“Qwabi is an extraordinary slice of the African bushveld. My team and I feel very privileged to have been appointed as co-custodians of Qwabi and to turn the reserve into a world-class destination,” says Neil Markovitz, CEO of Newmark Hotels & Reserves.

“In conjunction with the comprehensive conservation team already on the ground at the reserve, we will ensure that Qwabi boasts the healthiest of all the African species, and in addition to the careful management of the existing wildlife, as well as the reintroduction of species, we have also embarked on an intensely focused genetic management programme, bringing in healthy black maned lions from a Kalahari bloodline and elephants from bloodlines that carry large tusks – as a few examples.

The reserve is already home to three standalone lodges. Each will offer their own singular experience and are currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment by interior designer, Francois du Plessis.

For those planning a family holiday, you’ll be excited to hear about Letamo, the largest lodge on the reserve. This will be the first to reopen its doors to guests in December and will include a kids’ club offering adventures for the little ones, alongside a padel court and two swimming pools, one of which overlooks a waterhole. There’ll be various dining options to choose from, and a spa with multiple treatment rooms and relaxation spaces.

In 2023, the second and third lodges will reopen. First is Babohi, an exclusive and serene bushveld escape for adult guests that will offer fine cuisine and refined accommodation. The final lodge, Semela, will be ideal for groups, featuring 24 guest rooms, as well as a swimming pool, restaurant and bush bar.

Guests at all three lodges on Qwabi Private Game Reserve will be able to enjoy the incredible Waterberg wilderness with daily game excursions in search of the ‘Big Five’, and other fauna and flora. Set approximately three hours by road from Johannesburg, and 60km from the town of Bela Bela in a malaria free area, Qwabi Private Game Reserve is easily accessible for self-drive visitors, although guests may also fly into the reserve via helicopter.

Qwabi joins the select Newmark portfolio of conservation-first privately owned game reserves that includes Motswari Private Game Reserve in the Timbavati, neighbouring the Kruger National Park; Nkomazi Private Game Reserve in Mpumalanga; and Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.