Hotel Talk

Kingfisher Resorts plans two new properties in South Africa

Steena Joy - Johannesburg

Wouter Pienaar GM, Mabula Game Lodge

The UB group-owned Kingfisher Resorts (formerly UB Resorts) will be setting up two new properties in South Africa - one in Johannesburg and the other in a game reserve near the city. The properties will have 60 to 70 rooms each plus apartments targeting the high-end traveller.

Headed by CEO Jaishankar Ramchandran who is a resident of South Africa, Kingfisher Resorts currently owns five game lodges in the country namely Mabula Game Lodge (90 rooms) in Waterberg, Kwafubesi Tented Safari Camp (five rooms), Imbali Safari Lodge (12 rooms) within the Kruger National Park, Hamilton's Tented Camp (six rooms) and Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge (six rooms) and one hotel, the Cape Milner (55 rooms) in Cape Town. A seventh property (also a safari lodge) - the Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway (eight luxury suites) - was recently launched.

The company's properties are managed by the Three Cities Group, which currently has a portfolio of over 40 properties in southern Africa in the four- and five-star market. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Wouter Pienaar, GM of Mabula Game Lodge, said, "Our properties attract a lot of interest even from Indian tourists, especially from Mumbai and Bangalore where the UB group is based. The Mabula Game Lodge is quite popular with Indian tourists, both family-oriented groups and FITs. We work with the tour operators in South Africa to prepare customised packages. Though we have no direct contact with tour operators in India, we will be visiting the country this August to participate in South Africa Tourism's road show."