Protea Hotels announced their intention to grow its Superior-Deluxe range under the African Pride Hotels and Lodges portfolio in April this year. With that, an announcement that the brand would undergo a name change to African Pride Hotels, Lodges and Country Houses, was also made. "It's on the back of the growing demand from luxury country houses and game lodge owners and operators for a more effective marketing representation, in particular in the international markets, as well as the international and domestic 5-star corporate markets, that we introduced the Country Houses sector to the African Pride portfolio," explained Danny Bryer, Group Sales and Marketing Director for Protea Hotels.

In line with this announcement, the brand continues to expand, with the announcement of an additional five star luxury product being added to its already impressive portfolio. The latest addition, africanpridehotels.com - The Fairlawns, is a 19-suite boutique hotel situated near Morningside, Johannesburg. Once a private home purchased from the Brenthurst Trust of Oppenheimer fame, this superbly large property with expansive rolling lawns includes a Spa, with a Balinese Spa Garden, incorporating hydrotherapy treatments, relaxation and dining pavilions, as well as outdoor massage areas.

The Fairlawns joins African Pride's deluxe Melrose Arch Hotel, also aimed at the individual traveller. Other properties that recently joined the luxury portfolio include the africanpridehotels.com - Andros Country House, a gracious Cape Dutch homestead dating back to the early 1900's and situated in the one of Cape Town's most beautiful suburbs; the africanpridehotels.com - Rosenhof Country House, a Victorian homestead with a history dating as far back as the 1800's and situated on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn, en route to the world famous Cango Caves; and africanpridehotels.com - Zorgvliet Vineyard Lodge & Spa, an historical estate located in the breathtakingly beautiful Banhoek Valley just outside Stellenbosch.

A further two country houses can be found in the Eastern Cape, namely africanpridehotels.com - The Sands @ St. Francisin the coastal town of St Francis Bay and africanpridehotels.com - Hacklewood Hill Country House in Port Elizabeth.

"The African Pride portfolio is now fully representative, including Private Game Lodges and Reserves, 5-star luxury hotels as well as country houses," added Danny Bryer.