A beloved South African landmark is set to receive a fresh new look as The Wilderness Hotel prepares to undergo a major facelift, thanks to a new lease agreement with Anew Hotels & Resorts.
From 1 October, the iconic property will be officially rebranded as Anew Resort Wilderness, bringing a new era of modern luxury to a hotel steeped in rich history.
The deal, recently reported by the George Herald, confirms that Anew has entered into a lease agreement with the current owners, marking the start of a transformation project that will see extensive upgrades to the resort’s public spaces and amenities.
Clinton Armour, CEO of Anew Hotels & Resorts, says the group is thrilled to add the Wilderness property to its growing national portfolio, which now spans 19 locations across South Africa. ‘This hotel is a national treasure,’ said Armour. ‘We’re excited to restore and enhance it, while maintaining the charm that’s made it a staple of South African hospitality for over a century.’
The Wilderness Hotel, originally built as a boarding house in the early 1900s, evolved into The Wilderness Hostel in 1924, and quickly gained prestige throughout the 1930s and 1950s. Its significance is more than sentimental, the hotel played a pivotal role in South Africa’s tourism history, even hosting strategic meetings in the late 1930s that laid the groundwork for what is today known as South African Tourism.
Over the decades, the venue has hosted an array of notable visitors, including royalty. Most famously, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) stayed at the hotel during the British royal family’s 1947 visit, a moment forever etched in local lore.
Now, the hotel’s next chapter promises to blend nostalgia with contemporary luxury. Armour says the revamp will bring Anew’s signature style and service to a new corner of the Western Cape. It also strengthens the group’s regional presence, with the Wilderness site being their second in the province.
Positioned along South Africa’s scenic Garden Route, Wilderness is a natural gem, bordered by lagoons, mountain ranges and coastal wilderness. The area has long been popular among road-trippers and overseas tourists making the trek between KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town, and the upgraded hotel is expected to become an even more attractive midway stop.
The 150-room resort will soon undergo a series of renovations aimed at elevating guest experiences, while still honouring the legacy of a property that helped shape tourism in the country.
Locals and longtime patrons can rest assured that the hotel’s warm, historic character will remain intact, but with a polished new twist under the Anew banner.
With refurbishments already planned ahead of the October handover, the countdown has begun to a grand re-opening that’s expected to put The Wilderness Hotel back on the map as one of the country’s top travel destinations.
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Picture: The Wilderness Hotel
