KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA The Rezidor Hotel Group is developing its first safari resort, a Radisson Blu-branded project slated for South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
The 120-key Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park is scheduled to open in 2013.
“This hotel will be the first internationally branded hotel within Kruger, and will clearly strengthen the Radisson Blu brand in South Africa,” says Rezidor President and CEO Kurt Ritter. “We currently manage city and business hotels, beach and ski resorts, along with airport properties, and now we are delighted to add our very first safari resort to the Radisson Blu portfolio.”
The resort will be located along the famous Crocodile River within the southern portion of Kruger National Park. Covering more than 12,400 miles and three different eco-zones, Kruger is home to more than 1,900 species of plants and 147 species of animals. Safaris will depart daily from the hotel to the main game areas of the park that include lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos.
In addition to 104 guestrooms, each of the 16 suites will offer private terraces with views of the park. The resort will also offer an all day dining restaurant; a typical “Boma,” or outdoor dining and entertainment area; a cigar bar; and a pool bar and terrace. Leisure facilities will include two swimming pools, a spa and fitness center, a kids’ club and a deck overlooking the Crocodile River. The property will also offer five conference rooms.
Radisson Blu’s dedication to preserving the property’s ecological surroundings includes an on-site environmental awareness center. “In line with Rezidor’s group-wide responsible business program, the ecological footprint of the hotel will be much smaller than that of the older, existing camps within Kruger,” says Andrew McLachlan, Rezidor’s vice president of business development for Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. “This unique property will be positioned between the exclusive private game lodges and the South Africa National Park accommodations available today in or bordering the Kruger.”
Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park will join six other Radisson Blu properties in South Africa: Radisson Blu Waterfront Cape Town, Radisson Blu Gautrain Johannesburg, Radisson Blu Sandton Johannesburg, and Radisson Blu Port Elizabeth. The sixth property, Radisson Blu Blaauwberg Cape Town, will open soon.
Rezidor’s Africa pipeline also includes Radisson Blu projects in Mozambique, Ethiopia and Zambia.