Tourvest’s Accommodation and Activities division (TAA) has acquired the full management contracts for Shepherd’s Tree Lodge and Ivory Tree Game Lodge in the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve through its tourism property management business, African Hotels & Adventures and Three Cities.
- Shepherd’s Tree Lodge offers 26 standard rooms, which can be converted to 13 family suites, and four spacious luxury suites. The standard rooms have an en-suite bathroom and a patio overlooking the reserve. The executive suites have one en-suite bathroom with a lounge and patio, and a double outdoor shower. Other facilities at the lodge include an entertainment deck and outdoor cocktail bar, a rim-flow swimming pool and an award winning health and beauty spa. It also has a fully-equipped conference and event centre, which can host a maximum of 70 guests or delegates.
- Ivory Tree Game Lodge, winner of the 2014 South African Tourism Lilizela Award for Best Service in the North West province and recipient of a Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor in the same year – has 60 standard rooms, four luxury suites and a presidential suite. Every room and suite is equipped with an en-suite bathroom and an outdoor shower, while the presidential and executive suites have their own private plunge pool. The lodge also has a private villa with its own exclusive fire pit, large swimming pool and its very own safari vehicle and chef. Additionally, the lodge has two spacious lounges, a gift shop, several dining rooms, a swimming pool, a conference centre, which can seat a maximum of 80 delegates, and an Amani spa, winner of the Safari Spa Award by Les Nouvelles Esthetiques magazine in 2007 and 2014.
Neil Bald, African Hotels & Adventures and Three Cities Managing Director, said the company looked forward to working with the property owners. “The lodges are a welcome addition to our growing portfolio of hotels, resorts and lodges and we intend to add considerable value to their daily operational management and marketing efforts,” he said.
Tourvest Divisional Chief Executive, Gary Elmes, added that the contracts will greatly strengthen Tourvest’s presence in the North West province, particularly near Sun City, where it offers a range of adrenaline and adventure activities through its Mankwe-Gametrackers operation. “These properties are highly strategic to us in that we can now offer the full-spectrum of travel and tourism services in the area from accommodation through tours and transfers to game drives and hot-air balloon safaris,” said Elmes.
