Get back to nature at South Africa’s most remarkable ecolodge
Everyone knows South Africa ticks all the safari boxes. Epic game drives. Waterhole sundowners. Vast, untouched landscapes. But Grootbos Private Nature Reserve offers you something way beyond the usual. This incredible reserve, set over 3500 acres in Walker Bay in the Western Cape, has been an ecotourism pioneer since it started as a simple B&B back in 1991. Today, it’s a byword for understated luxury, with gorgeous suites opening out onto fynbos scrubland and millennia-old milkwood forest. More than that, it is also a place that puts local people and businesses first and showcases the best ways to help endangered species thrive. Quite simply, this is somewhere you’re guaranteed to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The location and wildlife
Found where Walker Bay tumbles into the Atlantic Ocean, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve’s location on South Africa’s Western Cape makes it one of the continent’s most wildlife-abundant places. The reserve is home to a colossal 907 plant species, 118 different kinds of birds and 29 mammals, not to mention the fact you can spend hours marvelling at southern right whales breaching the waves on a whale-watching trip. On dry land, keep an eye out for porcupines, baboons and honey badgers, as black harriers soar above.
The experiences
Saddle up for a day spent trotting along paths around the reserve and you’ll get a chance to see this corner of Africa from a sedate perspective. Alternatively, head out with a nature guide and get to grips with the wildlife on show, from sunbirds sipping on flowers to porcupines scurrying through the scrub. Take to the water for a marine safari to catch sight of Cape Fur Seals, penguins, sharks and dolphins, or choose a dedicated whale-watching adventure, either by boat or by plane. If you’re into cycling, there’s also the chance to ride fat bikes over sand dunes, the wide tyres helping you skim over the terrain as you pedal towards the coast.
The accommodation
Unquestionably one of the best places to stay in South Africa, Grootbos’s lodges are designed to blend in with the natural surroundings that make this place so special. The reserve has three areas of accommodation: Forest Lodge, Garden Lodge and high-end private luxury villas. The Garden Lodge features 11 suites and the chance to slide into the heated pool and take in the views of the grasslands as the sun goes down (and the sky lights up). Alternatively, stroll through milkwood forests to Forest Lodge, home to 16 suites looking out over the fynbos towards the ocean. For something extra special, check into one of two private villas, replete with butler, chef and driver. Whichever you choose, the panoramic views will be astounding.
The food and wine
Every meal at Grootbos is included, meaning you’ll get to feast on the freshest produce imaginable, grown at the reserve’s farm. Vegetables and herbs are produced on-site, with seafood straight from the ocean and water straight from the reserve’s sandstone aquifer. Your meals will be as sustainable and organic as they get. For wine lovers, the huge cellar is a treasure trove of South African wines, especially those made in the surrounding area, some of the most fertile wine-growing land in the entire country. Local, highly trained sommeliers will help match a glass to your dish, ensuring you have an incredible culinary experience.
Awards
The Grootbos Private Nature Reserve took home the Global Responsible Tourism Award this year for employing and upskilling its local community, with judges calling the ecolodge ‘exemplary’ for its work. Through its Grootbos Foundation, set up in 2003, it has spent years upskilling and training staff from the local community, promoting local producers, plus free skills and business training for people from the area. The World Travel and Tourism Council has also recognised the reserve’s work for poverty reduction. Grootbos has also won a separate Global Responsible Tourism Award for conservation of endangered species!
Your handcrafted journey starts here
We can help you craft your dream South Africa holiday, with Grootbos Private Nature Reserve at its heart. Blend a trip to the reserve and the chance to explore its rich marine life and vast 3500 hectares with time spent in cosmopolitan Cape Town. You could soar up Table Mountain, explore the waterfront, embrace the foodie scene and discover the region’s world-class vineyards. If you want to combine adventure, relaxation and food, your Travel Counsellor can create a holiday designed just for you.
Contact your Travel Counsellor today to get things started.
