An estate in the midst of repositioning
Brahman Hills has entrusted its general management to Anja Bosken. Born in Germany, Anja Bosken grew up in Cape Town, a city she regards as home. She arrives at what the property describes as a pivotal moment, as it continues to build its vision of a ‘Sanctuary of Serenity, Wellness and Excellence’.
The Serenity Garden, a 22-hectare landscaped space, is set to be one of the cornerstones of this new chapter. For Anja Bosken, the appointment marks a return to South Africa after ten years abroad.
From cashier to Sun International’s first female general manager
Anja Bosken began her career in 1984 as a cashier at a five-star hotel, before rising through the ranks with the support of mentors to whom she attributes much of her success. According to Brahman Hills, in 1997 she became Sun International’s first female general manager, at the helm of the Sun City Main Hotel.
The Sun City complex remains one of the flagship assets of the South African group, which recently appointed Rudi Williams as hotel manager of the Palace of the Lost City.
She went on to hold a series of general manager roles in South Africa. She led the Arabella Sheraton Western Cape Hotel & Spa in Hermanus, a five-star resort with 145 rooms and suites, a golf course and a spa, followed by the Lagoon Beach Hotel & Spa in Cape Town, a 229-key property of rooms, suites and apartments with a strong conference focus.
From 2008, she oversaw the reopening and repositioning of Mandela Rhodes Place in Cape Town on behalf of Three Cities Group, upgrading the property from three to four stars. Her work during this period earned her the General Manager of the Year title from Three Cities. From 2011 to 2015, she then ran Grande Roche, a luxury boutique hotel and wine estate in Paarl, in the Cape Winelands.
A decade between Zanzibar and the United Kingdom
In 2016, Anja Bosken became General Manager of The Residence Zanzibar, a 66-villa resort set on 23 hectares within the Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts portfolio. She subsequently joined Providence Hospitality in the United Kingdom as Operations Manager UK North, responsible for the operational and financial performance of a fast-growing hotel portfolio.
Returning to Zanzibar in 2022, she took charge of Zuri Zanzibar, a self-sufficient resort with its own infrastructure, acquired in 2026 by New Mauritius Hotels, parent company of Beachcomber.
She then focused on the completion, opening and market launch of Ycona Luxury Resort, a five-star property of 40 villas with four restaurants and a spa. In 2025, the resort was named Zanzibar’s Leading Villa Resort by the World Travel Awards.
Her roadmap at Brahman Hills centres on raising service standards, refining the estate’s visual identity and atmosphere, and growing midweek business. She sees the latter as a priority lever, alongside developing international markets and opening up the Midlands to a broader overseas clientele.
Analysis – Her return comes as upscale hospitality in southern Africa is attracting interest from international operators, as illustrated by Banyan Group taking a majority stake in Newmark Hotels & Reserves. For a regional estate such as Brahman Hills, winning over international guests and smoothing demand across the week are two structural drivers of performance.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Anja Bosken appointed General Manager of Brahman Hills
Location: KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa
Background: 40+ years in hospitality, starting as a cashier in 1984
Track record: Sun International, Sheraton, Three Cities, The Residence Zanzibar, Zuri Zanzibar, Ycona
Strategic context: Brahman Hills repositioning around wellness, anchored by a 22-hectare Serenity Garden
Priorities: service standards, midweek business, international source markets
