A major name in South African tourism has entered a new era of Black ownership.
Forever Resorts South Africa, the hospitality group behind some of the country’s best-known resorts, lodges and holiday destinations, was acquired in September 2026 by Benus Trade and Invest (Pty) Ltd, an investment company associated with Community Investment Holdings (CIH).
CIH is a 100% Black-owned, women-led South African investment group co-founded by prominent businesswoman Prof. Anna Mokgokong and entrepreneur Joe Madungandaba.
The acquisition brings a substantial portfolio of South African resorts and leisure properties under Black ownership and represents a noteworthy development in the country’s hospitality and tourism industry.
Which Forever Resorts Are Included?
Forever Resorts operates destinations across some of South Africa’s most popular nature, safari and leisure regions.
The portfolio includes well-known properties such as:
- Blyde Canyon, A Forever Resort — Mpumalanga
- Warmbaths, A Forever Resort — Bela-Bela, Limpopo
- Badplaas, A Forever Resort — Mpumalanga
- Loskopdam, A Forever Resort — Mpumalanga
- Swadini, A Forever Resort — Limpopo
- Tshipise, A Forever Resort — Limpopo
- Gariep, A Forever Resort — Free State
- Plettenberg, A Forever Resort — Western Cape
- Phalaborwa Safari Park, A Forever Resort — Limpopo
The broader Forever portfolio also encompasses lodges, retreats and other accommodations, giving the group a presence across several of South Africa’s leading tourism regions.
Who Is Prof. Anna Mokgokong?
Prof. Anna Mokgokong is a South African physician, entrepreneur and business leader who co-founded Community Investment Holdings with Joe Madungandaba in 1995.
Under her leadership, CIH developed into a diversified investment group with interests spanning healthcare, technology, energy, mining, logistics and infrastructure.
The Forever Resorts transaction brings that investment footprint further into South Africa’s hospitality and tourism industry.
For travelers interested in supporting Black-owned hotels, resorts and tourism businesses, the acquisition is particularly significant because it adds an established collection of properties to South Africa’s growing Black-owned hospitality landscape.
Will Forever Resorts Change Its Name?
No major branding change has been announced.
Forever Resorts has confirmed that its properties will continue operating under the Forever Resorts name, with existing resorts, hotels, lodges and guest experiences remaining part of the group’s operations.
The company says the new ownership will instead focus on continuity while creating opportunities for future growth and development.
That means travelers who have stayed at destinations such as Warmbaths, Blyde Canyon or Badplaas should continue to recognize the familiar Forever Resorts brand.
Black-Owned Resorts Across South Africa
For BlackHotelGuide.com, the acquisition is especially noteworthy because the Forever Resorts portfolio includes much more than conventional hotels.
Travelers can find everything from resort accommodations and self-catering chalets to safari experiences, nature retreats, caravan parks and camping facilities within the wider Forever portfolio.
That creates new options for travelers looking for Black-owned accommodations while exploring destinations such as Blyde River Canyon, the Panorama Route, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and South Africa’s safari regions.
BlackHotelGuide.com has already begun adding qualifying Forever properties to our directory, including Blyde Canyon, A Forever Resort, with additional properties being reviewed.
A New Chapter for Black-Owned Hospitality in South Africa
The Forever Resorts acquisition comes as Black ownership and participation continue to reshape South Africa’s tourism economy.
What makes this transaction particularly notable is its scale. Rather than the opening or acquisition of a single boutique hotel or lodge, the deal places an established national hospitality and leisure portfolio under an investment group associated with one of South Africa’s prominent Black women business leaders.
For travelers planning a trip to South Africa, it also means there are now more opportunities to intentionally include Black-owned resorts and accommodations in an itinerary.
BlackHotelGuide.com will continue reviewing the Forever Resorts portfolio and adding qualifying properties to our growing directory of Black-owned and Black-led accommodations in South Africa and around the world.
→ Explore black-owned South African Hotels & Stays on Black Hotel Guide
