Darren van der Merwe on Shamwari Private Game Reserve: Conservation and Hospitality

What makes this hotel—and its surrounding destination—different from anywhere else in Africa?

Darren van der Merwe

Shamwari is much more than a collection of beautiful lodges in a game reserve. What makes it special is the story behind the land. This is a place that was once largely agricultural farmland and has been painstakingly restored into a thriving conservation landscape. Today, Shamwari is home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife across five different biomes.

For me, what really sets it apart is that luxury and conservation are not separate experiences here. You can have an exceptional safari, stay in a beautiful lodge and enjoy wonderful food and hospitality, but at the same time you are experiencing a genuine conservation success story. Every guest becomes part of that story simply by being here.

What local traditions, ingredients, art, or experiences do you incorporate into the guest experience?

Darren van der Merwe

We want guests to feel that they are in the Eastern Cape, not simply in a beautiful lodge that could exist anywhere in the world.

That comes through in our food, our people, our design and the stories we tell. We use local ingredients and producers wherever possible, incorporate South African flavours into our menus and celebrate local craftsmanship throughout the guest experience. Our boma evenings are a wonderful example: sitting around a fire under the African sky, sharing food and stories creates a connection to place that is difficult to manufacture.

Most importantly, though, our people bring the destination to life. Their personalities, cultures, stories and genuine warmth are ultimately what guests remember.

Can you share a memorable story about a guest, employee, or community member that captures the spirit of this hotel?

Darren van der Merwe

There are many, but some of my favourite moments are actually the smallest ones.

We encourage our teams to create what we call “Signature Moments”, experiences that are personal to an individual guest rather than something taken from a standard operating procedure.

One example involved a guest whose connection with rhinos had become particularly meaningful during their stay. One of our team members created a hand-drawn rhino as a personal gift for them.

It wasn’t about the monetary value of the gift. Someone had listened, noticed what mattered to that guest and then taken the time to create something especially for them. That, to me, captures Shamwari. Luxury isn’t always about what something costs. Very often, it is simply about making someone feel seen.

What is the first thing you want guests to feel when they walk through the door?

Darren van der Merwe

That they can exhale.

Luxury hospitality can sometimes become overly formal. I want Shamwari to be exceptional without ever feeling intimidating. From the moment guests arrive, I want them to feel genuinely welcomed, comfortable and cared for.

They should very quickly realise that they don’t need to worry about what happens next. We have them. Their only job is to be present and enjoy where they are.

Which is your favorite room in the hotel, and what makes it special to you?

Darren van der Merwe

It is difficult to choose because Shamwari has seven very different lodges, but I have a particular soft spot for Sindile.

Sindile sits elevated above the Bushman’s River and has an incredible sense of privacy and connection with the landscape. From your tent you can sit quietly and watch the reserve moving below you. There is something about waking up there, hearing the bush before you properly see it, that reminds you exactly where you are.

It feels luxurious without separating you from the wilderness, and I think that balance is very special.

What is one nearby experience visitors often overlook but absolutely shouldn’t?

Darren van der Merwe

I think visitors sometimes underestimate the conservation story behind their safari.

Seeing elephants, lions or rhinos in the wild is extraordinary, but understanding what it takes to protect those animals completely changes the experience. Spending time learning about Shamwari’s conservation work, wildlife rehabilitation and the enormous effort happening behind the scenes gives a completely different perspective on what you see during a game drive.

Safari becomes much more powerful when you understand that these landscapes don’t simply look after themselves.

What nearby hidden gem do you return to again and again—and what makes it special to you?

Darren van der Merwe

One of the great things about Shamwari is the Eastern Cape itself. It remains one of South Africa’s more understated destinations.

There are beautiful stretches of coastline, small towns, farms and incredible landscapes within relatively easy reach, but the real hidden gem for me is simply the diversity of this province. You can be on safari in the morning and, within a relatively short drive, be standing beside the Indian Ocean.

There is an authenticity to the Eastern Cape that I love. It doesn’t feel overly polished or manufactured; you still have the opportunity to discover places for yourself.

What is your ideal day in the area, from morning until evening?

Darren van der Merwe

My ideal day starts before sunrise with a cup of coffee and an early game drive. There is something incredibly special about watching the reserve wake up.

I’d come back to the lodge for a relaxed breakfast, spend some time with my family, and then enjoy the quieter part of the day somewhere overlooking the landscape. In the afternoon, I’d head back onto the reserve, ideally spending some time with one of our conservation teams and then finishing with a sundowner somewhere beautiful.

Dinner would be outside around a fire, with good South African food, a glass of wine and the sounds of the bush around us.

That’s a pretty difficult day to improve on.

What do you do to help employees grow into future leaders?

Darren van der Merwe

This is something I care deeply about.

My philosophy is that leadership isn’t about creating people who depend on you; it is about developing people who eventually don’t need you. I try to give our managers ownership, allow them to make decisions and, importantly, give them room to make mistakes and learn from them.

At Shamwari, we are investing heavily in training and development, but development also happens through everyday trust and accountability. I want people to understand not only what decision was made, but why it was made.

One of the greatest measures of success for me as a General Manager will be seeing people who grew their careers at Shamwari go on to become exceptional Lodge Managers, General Managers and hospitality leaders themselves.

What inspired you to build a career in hospitality?

Darren van der Merwe

I don’t think I ever fell in love with hotels as much as I fell in love with hospitality. There is a difference.

Hospitality is ultimately about people. It is about creating a moment, reading a room, anticipating what someone needs and having the opportunity to make an ordinary day memorable.

I started my career in restaurants, and that immediacy fascinated me: a group of strangers can walk through your door and, a few hours later, leave having celebrated something, connected with someone or created a memory.

As my career developed from restaurants into lodges and luxury hospitality, that idea never really changed. The scale became bigger and the responsibility greater, but the purpose remained the same.

Today, what motivates me even more is the people behind the guest experience. If I can create an environment where our teams are proud of what they do, grow as individuals and genuinely enjoy looking after people, then the guest experience almost becomes the natural result.

That’s what keeps me excited about hospitality.