Grootbos

Not many private lodges around the world can boast landing a spot on National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World list, but Grootbos Private Nature Reserve can.

The prestigious list looks at top-notch accommodation locations around the world that offer guests unique and exciting experiences. Grootbos delivers this and more in abundance, and with class.

The five-star reserve is situated in one of the most biologically diverse regions of South Africa. It’s a gem worth exploring.

In 2014, Grootbos won the Andrew Harper travel publication’s Grand Award for Hideaway of the Year and, in 2013, it won third place for the Good Safari Guide’s Best Ecological Safari Property in Africa. In 2019, Grootbos was named as the overall winner of the 2019 African Responsible Tourism Award at the World Travel Market Africa held in Cape Town.

Its growing list of accolades is long and well deserved – see more achievements here.

The reserve stands out because of its fantastic accommodation, meals, experiences and its immersion in the wild. The Grootbos Foundation is dedicated to uplifting surrounding communities through its conservation of endangered fynbos.

The reserve has three accommodation options for visitors: the garden lodge, the forest lodge and private villas. All visitors to the reserve stay in five-star freestanding suites and can enjoy breakfast buffets, five-course dinners, three-course lunches, nature, marine and coastal drives or walks, and horse riding and mountain biking.

Grootbos is surrounded by a distinct landscape of mountain, fynbos and ocean. This location allows visitors to observe and appreciate the biodiversity of the region and relax in its grandeur.

Wake up to the sounds of calming waves, meander through fynbos-blanketed hills, or explore the Klipgat Caves and evidence of the lives of our ancestors. Dive with sharks through an organised tour, or look out for southern right whales, Cape fur seals and dolphins on the Marine Safari. Or simply use your time to unwind at the reserve’s spa.

Whatever strikes your fancy at Grootbos, you’ll leave relaxed and enriched.