Molori Safari has updated its interiors and expanded its contemporary art collection to include headline artists
An eclectic high-fashion art experience, unexpected in the African bush, the interior update by the South African design team, Hesse Kleinloog Studio, includes a collaboration with local artists to translate their contemporary artworks into large, colorful floor rugs.
The artists are Athi-Patra Ruga, Cameron Platter, Jody Paulsen, Maja Marx, Nabeeha Mohamed, and Koos Groenwald, whose art features in the lodge, but who also skillfully interpreted the artworks into digitized patterns, enabling South African weavers to produce these grand creations. Each suite features one of the artist’s rugs and the main lodge area features the unexpected ‘Eat Me (Bananas)’ artwork by Jody Paulsen.
Hesse Kleinloog Studios added layers of rich, textured fabrics while bespoke, contemporary furniture, from award-winning Anatomy Design, complements the existing art and furniture collection, revealing a story of the family’s experiences and predilections.
The Fendi Casa chaises longues and Philipp Plein swing beds in the lodge since inception, still feature in the two presidential suites along with the Ethiopian beaded armchairs, antique Chinese cabinets, and vintage Louis Vuitton bars.
The works of other artists such as Norman Catherine, Lady Skollie, and Edoardo Villa, add dimension to this exclusive lodge’s guest experience.
“Our philosophy is to delight our guests with the unexpected. I believe we have achieved this with our new look, luxury interiors, and added art collection,” says owner, Ivor Ichikowitz. “Molori is not only about our aesthetic. Our bigger asset is our team that provides intuitive service, ensuring that our guests feel relaxed and spoilt in our family home.
“Our guides make sure that our guests have exhilarating wildlife experiences and get to tick off more than the Big Five on their lists while out on game drives or on bush walks. Between game drives, our guests can relax in our luxury hide that overlooks our water hole where we have often seen up to 60 elephants congregate. Or they can spend time in our spa which has been voted by guests as the most romantic spa in South Africa”.
Molori Safari is situated in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa and has hosted many well-heeled travelers, African heads of state, royal families, and celebrities.
It is the perfect destination for families traveling with young children or for travelers not keen on taking malaria prophylactics.
Privately owned and operated by the Ichikowitz family, it is recognized throughout the world as one of South Africa’s most luxurious and exclusive game lodges and forms part of the family’s Rora Private Collection of properties.
Five large, uber-chic, suites offer floor-to-ceiling glass retractable doors that blur the distinction between inside and out and allow the sounds and scents of the African bush to drift through. The lodge has two 600m² presidential suites. The three premier suites are only slightly smaller, and all have large decks and infinity pools overlooking the expansive valley and mountain range.
The Madikwe Game Reserve is an ideal safari environment as guests get to experience wildlife encounters of the ‘Big 10’ (in addition to the Big 5 – wild dog, hippo, cheetah, hyena, and giraffe).
“We are committed to conservation and offer our guests experiences in wildlife notching and collaring in the Madikwe Game Reserve.The funds generated from these experiences go towards the ongoing conservation of wildlife in the reserve and provide amazing one-day encounters to our guests who get to experience the actual collaring or notching event with the wildlife vet and conservation officers.
“In addition, we offer helicopter fly-in-and-out day and overnight experiences to the Ichikowitz Foundation’s K9 facility that specializes in anti-poaching programs across the continent,” says Ichikowitz.
Molori Safari, part of the Rora Private Collection, family-owned and operated properties in southern Africa, offers a bespoke luxury safari experience.