If you have your sights set on trying a new luxury safari in Africa next year, Newmark Hotels & Reserves has unveiled plans for two exceptional new properties joining its portfolio. The Cape Town-based hospitality group has announced that Toro River Lodge in South Africa and Thitaka Lodge in Namibia will both open in the first quarter of 2026.
Toro River Lodge
Situated on the banks of the Makhustwi River within the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve, Toro River Lodge epitomises what makes luxury safaris so compelling. Located between Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province, this intimate property will feature just five upmarket accommodations, including two luxury suites. The lodge is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment, with new interior design work curated by Newmark’s specialist management team.
What sets Toro River Lodge apart from other lodges in Africa is its unique approach to game viewing. Rather than restricting guests to main roads, experienced guides lead expeditions through dense bush to otherwise inaccessible locations. This off-the-beaten-path approach truly captures “the African dream” that many travellers seek. The region falls within a registered Protected Area with a strong conservation focus, ensuring guests have opportunities to spot an abundance of species and rare sightings.
Accommodation will be offered on a full-board basis, including gourmet meals and local beverages, complemented by two daily game drives and guided safari walks. The property’s position in Big Five territory promises encounters with lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard in their natural habitat.
Thitaka Lodge
Newmark’s entry into Namibia with Thitaka Lodge represents an exciting development for Africa. This new-build property will be situated in Bwabwata National Park along the Kwando River, in what was formerly known as the Caprivi Strip but is now called the Zambezi Region. The location borders Botswana, Angola and Zambia, offering a unique landscape characterised by rich water supplies and exceptional biodiversity.
The lodge’s proximity to an elephant corridor, where these magnificent creatures migrate between Botswana and Angola, provides an extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunity. Guests will experience the Namibian wilderness through twice-daily game drives or boat outings, showcasing why this region is becoming increasingly popular among luxury safaris.
Thitaka Lodge will be a luxury tented camp, marked by a magnificent Baobab tree at its entrance. The property will comprise three private villas with pools, three bush villas also featuring private pools, three family villas, six standard tents, a shared pool, restaurant and bar. Bush and boma dinners will add to the authentic African experience, with accommodation offered on a full-board basis including local beverages.
Setting new standards in African hospitality
These additions complement the company’s existing portfolio that spans from Cape Town’s iconic V&A Waterfront to the vast Kruger National Park. The group’s properties also extend to West African golf experiences, East African gorilla trekking, and beach resorts in Mauritius and Zanzibar.
Both Toro River Lodge and Thitaka Lodge will aim to uphold Newmark’s promise of “Experience Authentic,” creating memorable occasions that excite, serve and soothe guests whilst showcasing the raw beauty and diverse wildlife that make African safaris so extraordinary.
