South Africa Stays Of Distinction

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is situated half an hour outside of Hermanus, on the Fynbos and forest clad hills, overlooking the whale watching haven of Walker bay and Gansbaai. The two hour drive from Cape Town provides for an spectacular scenic route along the Cape Whale Coast. With its 5-star luxury accommodation, scenic beauty, unique flowers and abundant marine life, Grootbos truly provides everything the Garden Route and Western Cape have to offer. The luxury designed lodges and exclusive Villa offer breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, breaching whales and ancient forests, with activities to satisfy even the most ardent nature lover. Come too Grootbos and feel momentarily humbled by what has been described as one of the most idyllic locations on Earth, a pristine piece of wilderness hidden away at the Southern Tip of Africa.

In 1991, Capetonian Michael Lutzeyer discovered Grootbos farm in Gansbaai, at the entrance to South Africa's spectacular Garden Route. Seduced by the astonishingly beautiful indigenous flora of the region and the sweeping views of Walker Bay, he purchased the property and its dilapidated buildings and, with his family, adopted this little corner of paradise as his own.

The Lutzeyer family have been working energetically over the years on many conservation projects – large-scale clearing of alien plants, restoration of indigenous flora and fauna, environmental education of local communities, to name a few. They haven’t done it alone. They’ve employed a team of botanists, ornithologists, environmental scientists and marine biologists.

Today, the two fully-catered five-star lodges and luxury villa at Grootbos attest to Lutzeyer's desire to honour the biodiversity of this unique part of the world and offer visitors the chance to reconnect with self and soul in an environment of pristine natural beauty.

Offering a wide range of activities, from floral safaris to horse riding and boat-based whale watching, Grootbos is now a premier eco reserve of world-class standards, and a paradise for travellers of all ages.

Grootbos has two 5 star luxury lodges and an exclusive villa, and provides an ideal retreat for travelers looking for luxury accommodation in the Hermanus and Gansbaai area, or alternatively an ideal stopover for the start, or end, of a Garden Route tour. The Grootbos experience provides for luxury accommodation, and exciting activities with specialized guides, that will ensure you leave with truly unforgettable memories of South Africa.

Forest Lodge
The individual luxury suites beneath the overhang of Milkwood trees provide the ideal blend of privacy and supreme comfort. Each is furnished with rich textures, romantic canopy beds with the finest linen and down quilts, spacious tiled sunny bathrooms, separate lounges with cosy fireplaces, mini bars and tea & coffee making facilities.

From your private deck you can soak up exquisite ocean and mountain views and watch the sun disappear from a flaming sky into the Atlantic Ocean. Each suite has a lounge with fireplace, bedroom(s), en suite bathroom with double washbasins, double showers and/or baths, heated towel rails & hair dryers, wooden deck, tea & coffee station, safe for valuables & well-stocked mini-bar, as well as DSTV and telephone. The lodge offers laundry service, fax, e-mail and postal service

Garden Lodge
This is the original Grootbos Lodge and is surrounded by three hectares of indigenous fynbos and forest garden. Accommodation is in 11 luxurious, freestanding suites in a spectacular nature setting. Totally refurbished in a manner that reflects stylish and contemporary inspirations, its charming private suites feature romantic canopy beds, spacious en-suite bathrooms, separate lounges with cosy fireplaces, mini bar, tea & coffee making facilities as well as wooden decks with simply breathtaking views
Facilities include:

• 6x One-Bedroom Luxury suites, 3x One-Bedroom Classic Suites, 2x Two-Bedroom Luxury Suites
• Restaurant with terrace, Bar, Lounge, Swimming pool, Beauty salon, Stables, Children play area, Library, Ecological interpretation and research centre. Internet access, as well as an entertainment room, is also available onsite.
• The lodge offers laundry service, centralized telephone, fax, e-mail and postal service. Garden Lodge is family friendly and does accommodate children.

Grootbos offers a wide variety of experiences for guests to enjoy during their stay. Our specialist guides lead 4x4 drives and walks through the fynbos and forests of the reserve, trips to the nearby coast to view the Southern Right Whales from land, walks along deserted beaches, visits to archaeological and cultural sites, boat-based whale watching trips, as well as boat tours to a nearby seal island to view penguins, seals, dolphins and great white sharks.

3 day Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive Cape Town.
On arrival at Cape Town's International airport you will be met and transferred in a private vehicle to the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. (LD)

Day 2. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.
This area hotel has so much to offer as far as activities, included in the cost is horse riding, 4x4 drives, walks, visit to the nearby coast for cave excursions, beach and coastal whale watching. (BLD)

Day 3. Depart to Cape Town.
Today you will be transferred back to Cape Town or airport for your onward journey. (BL)

DEPARTURES:

Daily.

PRICES:

Please request prices for the time you wish to travel.

Grootbos Special

Stay 3 Nights at Grootbos and receive the following value adds:

• Transfers from Cape Town to Grootbos with a stop in Stony Point to experience the African penguins
• Visit to the Township and Social Responsibility Tour
• Complimentary Wine Tour (including wine tasting at two wine estates, visit to Elim as well as Cape Agulhas)
• Complimentary White Sharking Experience including transfers from Grootbos to the harbor and back

Stay 2 Nights at Grootbos and receive the following value adds:

• Transfers from Cape Town to Grootbos with a stop in Stony Point to experience the African penguins
• Visit to the Township and Social Responsibility Tour
• Complimentary White Sharking Experience including transfers from Grootbos to the harbor and back

The above packages including the following services:

• Accommodation in a One Bedroom Luxury Suite at Garden Lodge or Forest Lodge only
• Welcome drink on arrival and fresh fruit daily in suite
• Light lunch, 6-course dinner, breakfast buffet with full English breakfast menu
• Horse riding for non and experienced riders
• Guided Walks including fynbos nature tours and milkwood walks
• Nature, marine and coastal drives and walks including the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, De Kelders cliff walk, Klipgat Cave combined with seasonal land-based whale watching (whale watching especially during June – Dec)
• Bird watching – experience a great variety of bird species on the reserve
• Various maps of the reserve and the area for self-guided walks
• Transfers to/from all activities

Terms and Conditions

• The above packages are NOT valid in the One Bedroom Classic Suite at Garden Lodge
• Packages are only valid for all NEW bookings for travel dates between 01 May 13 – 30 Apr 14 (excluding peak season – 15 Dec 13 – 15 Jan 14, as well as one week before and after Easter)