CAPE TOWN, 20 August 2018 – Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa today announced and confirmed its acquisition of the Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve in the Western Cape. The agreement was concluded on Thursday 16 August 2018.
Over the last 20 years, Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa has become synonymous with the Cape Town and international safari market. As a four-star accommodation provider, it has always offered world-class products and services and continues daily to improve its offering on its 10 000+ hectare big 5 conservancy – under two hours from Cape Town.
Aquila’s magnificent ten treatment room spa is one of the latest additions to the property. Aquila has the most prestigious collection of local and internationally recognized awards behind its name, ranging from service excellence to social upliftment and conservation.
Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve, founded in 1994, offered visitors a unique 10 000 hectare big 5 safari experience with beautiful indigenous Karoo landscapes and impressive Acacia Karoo river beds – the likes of which is only found in the northern parts of Southern Africa.
The most recent 5-star edition to Inverdoorn is the impressive Kuganha luxury tented camp – where guests enjoy personalized service in an isolated tranquil setting which can compete with any of Kruger Parks or Africa’s best five-star tented experiences.
Immediate plans going forward will amplify this exclusive 5-star experience throughout all of the Inverdoorn facilities. Over the last 21 years, Inverdoorn has also built a solid reputation within the safari market, including niche relationships with tourism, trade and operators.
As a combined force, the group will now be able to meet the unique demands across all target markets.
Searl Derman, owner of The Aquila Collection says “the reserves offer very different safari experiences”. Aquila boasts exquisite mountains, valleys, rivers and kloof’s; as well as a very impressive big 5 safari and guest experience in wide open spaces with magnificent vistas.
Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve is under 2.5 hours from Cape Town – or 25 minutes from Aquila – and the vast and well received majestic Tankwa Karoo landscapes, combined with distant golden mountains and heavily Acacia wooded river beds, make for a truly memorable experience.
“Both game reserves have a great variety of big 5 and wildlife which within the next month will be further reinforced with new genetics, numbers and species.”
“By combining the sales and marketing offices the group will be able to streamline the promotion of big 5 safari tourism in Cape Town and the Western Cape, while also enhancing local and international safari experiences” Searl Derman added.
He further believes that the two game reserves compliment each other in every way and epitomise a comprehensive Southern African safari.
As the businesses begin their transition to synergise their hospitality products, award-winning conservation, job creation and social upliftment projects and ethics, both brands will continue business as usual.
He added that “Inverdoorns conservation efforts will experience a change in policy and will benefit from Aquila’s award-winning infrastructure, management and accomplishments”.
Inverdoorn is currently listed in both the four and five-star accommodation category and immediate additions to the property will include newly renovated and expanded fit-for-purpose dining facilities.
Continued industry and trade relations will be strengthened and customer service together, with social upliftment and conservation, will be at the centre of everything that The Aquila Collection does.
Previous Inverdoorn owner, Damian Vergnaud said: “I am very proud of the Inverdoorn product that my family built and am delighted to have Aquila involved to continue the Inverdoorn legacy.” He further believes that Aquila will take the product to a new level and is confident that Inverdoorn’s hard-won reputation, business suppliers, and most importantly the staff, land and wildlife are in safe and responsible care.
Vergnaud concluded that there were several interested parties and it was a conscious decision to sell to Aquila based on trust.
“We look forward to keeping and growing the industry and trade relationships as we plan the future positioning of both brands. We will continue to update our partners regularly to inform them of all exciting projects and developments” concluded Searl Derman.
