South African property developer the Cavaleros Group – owner of the recently launched NH Johannesburg Sandton and The Maslow in Sandton – is readying for entry into the ultra-high-end safari market.

The group, in partnership with experienced hotel operator Minor Hotels, is exploring opportunities for the development of ultra-luxury eco-tourism properties on private concessions in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Botswana and Zambia, according to Cavaleros Group Head of International Acquisitions Alexi Cavaleros.

“We’ve realised that small key properties in the eco-tourism sector present, by far, the biggest opportunity in hospitality. South Africa is overtraded with several luxury brands doing a really good job in that space but there’s a lot of potential in really big, exclusive concessions in the countries we’ve identified,” Cavaleros told Tourism Update.

Cavaleros said the group is aiming to surpass the standards of existing ultra-luxury brands operating similar models. “The next lodge we’re going to open is going to compete for being the number one hotel in the world. That’s the level we’re going for.”

Alignment with Minor Hotels

Nico Vivier, Minor Hotels Regional Director of Operations and Development – Africa, said Cavaleros Group’s aggressive growth ambitions and long-term aspirations align perfectly with the hotel group’s strategic aims.

“One of our most important criteria when looking at owners is to find like-minded business people that have multi-hotel and long-term ambitions. Sometimes you have an owner that potentially just wants to buy a hotel and sell it at a higher rate. And that’s not what we do. So the chemistry of the owner-operator relationship is critical to us,” said Vivier.

“I think, in the next few years, we’re going to be in a few construction phases at the same time so that’s extremely exciting for us,” Vivier added.

Minor Hotels currently operates 28 hotels and resorts in eight countries in Africa across its Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection and NH brands.

Vivier agreed the luxury eco-tourism sector presents highly attractive growth opportunities, particularly for small, eco-friendly properties in beautiful locations.

Aligned with this strategy, Minor Hotels is set to open Anantara Kafue River Camp in Zambia’s Kafue National Park towards the end of this year. The solar-powered camp will feature 12 luxury tents, including the 600 square metre Presidential Villa.

Vivier said the group is looking forward to unlocking the untapped potential offered in Kafue – Zambia’s oldest national park and the third-largest national park in Africa.

“The beauty of the small key count properties is that the investment risk is lower than with large hotels but they offer exceptional upside and the opportunity to catalyse tourism and all its associated benefits,” said Vivier.

“We’re looking forward to making these kinds of impacts with properties such as Anantara Kafue and those envisioned by the Cavaleros Group,” Vivier said.

Minor Hotels manages NH Johannesburg Sandton, which was acquired from Hilton Hotels last year and will undergo a complete refurbishment ahead of joining Minor’s premium NH Collection brand in 2027.