The hotel, affectionately called “The Nellie, opened in 1899 and maintains its bygone British charm from every angle of a picturesque property that is punctuated with even more pink thanks to lush bougainvillea and hibiscus, candy-striped umbrellas and the dapper ties worn by staff. Yet if nostalgia is embraced with traditions like afternoon tea or the antique models of ocean liners with names like Windsor Castle displayed in the hallways, Magagu’s spaces recognize the cultural depth of Mount Nelson’s surroundings, and how introducing a rich range of personal narratives through design and art carries far greater meaning than the typical hospitality glow-up (although a gleaming new restaurant, Amura, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Ángel Leon checks that box). While he describes Belmond’s first-ever designer residence as “merging English grandeur with African sensuality,” he has also considered how this opportunity allows him to showcase fellow creatives whose work taps into similar explorations of ancestral and contemporary aesthetics.
“Even if you never step foot outside the suite, I think it gives you such an incredible summary of where we have been, who we are currently, and a small projection of where we are going,” he told me.
On Saturday, we took a walkthrough ahead of a lively afternoon garden party that drew family, friends, and fans—many turning up in full Magugu ensembles.
“I think this moment matters because it signals a belief in African authorship and not just proximity to that said authorship,” Magugu said to guests at the event. Between his wide, warm smile and the gold medallions emblazoned with his logo at the tip of each braid, he was projecting a gracious princely vibe.
When discussions around the project began around two years ago, what stood out from the get-go was “not just the openness from the hotel, but the courage to trust the creative voice and [to] move beyond surface level collaboration to something that has not quite existed before in this context.”
The suite and Magugu House are located in adjacent white villas along the hotel’s palm-studded avenue. A quaint wrought iron gate leads to a pathway with a small fountain—installed at Magugu’s request—where white waterlilies open and close throughout the day, the water softly gurgling.
The bedroom.Photo: Courtesy of Thebe Magugu and the Belmond Hotel
The bar.Photo: Courtesy of Thebe Magugu and the Belmond Hotel