Safari in Style: Royal Malewane Refurbished

It is hard to believe that the Royal Malewane, an opulent safari lodge that is a consistent favorite of Andrew Harper members, opened nearly 20 years ago. Located in the 27,000-acre private Thornybush Game Reserve, close to the western edge of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, it comprises just eight suites and a six-bedroom villa.

Owned by Liz and Phil Biden, whose other properties include the sumptuous La Residence in the Franschhoek Valley winelands and The Silo, a remarkable new hotel on Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Royal Malewane has been the subject of a comprehensive refurbishment: The glamorous interior design has been refreshed, buildings have been rethatched, decking reconditioned, pools resurfaced and the spa reappointed. As a result, the property looks set to enter its third decade in style.