March 23 2026 19:30
Gqeberha, SOUTH AFRICA
The No5 Art Hotel by Mantis or Mantis No, a restored art deco boutique hotel, is one of Gqeberha’s celebrated hotels.
“Its rare combination of architectural significance, luxury accommodation, curated art and comprehensive lifestyle amenities make it one of Gqeberha’s most distinctive and prestigious hospitality assets. Properties such as this seldom come to auction,” said High Street Auction Company director, Greg Dart.
Before it comes under the High Street hammer at an online and live at Bryanston Country Club
auction on March 26, this property has elicited interest from people in Canada, with potential investors from Ghana currently reviewing the opportunity from their offices in Accra, Dart explained.
“With a highly desirable asset such as this, there is no better place than an auction floor to get people
to compete and to extract the best value. You start seeing real price discovery,” said Dart.
As part of the Mantis Collection, recognised as Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand in 2024 by World Travel Awards and a Traveller Review Award Winner 2026 and 50% owned by AccorHotels, France’s and Europe’s biggest hotel operator, Mantis 5 offers considerable business prospects.
Mantis properties extend as far as the Zambezi and Chobe in Botswana and include Mantis Hiddn in
Addo and Founders Lodge by Mantis, also situated near Gqeberha. Dart says the successful buyer can
continue to operate according to a Mantis franchise agreement which is valid until May 31 2028. Other
options include full management and a badged option.
Located in the Summerstrand less than 10 minutes away from Chief Dawid Stuurman International
Airport, the hotel comprises 10 suites (a presidential suite, three luxury suites, three business suites
and three executive suites), the Jazz-Room fine dining restaurant, a champagne lounge, salon prive
(whiskey and cigar lounge), a private dining cellar 30 feet below sea level, a piano room which is centred by a 1947 Andreas Christensen piano from Copenhagen), a sparkling swimming pool and the TITE Medi
Spa, the first South African facility opened by leading African spa operator, Camelot.
Other features include the Mountbatten private cinema, modelled on King Charles’s private cinema at Clarence House in London, an organic kitchen garden as well as landscaped gardens designed by David Glanville featuring the flora of the Eastern Cape bushveld. The multi-million-rand art collection currently adorning the walls will be sold separately.
The High Street Auction Co has brought numerous up-market properties to market. Recent examples
include the Swartberg Hotel in Prince Albert in the Karoo and the iconic Majeka House in Stellenbosch
with its 21 designer rooms, pools, restaurant, lush gardens and spa set against the magnificent Helderberg Mountains.
“These hotels cater to travellers seeking more than just a place to put down their suitcases. Established
around exclusivity and a personal touch, they enable guests looking for a unique experience to connect
with the environment and culture. Each boutique hotel’s story is embodied in its design and décor, the
very things that set them apart from conventional hotel chains,” said Dart.
According to Grand View Research, there is growing global demand for boutique hotels and serviced
apartments. In 2024, the boutique hotel market alone generated $278.1m and is forecast to grow
at a rate of 8.1% to $442.1m by 2030.
The research company said luxury boutique hotels in South Africa were performing strongly, with a
12% year-on-year increase in revenue per available room. Driven by rising international travel, intimate
high-design accommodations are outperforming larger, traditional hotels.
“For travellers, the maturing industry means more choice and more distinctive experiences. For
investors, it means the hospitality sector is gradually shifting from volume to value,” the Grand View
Research said.
“This property serves as a springboard into the different hospitality offerings in the Eastern Cape. It is
central in upmarket Summerstrand and serves as a springboard into the region. Because of the
International branding associated with it, it is a great stepping stone into the region and the different
national reserves that surround it. Every time I have visited, there have been international guests.
Mantis no 5 is a calm, relaxing zone, a little bit of home and a perfect introduction to South Africa,” High
Street sales executive, Tamzin Herbst said.
According to the Department of Tourism, South Africa’s hospitality sector saw a significant increase in international tourist arrivals between January and September 2025 with over 7,6-million tourists landing, 1,1-million up on the same period in 2024.
Eastern Cape tourism authorities said the sector, which contributes about R2.5bn to provincial GDP
quarterly, is growing on the back of boutique hotels and luxury game lodges.
After the Kruger National Park, Addo Elephant is the second most popular national park. The Eastern
Cape offers a malaria-free “Big 5” game experience, often combined with beach access. This,
underscored by television coverage, has created a network of exclusive private game reserves,
including the likes of Shamwari and Pumba with its white lions. The Eastern Cape also offers one of the
most unspoilt beach experiences.
“As the Western Cape becomes more and more saturated, people will move along the coast. Right
now, the Eastern Cape is underrated but the values you can extract from an investment are immense.
Those that are prepared to buy now are picking up amazing properties at good values. A large two-
bedroomed apartment with a sea view can be purchased for far less than a much smaller version in
Johannesburg. Smaller towns are virtually untouched although development is beginning. If you can get
ahead of that at current prices, then you are way ahead of the curve,” she said.
alistair@propertyflash.co.za
