Highlights

• Eleven freestanding suites set within an ancient milkwood forest
• Two-bedroom family suites built for multi-generational travel
• Spa with three treatment rooms, a sauna, and a qualified wellness team
• Heated pool with panoramic views across the fynbos and the Atlantic coastline
• Dedicated kids' playroom, outdoor courtyard, jungle gym, and tailored children's programmes
• Carbon-negative lodge rebuilt in 2022 using recycled materials and clean energy

You Should Know

• Child Policy: children of all ages are welcome, and the lodge is purpose-built for families with a supervised kids' programme and family suites

The Details

The Lodge

Grootbos Garden Lodge sits on a private nature reserve above Walker Bay, a two-hour drive east of Cape Town near the fishing town of Gansbaai. The reserve protects a stretch of the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of the richest plant regions on earth, and runs down to a coastline known for whales, white sharks, and the meeting of two oceans at Cape Agulhas.

The lodge was rebuilt from the ground up and reopened in April 2022. Ceiling beams echo the branching shapes of the surrounding milkwood trees, and floor-to-ceiling windows pull the fynbos and sea views into every room. Materials from the original building were re-used in the rebuild, and the lodge runs on solar power with its own water and waste systems, keeping its carbon footprint on the right side of neutral.

Rooms

Eleven freestanding suites are scattered through the indigenous garden, each one private and quiet under the canopy of old milkwoods. Interiors are generous and comfortable rather than showy, with large windows framing the fynbos. Two-bedroom family suites give parents and children their own space while keeping everyone under one roof, which is why the lodge works so well for multi-generational trips.

Dining

Meals are served in the main restaurant, where the kitchen leans on produce from the reserve's gardens and the surrounding Overberg farms. For something different, guests can book a private dinner in the wine cellar, a small intimate space built for tasting menus and local vintages, or eat outdoors in the boma under the stars.

Activities

Experiences at Grootbos run across land and sea. Botanical 4x4 tours explore the fynbos with specialist guides, and walks and hikes trace the reserve's trails. On the coast there is whale watching in season, marine safaris, shark cage diving at nearby Gansbaai, horse riding on the beach, and day trips down to the southern tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas. Fat-bike tours and birdwatching round out the options.

The spa has three treatment rooms and a sauna, with large windows framing the garden during treatments. For families, the kids' programme runs from a dedicated indoor playroom with a milkwood-branch ceiling canopy, an outdoor courtyard, and a jungle gym, with structured activities that free parents up to enjoy the reserve.

Price Includes

• Accommodation in a luxury freestanding suite
• All meals
• Selected beverages
• Daily nature-based activities including botanical 4x4 tours, walks, and hikes
• Access to the spa relaxation areas, swimming pool, and kids' playroom
• Supervised children's programme