Into the Wild: Toro River Lodge & Thitaka Lodge Join the Newmark Portfolio

As Newmark Hotels & Reserves continues to grow its African footprint, two new properties are joining the collection—each offering an entirely distinct window into our wild and beautiful continent. One is a hidden treasure undergoing a bold transformation in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. The other, a brand-new camp in Namibia’s lush Zambezi Region, opens the door to one of the most unexplored corners of the continent.

Toro River Lodge: The Hidden African Dream

Set on the banks of the Makhutswi River within the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve, between Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province, Toro River Lodge offers guests front-row access to Big Five territory.

The lodge is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment and interior redesign ahead of its reopening under Newmark management in the first quarter of 2026. Upon completion, it will feature five upmarket keys, including two luxury suites. Accommodation will be offered on a full-board basis, with gourmet meals, local beverages, two game drives per day, and guided safari walks all-inclusive.

Unlike traditional game drives restricted to main roads, Toro’s safari expeditions are guided off-track through dense bush to hidden sites otherwise unseen, a genuine experience of “the African dream”. This region is rich in wildlife and falls within a registered Protected Area with a strong conservation focus. Guests have the opportunity to spot an abundance of species, as well as rare and unexpected sightings.   

“With its unique safari offering, Toro River Lodge will undoubtedly delight visitors with an authentic experience of this special continent while they enjoy the refined luxury and warm hospitality associated with our properties,” says Neil Markovitz, Founder and CEO at Newmark Hotels & Reserves.

Thitaka Lodge: A Bold New Frontier in Namibia

Further north, in the heart of Namibia’s Bwabwata National Park, a new camp is rising. Thitaka Lodge, a new build set along the Kwando River in the Zambezi Region, is also scheduled to open in early 2026 and marks Newmark’s much-anticipated entry into Namibia.

Fringed by riverine forests and located along an elephant corridor that connects Botswana and Angola, the lodge will offer guests twice-daily game drives and river outings, where sightings of elephants, hippos and birdlife unfold in an extraordinary wetland landscape.

A luxury tented camp marked by a magnificent Baobab tree at its entrance, Thitaka Lodge will comprise:

• Three private villas, each with a pool
• Three bush villas, also with private pools
• Three family villas
• Six standard tents
• A shared pool, restaurant and bar

Bush and boma dinners will feature, and accommodation will be offered on a full-board basis, with local beverages included.

“Thitaka Lodge is a special addition to our portfolio as it marks our entry into Namibia, realising our aim of broadening our footprint in Africa and offering our guests a more diverse array of outstanding safari destinations to explore,” says Markovitz. “I am certain that this exquisite destination, coupled with the experience at this world-class lodge, will captivate our guests and set the scene for lasting memories.”

Expanding the Map of Luxury Safari Travel

From riverbank to river delta, Toro and Thitaka signal Newmark’s growing commitment to immersive, meaningful safari experiences across the continent. With these new additions, our journey continues.