to broaden the reserve’s reach into new international markets.
For hospitality operators and investors watching the African luxury safari segment, this partnership illustrates a clear appetite for management-led growth – where established operators expand footprint through expertise rather than ownership. As development capital tightens in some markets, the management contract model offers a lower-risk path to portfolio expansion without compromising the guest experience or the identity of the asset.
Shamwari enters this next chapter with its mission intact and its leadership in place. The question now is how effectively Kerzner’s international platform translates that identity into broader commercial reach.
