R43 Between Stanford and Gansbaai, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve 7220, South Africa
Amenities:
Business Center, Free Breakfast, Free High-Speed Internet, Free Parking, Restaurant, Room Service, Suites, Swimming Pool
R43 Between Stanford and Gansbaai, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve 7220, South Africa
Expert Review
If you think both sea and forest are unattainable in one setting, think again. Located on 2500 hectares, spanning 750...
If you think both sea and forest are unattainable in one setting, think again. Located on 2500 hectares, spanning 750 species of indigenous Cape Floral Kingdom, Grootbos (meaning ‘Big Forest’) private nature reserve offers visitors a marine and floral eco-paradise.
Accommodation at the reserve consists of 27 large suites in the Garden or Forest lodge – each suite includes a balcony with views over Walker Bay, a sea-facing bedroom, spacious bathroom, and a lounge with a fireplace that is lit every evening in winter. The Villa offers private accommodation with a pool, for up to 12, and I can picture a party of friends living it up in style over a long weekend. The villa comes with its own private guide, butler, and chef.
Guests at Grootbos are kept busy with a range of package-inclusive activities, or they can opt to stay indoors watching DVDs, and enjoying traditional and modern treatments at the Bloom spa. The daily activities include a forest walk, horseback riding, 4×4 flower and bird safaris, beach walks and picnics, a whale and cave wall by De Kelders coastline, and various social responsibility tours. You can also splurge on a scenic private flight with possibly the best view over Grootbos.
The reserve prides itself in their conservation efforts and social upliftment programs. One part of the forest restoration project is evident the minute you enter your room – a small Milkwood tree (the reserve is surrounded by ancient Milkwoods) is waiting for you to adopt so you can plant it in the forest in your name.
The Green Futures initiative provides opportunities for unemployed youth from the neighboring Masakhane Township through a yearlong training program. Growing for the Future trains eight women each year in the lost art of subsistence farming for profit, beekeeping, and animal husbandry.
You can taste the produce grown at the Grootbos garden at each meal – beautiful, organic produce and a fresh, modern menu make for a complete stay. For dinner you can pick and choose off a prix fixe menu or be treated to an eight-course rotating menu. Local wines get prime billing, so you can also sample the regional terroir.