Grootbos Garden Lodge

CEDARBERG RATING

Luxury

PRICING FROM

$ 678 (Pps)

Overview

Grootbos Garden Lodge offers spectacular views of the Indian Ocean
Range of nature activities on offer
Luxurious accommodation with choice of suites
Grootbos is very child-friendly
Eco-friendly lodge

Grootbos Private Reserve, located amidst the spectacular fynbos and ancient dunes of the Whale Coast, is a multi-award winning gem. Overlooking Walker Bay, between Hermanus and Gansbaai, it's a nature-lovers paradise. All but the most committed urbanite will enjoy the inclusive activities: guided fynbos 4x4 drives, milkwood forest walks, horse riding, beach picnics and guided land-based whale-watching as well as the optional activities of boat-based whale watching and shark cage diving. A dedicated team including marine biologists and conservationists help you to appreciate what makes this area so special.

Other excursions (at extra cost) include guided wine tours around the excellent Hermanus wine estates, aerial flights over the Ocean and visits to their community garden project to see sustainable tourism in action.

Grootbos Private Reserve consists of two lodges, the more family-orientated Grootbos Garden Lodge with one and two bedroom suites and the slightly more contemporary Forest Lodge. However both lodges are identical in standard and you may be moved from one lodge to the other.

Accommodation

Grootbos Garden Lodge is a thatched stone homestead perched on the hillside surrounded by a lush indigenous fynbos garden. Fashioned from stone and thatch, Garden Lodge reflects African warmth and hospitality. Outside is a terrace with an expansive swimming pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The 11 free-standing suites enjoy sweeping views over the fynbos-clad mountains. There's a choice of two bedroom and one bedroom luxury suites. The stylish restaurant has a central fireplace and bar. High beamed ceilings and endless windows enhance the incredible sensation of light and freedom. Additional facilities at Garden Lodge include a spacious lounge, small spa, Internet access and an entertainment room for kids. There's also a telescope for in-house whale-watching.

Each of the luxury suites features romantic canopy beds, separate lounge with cosy fireplace, full bathroom, private wooden decks with panoramic sea or mountain views, filter coffee machines, minibar and underfloor heating. The Classic suites are slightly smaller with a sitting area rather than a separate lounge and a shower room.

Families at Grootbos

Grootbos is very family-friendly. Families can either take a one bedroom suite with a sleeper couch in the sitting room which converts into two separate camp beds. These are ideal for younger children of under 10 years. Or they can take one of the two bedroom suites which can accommodate up to 3 children. This option is better for families with older children. Stables and horse-riding opportunities, a play area where rabbits, ducks and birds breed, as well as an ecological interpretation and research centre, provide children with an unforgettable educational experience.

Sonja Brand

Africa Travel Specialist

Our experienced band of Safari Planners can create a bespoke plan for you. More enriching, more restorative and making more of a difference. Discover how working with a specialist adds value to your African adventure.

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Grootbos Garden Lodge gallery

Grootbos Garden Lodge on the map

Rooms

One-Bedroom Luxury Suite

Suite features a spacious bedroom with en-suite bathroom, separate lounge with tea & coffee making facilities, minibar, cosy fireplace, DVD player for in-room entertainment. The spacious suites open out onto a private outside deck overlooking the Walker Bay. As with all One-Bedroom Luxury Suites at Garden Lodge, facilities such as a separate bath, shower and toilet, satellite TV and secure room safes are standard.

Two-Bedroom Family Suite

2 Bedroom Family Suites epitomise luxurious home-from-home comforts and are ideal for families or friends travelling together. These spacious suites feature two private en-suite bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms (one with shower and one with bath), separate lounge and dining area with tea & coffee making facilities, minibar, cosy fireplace as well as a DVD player. The spacious suites open out onto a private outside deck overlooking the Walker Bay. As with all Two-Bedroom Family Suites, facilities such as satellite TV, secure room safes are standard.

Lovely setting

"Grootbos – lovely setting with wonderful staff. Did feel a bit like man v food at times – there’s too much to eat! Good range of activities."

Impressive service

"We had 2 adjoining rooms, one with a King bed, the other room with 3 twins (for our 3 kids) with personalized welcome notes for us. While we were at dinner housekeeping would start a fire in the fireplace, turn on the heaters, and place a hot water bottle in everyone’s bed! All the meals were included and were fantastic including 5 course dinners. What made Grootbos so impressive though was the service – we didn’t realize we would have a guide assigned to us the whole time! When we arrived a in the late afternoon he met with us and talked about what activities we could consider. We didn’t have enough time to do everything so the guide helped us pick activities that would work. When one of the things we wanted to do didn’t work out due to the weather, he substituted a flower safari drive which was fascinating! They have a foundation dedicated to helping the local community which is so impressive, they even offer a tour of some of their foundation activities that would have been great to do if we had more time."

Includes

Accommodation in free standing suites, welcome drink, fresh fruit daily in suite, breakfast buffet with English breakfast menu, light lunch either on arrival or departure day, 5-course dinner, horse riding for non- and experienced riders through the reserve (children under 12 are only allowed on guided pony rides), guided walks including fynbos nature tours and Milkwood walks, nature, marine and coastal drives and walks including seasonal land-based whale watching (whale watching especially during June - December), bird-watching, various maps of the reserve and the area for self-guided walks and transfers to/from all activities, tourism levy

Excludes

All drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), laundry, minibars, spa treatments, whale watching boat trips, boat trips to Dyer Island, Shark Cage Diving, beach horse riding, scenic flights, quad biking, kayaking, wine tours and items of personal nature (telephone calls, items purchased from Grootbos curio shop)

Family Suitability

Family-friendly all ages

Good For

Adventure, Beach, Birding, Fishing, Flora, Golf, Gourmet, Hiking, History & Culture, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine

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