Less than two hours from Cape Town, you find the Grootbos Nature Reserve – a 5 star eco paradise with a staggering view of Walker Bay. This is one of our absolute favorites, an incomparable experience. Here you can choose between ocean safari, flower safari and lots of other activities. Hike, horseback ride or drive through the Grootbos nature reserve in a 4×4 which will give you an insight into the unrivalled flora and fauna found here. Whether you are interested in birdwatching, gardening, wildflowers, whale watching, diving with the big whites or just enjoying the vast beaches, this is the place.
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Ecorating: 4.0
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
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This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
Sample Itinerary
Do a guided tour together with one of the experts and explore the tidal pools and the waves while listening to stories and mysteries from the early inhabitants and famous wreck along the coast.
This is a journey back to when people from the stone age together with the Khoi Bushman called these caves home.
Take in the beauty of limestone cliffs on the white sandy beaches, characterised by swelling waves and the salty sea breeze.
Here you can have the chance to see 40-tonne whales, calves and bulls just a few meters from your boat or 30 meters from land.
Grootbos is ideally placed and equipped to offer guests undoubtedly the best rolling mill in the world. Every year from June to December, hundreds of Southern Right Whales Walker Bay select as their home for the mating season.
With over 765 flowers, of which 6 were discovered at Grootbos and over 2,500 hectares of unspoilt wilderness, 4×4 Flower Safari is the perfect way to discover the extent and splendor of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.
Life is a beach.
Sundowners say no more.
Grootbos has its own well-kept stable with 18 healthy, relaxed and well-behaved horses. Experienced guides guide the ladders and cater for all levels of riding talent, from complete beginners to expert presses. Ponies are also available for children.
Nestled in the ancient Milkwood forest surrounded by fynbos and mountains, you are embraced by comfort and luxury. Choose from staying at Garden Lodge, a family-friendly or Forest Lodge for those traveling without children.
True to its name, it is a warm welcome Garden Lodge, set amongst an Eden of beautifully landscaped fynbos gardens and native trees. Sculpted in stone, straw and wood, the Garden Lodge reflects African warmth with an intercontinental twist, a perfect blend in the surrounding landscape.
Views from Garden lodge suite.
The Forest Lodge is a masterpiece in sophisticated modern design and reflects the breathtaking natural beauty of the surrounding countryside.
The suites are indescribable, you do not want to leave the room. Some even have their own plunge pool.
Choose between eating inside or out in a lovely romantic setting.
Experience a fantastic, tasty modern kitchen with organic vegetables, herbs, eggs and honey from the reserve. The wines are of course native and give you a perfect taste sensation. This in an environment surrounded by exquisite natural beauty. Take in the magnificent panoramic view of Walker Bay and the mountainous plan of untouched fynbos while the friendly staff tends to all your culinary desires. And the best, everything is included!
Trip details
Ecorating: 4.0
Airport: Cape Town International / Port Elisabeth
Length: 3-5 nights but you can add more.
Includes: Full board and program activities.
The travel price does not include: Insurance, drinks, wine and drinks or activities in addition to those described in the program.
Good to know about South Africa:
Travel ethics: No special.
Visa: Your passport must be valid 6 months after leaving South Africa and have two blank pages for entry and exit stamps. If you are traveling with children, new laws apply from 1 June 2015. Children traveling with parents must have valid passports and birth certificates with parents’ names in English. This can be ordered by the tax office. Please read rules from Cape Town Tourism for more information. Some nationalities may need visa, please check with the South African Embassy in your country.
Time zone: GMT + 2
Vaccinations: Learn more about what vaccinations you need:
Packing: Sunglasses, sun hat, sun cream, good walking shoes.
Local Currency: South African Rand.
Weather: Cape Town
Mobile network and email: Email and internet access are available.
Water: Buy bottled water, make sure the bottles end up in waste sorting.
More information at: Travel Advice
Ecorating: 4.0
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
Does my trip make a difference?
Read more
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
From its very inception, The Grootbos Private Nature Reserve based in the Overberg was always going to be more than a luxury travel destination.
Grootbos foundation is an organisation dedicated to empower others through ecotourism, enterprise development, sports development and education.
All of the projects are replicable and scalable, with many generating their own income or becoming partially self-sustaining. From beekeeping to animal husbandry, recycling candles to coaching soccer, computer training to clearing alien vegetation, each programme has been carefully considered to build a brighter future for the people who live here, as well as the environment.
Grootbo’s nature reserve is located on Agulhas Plain in the heart of the Cape Fynbos lowlands, a region of unprecedented biodiversity, an area under great negative influence from humans. At Grootbos, it is believed that ways must be found to deliver better economic returns from this natural fynbos and marine landscape rather than from cultivated and developed landscapes. Natural resources must also be made more accessible to the poor so that all people can be educated about their unique heritage and its value.
Some of Grootbo’s projects:
Green Future is one of Grootbo’s project. This project has helped unemployed locals to become educated gardeners. The reason for choosing to invest in this project is partly to educate more people to take care of endangered species in the fynbos environment. They have a training center at Grootbo’s where students and teachers are being educated. The gardeners not only help to preserve nature and plants, they also sell plants to customers who in turn plant these endangered species in their gardens, the money goes directly back to Green Future, which re-invests their profit in educating more people and later hire them as workers.
After the success of “Green Future”, “Growing the Future” was founded, a project that deals with food production. Since many people in South Africa have moved from the countryside and into the cities in hope of finding work, one also sees that the knowledge of farming is disappearing increasingly. This project is about teaching people how to use and grow products on a small area that can yield returns. Every year 8 women are being trained how to farm in a profitable way. For example, how they could make strawberry jam from strawberries to get at bigger economical return in the long run.
Spaces for Sport is a project that creates opportunities for young people to participate in sport activities. Spaces for Sport provide access to professional coaching. Their vision is to improve social inclusion and community development. Sport is a wonderful easy way to break down social barriers and bring people together on equal terms. For the youth field, it also provides a healthy focus and inspires pride and determination to succeed.
The project is also supported by the Football Association of South Africa. Tiger Turf United Kingdom provides with a FIFA standard artificial turf, which is the first of its kind in southern Africa. It is thanks to this type of organizations that they are able to launch such community sports programs to build a positive future for South Africa.
Shamwari private game reserve:
Shamwari lodges have recently become part of the Green Leaves reviewed by the Wilderness Foundation, South Africa. Criteria for accreditation include aspects such as water, waste management, electricity saving measures, recycling and education / training programs.
Shamwari, together with Metropolitan University, has been involved in two research projects regarding renewable energy specifically for lodges with a particular focus on solar energy.
Conservation has always been a priority for Shamwari Game Reserve. In many respects, Shamwari has been a pioneer in the Eastern Cape and has given ecotourism a resurgence to ensure responsible game care was created in Shamwari Wildlife Department in 1996. Today, this department has evolved into a comprehensive and recognized entity that manages the unique ecosystems of Shamwari, rich in biological diversity.
The Wildlife Department consists of two veterinarians, two ecologists, an environmental activist and a number of qualified conservationists. The main focus is to secure a sustainable environment for all animals and plants seen from a long term perspective, as well as the ecological integrity of biodiversity and maintaining quality. Their effort has given them a number of international awards.
Shamwari run many projects and one of them is a “Born free animal foundation animal rescue and education center” and the Born Free Foundation, UK, with the aim of providing long-term care for rescued African cats who have been exposed to horrible conditions internationally and to be an educational resource for visitors, school children and students.
There are currently two Born Free Centers at Shamwari Game Reserve, the Julie Ward Center in the South and the Jean Byrd Center in the North of South Africa. Their main focus is to educate students from previously disadvantaged communities on environmental studies. Currently, more than 700 children has been trained per month.
