Mantis Hiddn in Addo, South Africa
Saij Mountain Lodge by Mantis, Ras al Khaimah UAE
Basiqat by Mantis, Saudi Arabia
Mantis, with headquarters in South Africa, has announced three new property openings that will expand its global eco-luxury footprint across Africa and the Middle East.
The developments include:
Mantis Hiddn in Addo, South Africa: A secluded off-grid mountain sanctuary, opening
1 March 2026
Saij Mountain Lodge by Mantis, UAE: The brand’s first property in the country,
opening Q2 2026
Basiqat by Mantis, Saudi Arabia: An expansive eco-luxury resort near Riyadh,
opening Q4 2026
Mantis is a South African based, leading community and conservation-focused hotel group, with a hand-picked portfolio of eco-lodges, waterways and curated eco-escapes. The group continues to expand internationally, while deepening its investment in conservation-led tourism hospitality, community partnership and nature-based travel experiences.
Insights from the brand’s Travel Desk – a personalised concierge service that designs bespoke personalised itineraries, shows that for 2026 South Africa leads global destination interest. Solo travel enquiries have risen by around 9%, multi-generational trips continue to dominate and more guests are seeking volunteer or community-focused experiences as part of their journeys. Geographically, enquiries remain strongest from the UK (32%), US (27%) and Europe (21%), with notable growth emerging from the Middle East.
Mantis Hiddn in Addo introduces a new level of remote luxury to South Africa’s Eastern Cape, one of the country’s most biodiverse and culturally rich regions. Set within an 800-hectare private reserve, the lodge operates entirely off-grid through solar power, water harvesting and recycling systems. Its 12 mountain suites and two private villas are designed to blend seamlessly with the environment, featuring calming earth-tone interiors, fireplaces, handcrafted KolKol wood-fired tubs and expansive decks overlooking the mountains.
Daily life centres on guided wilderness experiences, curated botanical-inspired wellness and access to the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa’s third largest national park. ‘Mantis Hiddn in Addo represents a new chapter for eco-luxury tourism in South Africa,’ says Craig Erasmus, CEO of Mantis Collection. ‘It showcases what is possible when conservation, culture and considered design merge in one of the country’s most remarkable natural landscapes.’
In the UAE, Saij Mountain Lodge by Mantis will offer an immersive retreat shaped by silence, mountain design and the raw beauty of the highest mountain in the UAE, Jebel Jais. Built from local materials that mirror the surrounding terrain, Saij’s 70 suites are intimate and luxurious. Experiences will include guided hikes, beekeeping and farm-to-table dining,
inviting guests to slow down, reconnect and engage deeply with the land. Basiqat by Mantis marks a major milestone in the brand’s expansion across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. The development comprises two distinct sites and will feature 218 keys, including suites, villas, desert tents and exclusive Zad Palace Suites. It will offer landscaped gardens, multiple dining venues, a full hydro spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a yoga pavilion, souk, kids; club and dedicated event spaces. Developed by
Design & Build in partnership with GIB Capital and the Tourism Development Fund (TDF), Basiqat will set a new benchmark for eco-inspired luxury hospitality in the region. ‘With these three openings, Mantis continues to evolve while remaining true to our core ethos: Conservation, community and connection to place,’ says Erasmus. ‘Booking and enquiry insights from the Travel Desk show a growing desire for nature-led and purposeful travel. The new properties make these journeys possible, offering guests adventure, wellness and meaningful cultural connections.’
The momentum across Africa and the Middle East underscores Mantis’ growing portfolio. Alongside upcoming developments, the brand recently opened Hawar Resort by Mantis in Bahrain.
