andBeyond has revealed a series of upcoming developments on the horizon, including the renovation and redesign of one of its first lodges, and expansion of its lodge circuit in Kenya with the opening of a new property in 2025.
The company will be renovating its Phinda Forest Lodge in South Africa, a property which was lauded as one of the first true eco-lodges at the time of its construction. The lodge will be reimagined within the context of contemporary luxury safari, while retaining subtle references to its original ‘Zulu-zen’ décor. Interior designers from Fox Browne Creative will be partnering with architectural designer Jack Alexander to reimagine the lodge in a design that will offer the comforts of the previous space, while improving room flow and functionality.
Due to the sensitivity of the habitat, the lodge refurbishment will utilise existing lodge and room structures to minimise impact associated with an entire rebuild, while also updating the architectural design and taking care not to detract from the essence of the lodge design. Throughout rooms and common areas, interiors will be reimagined with new fixtures that draw inspiration from the surrounding sand forest, blending aspects of Japanese minimalism with an ode to local culture. Elements of the natural forest and Zulu culture will be brought into the room through tactile textures and natural materials such as woven matting, textured grass cloth wallpaper and hardwood floors, with natural stone tiling in the bathrooms.
With regards to layout, the intention will be to reconfigure the room within the existing structure, better utilising the existing space, and maximising the connection to the forest through wide views. The redirection and reduction of pathways to and from the rooms will also work to further immerse guests into the landscape.
“andBeyond Phinda Forest Lodge was originally built in the early 1990s,” recalls Kevin Pretorius, andBeyond Managing Director for South Africa Lodges. “Back then, the lodge’s innovative and progressive design made a huge statement on sustainability, as it was sensitively constructed within the ancient sand forest with minimum impact at the heart of the project”.
Pretorius continues: “Phinda, which started as an amalgamation of denuded farmlands in 1991, has grown into an extensive conservancy at the cutting edge of conservation, a modern example of Care of the Land, Wildlife and People. What was only our second owned and operated lodge following the birth of the company at andBeyond Phinda will now be reborn.”
Further additions across the site will include a family suite, a library and lounge, a walkway with central fire pit linking the main area to the library, a newly reshaped and tiered pool, and significant upgrades to the main dining and bar areas.
“We are excited about the refurbishment of one of our most loved lodges, and we hope to welcome guests back to Phinda Forest Lodge as of 1 December 2023,” says Pretorius. “Phinda was where andBeyond’s vision and impact model were born. Over the years, we have curated a set of unique, immersive experiences born out of this ethos, which guests at Phinda Forest Lodge will continue to have access to.”
andBeyond Expansion
As well as renovations, the company has shared that it will be extending its lodge circuit in Kenya, with the announcement of an Exclusive Tourism Concession over the 44, 000 acre Suyian Conservancy in Kenya, in partnership with global conservation charity Space for Giants. The multi-decade long-term lease and partnership will give andBeyond exclusive access to over 44,000 acres of prime wilderness land on Suyian Conservancy in north-western Laikipia, facilitating the opening of a new lodge in 2025.
“Our expansion into Laikipia is the culmination of a long-held desire to increase our impact and lodge operating footprint in Kenya,” says Joss Kent, andBeyond CEO and Executive Chairman. “Representing a critical piece of the Kenyan circuit, it not only offers a world-class game experience but also aligns with many of our ambitious impact objectives in terms of securing and protecting endangered wildlife and habitat ecosystems, as well as enabling conservation through empowered communities.
“As a partner of Suyian Conservancy, our intention is to make an impactful contribution towards the development of conservation and community projects in the fragile Laikipia ecosystem. Over the past thirty years, we have learned a lot of impact lessons across our 29 lodges and 1 million acres of primary conservation land under management in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is our hope that we can share some of these learnings to support and assist in the various projects at Suyian.”
