Banyan Tree Opens Its First Safari Retreat In Tanzania, With A Bigger Africa Expansion Ahead

An elephant drinks near a riverside villa at Ubuyu, a Banyan Tree Escape

In southern Tanzania, far from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater circuits, Ubuyu, a Banyan Tree Escape, has opened with six villas on the banks of the Great Ruaha River. Baobab trees mark the entrance to the retreat in Ruaha National Park, where wildlife passes through the surrounding bush. Each villa has a plunge pool, an open-air shower, and views across the river, savannah, and distant mountains. It is Banyan Tree's first safari property, bringing a company best known for tropical resorts and private-pool villas to one of Tanzania's less-visited wilderness areas.

"We chose Ruaha National Park for our first safari resort because it offers a different side of Tanzania. It's quieter than the northern safari circuit, and that remoteness gives guests space to switch off and explore at their own pace," Eddy See, president and CEO of Banyan Group, tells me in an interview.

Ubuyu sits on the bank of the Great Ruaha River in southern Tanzania.

Ruaha is a park of shifting country. Open savannah gives way to miombo woodland in the south, then to rocky hills and baobab-studded ridges. In the dry season, nearly all wildlife ends up along the Great Ruaha River, which is why game viewing is so good. You often find elephants, lions and antelope sharing the same stretch of water. The park holds one of Tanzania's largest elephant populations and many lions, as well as one of the last strongholds of endangered African wild dogs. Birders have plenty to chase too, with more than 570 species recorded.

Getting to Ubuyu is no complicated. Most guests fly into Msembe Airstrip, with connections from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar, the Serengeti and Selous. Then they take a 45- to 60-minute game drive to camp. You will likely spot wildlife on the way.

Banyan Tree suggests staying three or four nights to allow time for game drives, early morning walking safaris, private dinners by the river, and visits to local communities. The people running those days shape the experience most. "From arrival, a dedicated Escape Host looks after the whole stay," See says. "Guests also have a dedicated Safari Guide with in-depth knowledge of Ruaha's wildlife and terrain. Together, they can adjust the day as it unfolds. This might mean a spontaneous game drive, following fresh tracks, or spending longer at a particular sighting."

A bedroom at Ubuyu opens onto the landscape

Ubuyu takes its name from the Swahili word for the fruit of the baobab tree. Its design draws on the landscape and traditional building forms. Curves follow the Great Ruaha River, the circular layout echoes Maasai homesteads, and the buildings are made of local clay, timber, and thatch, with Mninga-wood furnishings by Tanzanian craftspeople. Wide decks and open layouts connect each space to the surrounding bush. This approach was first introduced at Buahan in Bali, the original Banyan Tree Escape, which opened with 16 villas and a "no walls, no doors" concept. At Ubuyu, that idea has been adapted for a Tanzanian safari setting.

Ubuyu has six accommodations: three one-bedroom River Front Villas, the more secluded River Glade Villa, and the two-bedroom River View Villa, which suits families or friends. The largest, the Ubuyu Private Retreat, sits on a bend in the river. It has three suites, a private chef, a central firepit lounge, and a 360-degree rooftop terrace. For a family or group traveling together, it works as a private base without booking an entire safari camp. Rates are all-inclusive, ranging from $6,100 per night for a River Front Villa to $18,600 per night for the Ubuyu Private Retreat. The small scale is deliberate. "Keeping Ubuyu intimate gives our team time to get to know each guest," says See.

An aerial view of the signature Ubuyu Private Retreat that accommodates up to six guests across three independent suites

The shared spaces are also open to the outdoors. At the heart of the retreat, the Living Room surrounds a firepit and sits next to an Open Kitchen, where the menu focuses on plant-based dishes and uses ingredients from nearby farms and villages, along with sustainably sourced meat. The rooftop Mganga Bar features drinks made with native botanicals, and the riverfront Maji Spa offers treatments using local herbs and oils. The property uses solar power, local water, and a low-density design to reduce its environmental impact. Banyan Tree calls the six villas its "first phase," suggesting more accommodations may be added later.

Outside the retreat, Banyan Tree is working with the Ruaha Conservation Project to help protect carnivores and reduce conflicts between wildlife and local communities. Before visiting Wahehe communities, guests receive cultural briefings that, according to the company, focus on consent and respectful interaction.

"Ubuyu has just opened, and we are setting its first-year baseline as part of Banyan Group's broader sustainability goals," See says. "We can already outline the practices in place and will gather evidence to see how they help over time. Our planned measures include hiring from nearby communities and across Tanzania, offering training and career growth, and tracking how much we spend with local suppliers. We want to see how the property supports local livelihoods through jobs and purchasing choices," he adds.

Soon after Ubuyu opened in Summer 2026, Banyan announced a move to grow its presence in Africa. The group agreed to buy a majority stake in Cape Town's Newmark Hotels & Reserves, planning to take full ownership in stages. This deal adds a management business with 26 hotels, safari lodges, and private reserves across Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Banyan is initially acquiring 70%, with the remaining 30% to be acquired in phases leading to full ownership. The acquisition covers Newmark's management business in the region, not the real estate at all 26 locations.

Through its partnership with Newmark, Banyan can reach many African destinations with a team that already knows them well. Newmark's wildlife properties include Motswari Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger area, which marked its 50th anniversary this year. It also includes Gorilla Heights Lodge next to Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and QWABI Private Game Reserve, about 11,000 hectares of South Africa's UNESCO-listed Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. Beyond safari, Newmark manages island retreats in Zanzibar and Mauritius, city hotels, and wellness properties, including Future Found Sanctuary on Table Mountain.

"Newmark brings us a well-established management business with experienced local teams, strong relationships with property owners, and a pipeline of new projects, as well as expertise in wildlife and nature-based hospitality," See says. Banyan will add its international sales, distribution, and development strengths. Over time, properties in the partnership will be available to book through the group's channels and will join the withBanyan recognition program. "Right now, we are focused on supporting the current properties, moving planned projects ahead, and helping Newmark grow internationally," he adds.

Main pool at Ubuyu, A Banyan Tree Escape with wildlife in the water

Newmark will keep its brand and Cape Town leadership, led by founder and CEO Neil Markovitz. Its properties will also keep their names, management teams, and owner relationships. See says, "Within the existing portfolio, Newmark will continue as a collection brand under its current leadership. There are no immediate changes to property branding, day-to-day operations or existing commercial arrangements."

This acquisition gives Banyan valuable regional experience as it expands into safari hospitality. Running a lodge means having trained guides, managing flight logistics, and building strong relationships with park authorities and local communities. The guest experience relies on a network that goes beyond the property itself. Ubuyu offers Banyan Tree's own take on a small safari retreat, while Newmark brings established lodges, reserves, and hotels developed over many years, along with teams who know these destinations well.

Aerial view rendering of Ubuyu, A Banyan Tree Escape

"Looking ahead, we see chances to grow both Newmark's collection and other Banyan Group brands throughout Africa," See says. "The brand we choose will depend on the location, the property, and what the owner wants, with guidance from Newmark's local knowledge."

The next addition is near. Dhawa Ouidah in Benin, which Banyan plans to open soon, is a beachfront resort steps from the Atlantic, the Door of No Return, and the Sacred Forest of Kpassè. It has 132 rooms and suites, five restaurants and bars, a full 8lements Spa, and Voodoo-inspired activities.

For now, Ubuyu is the only place to see what Banyan Tree's safari ambitions look like in practice. The Newmark agreement points to more camps across Africa, but this small riverside retreat in Ruaha is where it starts: a day spent watching elephants and lions, and an evening back in a villa with its own pool.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com