The 5-star lodge in South Africa owned by an international cricket legend

·14 Apr 2026

Umganu Lodge is a 5-star luxury safari villa located in Elephant Point on the border of the Kruger National Park and is partly owned by South African-born cricket legend Kevin Pietersen.

Umganu Lodge was developed by Pietersen, who was born in Pietermaritzburg but controversially played for England, and by publicly listed Africa Bitcoin Corporation (BAC), formerly known as Altvest Capital.

The safari villa and the surrounding Elephant Point development are actively managed by the Legacy Group.

The Legacy Group developed and manages the Leonardo, Michelangelo Towers, and Raphael Penthouse Suites in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Although a group of individual investors now own the safari villa, it can be rented to members of the public. Estimated rental rates are R16,000 per night in the off-season and R19,500 in the peak season.

Legacy gave BusinessTech an exclusive inside look at Elephant Point’s operations, which included a stop at Umganu.

The massive safari villa can accommodate up to 12 guests in five en-suite bedrooms, each decorated with one of Africa’s Big 5 animals – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

All suites have a generous bathroom, including a bath and shower, along with his-and-hers basins.

The main suite features unique finishes, including a large copper bath and a private, heated outdoor plunge pool.

The open-plan living area features high-volume ceilings and polished concrete floors, with Wi-Fi and air-conditioning throughout.

Outside the property, there is a heated outdoor pool, a sunken boma, a braai area, a large viewing deck, and a covered patio. There is also a telescope to view the night sky.

The reserve borders the Kruger National Park and is a very popular wildlife area. To enter the Kruger itself, guests will need to travel a mere 6km to the Paul Kruger Gate.

The safari villa was opened by Pietersen in 2018, with the former batter focusing heavily on conservation since hanging up his gloves.

Elephant Point has also been named one of the 10 best wildlife estates in South Africa by New World Wealth.

You can also own a share

In 2022, BAC “acquired” a 50% stake in the safari villa for roughly R15 million. However, unlike a normal deal, the alternative investment company decided to list shares on the Cape Town Stock Exchange (CTSE)

This allows retail investors to own BAC shares linked to the safari villa and aligns with its broader focus on moving away from standard investment products, such as equities and bonds.

In 2023, the first sale of Umganu shares raised R6 million in capital. BAC moved its listing from the Cape Town Stock Exchange to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2024.

Shares in the safari villa are available on Africa’s largest bourse under the share code BACA, as Preferred Ordinary A shares. They currently trade at R1.40 per share.

These Class A shareholders collectively hold an economic interest of up to 43.33% in Umganu, while BAC retains a 6.67% carried interest in the asset’s value.

As per the full-year results ended 28 February 2025, 26.32% of the economic interest had been subscribed, with the balance available to investors through the issue of additional A shares.

Pietersen and BAC are also joined by other shareholders, including Pinpoint Properties (Pty) Ltd and Frontline Capital (Pty) Ltd, which both purchased 13% stakes from Pietersen, reducing his stake to 24%.

According to BAC’s latest interim results, Umganu maintained a stable trading performance, with total occupied nights increasing by 19% between August 2024 and August 2025.

Average occupancy rate improved from 40% to 43%, while the average length of stay has remained consistent at four nights.

As per BAC’s interim financial results, the property’s equity value is R46.2 million.