Mills Manor, an Edwardian mansion converted into a private villa, opened on Lalibela, South Africa in early December 2017.

The property has five double or twin bedrooms and can accommodate up to 10 guests. All rooms are air-conditioned and have wide stack doors opening on to verandas or indigenous gardens.

Mills Manor comes with a private game ranger and vehicle, chef and housekeeper and rates are fully inclusive of all meals and drinks. Facilities in the villa include a welcoming bar, spacious lounge and dining room. Outside there is a swimming pool and sun deck, a large fire pit and barbecue area where alfresco dinners can be served.

The villa is set on a hill overlooking a waterhole, which means that game viewing continues even after game drives. The Big Five and other game species are free-roaming throughout Lalibela and the waterhole at Mills Manor attracts regular visits from thirsty animals. 

The 100-year-old villa is an historic farmhouse, with gables, high ceilings, large rooms and wide wrap-around veranda typical of the Edwardian farmhouses of the region.

Of the opening, Rob Gradwell, GM at Lalibela said: “The list of capital projects undertaken on Lalibela by the new owners has been significant both in terms of the enhanced Lalibela offering and also in terms of the positive impact on the local community. Both temporary and permanent jobs have been created, rural folk have been trained and up-skilled and the positive economic impact is evident in our surrounding communities. Our absolute commitment to conservation and rural upliftment are our two primary focus areas and the positive consequences of this is the positive economic impact in our surrounding community.”