Villa Thandawena, The Royal Thanda Club

The Royal Thanda Residences are a limited collection of private homes within one of Africa’s most exceptional private wildlife reserves. Ownership is by invitation only, reserved for a select community of like minded individuals who value conservation, privacy and an extraordinary way of life. Each residence is held under full title ownership.

Villa Thandawena is the flagship of these Royal Residences: five en suite suites for ten guests across 1,087 square metres, where ancient stone and textured leather meet glass and steel beneath a floating butterfly roof, on the southern foothills of the Great African Rift Valley, positioned for absolute privacy within the 16,500 hectare Thanda Safari, a multi award winning Big Five private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.

A raised timber walkway crosses the entrance water court, between stone walls and sculptural screenwork, to a front door that opens straight onto the view. From the first step the residence reads as a set of pavilions in ancient stone, glass and steel beneath a floating butterfly roof, held low against its ridge with the reserve on every side.

The Royal Thanda Residences occupy approximately 385 hectares within the 16,500 hectare Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve. Owners enjoy the full run of Thanda’s lifestyle offering: game drives and guided bush walks across the reserve, the Thanda spa and lodge dining, and hosted living at the residence. The land itself is ancient. The start of the Great Rift Valley rises within the reserve, in rolling hills King Shaka once walked.

Ownership at Royal Thanda Residences extends far beyond the home itself, offering access to an extraordinary collection of experiences that immerse residents and their guests in one of Africa’s most celebrated private wildlife reserves.

Days begin with private Big Five game drives and guided bush walks before giving way to unforgettable moments such as horseback safaris through the reserve, wildlife photography expeditions, rhino monitoring and conservation experiences, cheetah encounters, and scenic sundowners overlooking the African wilderness.

Beyond the reserve, owners can enjoy private excursions including scuba diving and snorkelling in Sodwana Bay, deep sea fishing, seasonal turtle tracking, championship golf, Nine Mile Beach experiences, hippo and crocodile cruises, and clay target shooting.

Wellness is equally woven into life at Thanda, with private spa treatments and yoga sessions available within the tranquillity of the reserve, while families can enjoy immersive Junior Ranger programmes designed to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

Owners may elect to place their residence into the professionally managed rental pool when not in residence. The programme forms part of The Leading Hotels of the World, generating rental income while the residence is kept to the same luxury hospitality standard. Hospitality and concierge services to the Royal Residences are delivered to the Leading Quality Assurance benchmark set by The Leading Hotels of the World.

The residence is sold with its own Airbus H130 B4 helicopter, a single engine seven seater, with a private helipad at the villa. When the owner is away, the aircraft is chartered to The Royal Thanda Club, one hour’s flight from King Shaka International Airport, Durban.