South Africa’s family-owned safari brand, Sabi Sabi, has launched the Sabi Sabi Collection, marking a new chapter of growth that stretches beyond its famous lodges in the Greater Kruger region.
The first property in the new collection will be The Claremont Boutique Hotel, opening in September 2025. Located in Cape Town’s leafy Claremont suburb, the boutique hotel is set within a restored 1920s manor that once operated as The Andros Hotel. While preserving its heritage features, the property has been redesigned with contemporary South African elegance.
The Claremont will feature 15 individually styled rooms, including Deluxe and Classic options as well as the exclusive Sauer Suite with its own entrance and private plunge pool. Guests can expect a residential yet sophisticated atmosphere, with spaces such as a safari-inspired lounge, garden conservatory, spa, café, farm-to-fork bistro called Veld & Vine, and a wine-focused bar named 1928 Craft. Ideally located beneath Table Mountain, it offers easy access to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Constantia’s vineyards, the city bowl and the Atlantic seaboard.
Marketing Director Jacques Smit remarked:
“Bringing The Claremont Boutique Hotel under the Sabi Sabi Collection banner is an incredibly proud moment for our Sabi Sabi family. For over four decades we have welcomed guests to experience the magic of the African bush with us. Now, we are thrilled to offer that same sense of warmth and wonder in the heart of Cape Town.”
Jacques presenting the new collection at Meat & Wine Co. in Sydney this week.
Following its urban debut, the collection will expand again in 2026 with the launch of two luxury safari lodges in Limpopo’s Sandringham Private Game Reserve. Once a hunting reserve, Sandringham spans more than 4,500 hectares and is being rehabilitated as part of a major rewilding and conservation effort. The new lodges, N’Weti Camp and Shisaka Camp, will bring the brand’s trademark mix of intimacy, luxury and wilderness immersion to a restored natural environment.
This twin development strategy highlights Sabi Sabi’s dual focus: offering travellers an urban retreat that connects them to Cape Town’s culture and landscapes, while also deepening its commitment to conservation and authentic safari experiences. The lodges at Sandringham will sit alongside the existing portfolio of Bush Lodge, Little Bush Camp, Selati Camp and Earth Lodge, uniting under the newly launched Sabi Sabi Collection.
The launch of the Sabi Sabi Collection signals an important evolution for the brand, blending city sophistication with its deep safari heritage. With The Claremont offering a refined new base in Cape Town and Sandringham set to showcase rewilding and regenerative tourism, the collection creates a seamless journey from urban elegance to untamed wilderness.
