Aman Karingani to debut in Mozambique's Karingani Reserve

Published on Sep 21, 2025, 7:53 am CDT

5 min read

Aman is bringing its first African safari resort to southern Mozambique. Aman Karingani will rise inside Karingani Game Reserve, which borders South Africa's Kruger National Park, with 30 standalone pavilions and a limited collection of branded residences. The main lodge will anchor dining concepts that showcase local flavors, plus an Aman Spa and an outdoor pool. Karingani sits near Massingir in Gaza Province, with the nearest major city in Maputo, a roughly 1 hour, 10 minute flight from Johannesburg's O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Maputo International Airport (MPM).

Key Points

Why it matters: Aman enters the safari segment in Africa with a low-density, conservation-forward resort.
Travel impact: New luxury option on the Kruger ecosystem, paired with private pools and branded residences.
What's next: Construction advances under a public-private conservation partnership in Gaza Province.
Pavilions will be one or two bedrooms, each with a covered deck and private pool.
Residences span three to six bedrooms with full access to resort amenities.

Snapshot

Set within approximately 150,000 hectares of Karingani Game Reserve, Aman Karingani will offer 30 pavilions, each designed for privacy and views over savannah and woodlands. A central lodge will feature multiple restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, and an Aman Spa. A limited number of branded residences, three to six bedrooms, will be available for purchase. The reserve shares a long border with Kruger, placing guests inside one of the continent's most biodiverse wildlife corridors while supporting long-term conservation and community programs. Aman has not announced an opening date. The project forms part of a broader alliance to develop high-value, low-density tourism in southern Mozambique.

Background

Karingani Game Reserve sits within the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, adjoining Kruger and Mozambique's Limpopo National Park. The reserve's scale and mix of habitats, from open plains to seasonal wetlands, support elephant, rhino, and other protected species. Local stakeholders and conservation NGOs have invested in anti-poaching, habitat restoration, and community infrastructure. For Aman, the move follows decades of growth in Asia, the Americas, and EMEA, and builds on the brand's presence in Africa through Amanjena in Marrakech. With Aman Karingani, the company extends its design and wellness playbook into a classic safari setting while signaling confidence in Mozambique's luxury-tourism trajectory.

Latest Developments

Aman Karingani details, residences, and amenities

Aman confirms 30 one and two bedroom pavilions, each with a private pool and covered deck designed for seclusion and wildlife viewing. The main lodge will include multiple dining venues that highlight regional ingredients, an outdoor swimming pool, and a full Aman Spa. A curated set of three to six bedroom branded residences will integrate owner privacy with hotel services and access to amenities. The program positions Aman Karingani at the apex of Mozambique's safari offerings, expanding traveler choice on the Kruger ecosystem while keeping guest density intentionally low to protect the setting.

Conservation partnership and national investment

Mozambique officials formally launched the Karingani and related Pomene initiatives in mid September, citing a combined tourism investment estimated at about $140,000,000 and hundreds of projected jobs. The Karingani platform pairs private capital with conservation operators to scale anti-poaching, water and energy projects, and vocational training for nearby communities. The approach aims to anchor long-term, high-value travel in Gaza Province while preserving wilderness and strengthening cross-border corridors that link Kruger and Limpopo National Park.

Analysis

Aman's entrance into Mozambique's safari market is strategically timed. The Kruger ecosystem already hosts ultra-luxury South African brands, yet Mozambique has seen fewer top tier safari openings compared with its celebrated coast. By choosing Karingani, Aman taps a vast, lightly trafficked reserve that directly connects to Kruger's wildlife movements, giving guests an exclusive feel without sacrificing sightings. The branded residences provide an additional revenue stream and signal confidence in longer-stay demand, especially among Aman loyalists who calibrate trips around new flagships.

Access remains the practical question. Most international itineraries will stage through Johannesburg, then connect to Maputo, followed by overland or air transfer to the reserve as infrastructure builds out. That routing is familiar to seasoned safari travelers and should improve as regional tourism investment accelerates. From a competitive lens, Aman's wellness-led programming, low key architecture, and service ratios differentiate it from traditional safari-lodge formulas. If conservation and community programs scale as promised, Karingani could emerge as a reference point for private, low-density development inside a transfrontier landscape.

Final Thoughts

Aman Karingani brings one of hospitality's most coveted brands into a storied wildlife corridor, pairing privacy, wellness, and conservation in southern Mozambique. With private-pool pavilions, residences, and a full Aman Spa, the resort adds a new ultra-luxury node to the Kruger ecosystem while channeling investment into habitat protection and local jobs. Opening timelines were not disclosed, so travelers should watch for sales milestones and access details as infrastructure matures. For Aman loyalists and first time safari planners alike, the promise is a serene, design forward immersion in wild Africa, delivered under the Aman Karingani banner.