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Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is an award-winning eco-reserve offering an unrivalled experience embedded in the beautiful sweeping floral kingdom wilderness.
Grootbos (meaning ‘big forest’ in Afrikaans) Nature Reserve sits on the vibrant, fynbos-clad hills overlooking Walker Bay in South Africa’s Western Cape. Thanks to the work of the pioneering owners, this is one of the richest concentrations of flora in the world. The 6,170-acre reserve is home to 817 plant species and is one of the few places in the world where it’s possible to see the ‘Marine Big Five’. And the not-for-profit Grootbos Foundation ensures that the local community benefits from tourism as much as visitors do.
Sweeping views to the coast from all suites in 2 lodges and 2 private villas.
See the Marine Big Five — dolphins, sharks, whales, penguins & seals.
817 plant species thrive, over 100 endangered, thanks to conservation
The reserve is instrumental in community uplift helping high local employment
Unrivalled luxury experience for families and couples alike.
An unforgettable adventure immersed between mountains, forest and sea.
Progressive. Natural. Inclusive. Since 1991, Michael Lutzeyer and his family have been creating a melting pot of luxury accommodation, responsible tourism and biodiversity on what was once an abandoned, scrubby farm. The Grootbos story proves the power of tourism to transform places and people.
As of 1999, Grootbos has been instrumental in establishing the 308,000-acre Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy.
From whale watching to floral safaris and the floriligeum art gallery, guided walks, beach days, and taking in the staggering poolside views, the five-star Grootbos experience is embedded in its conservation and community mission.
Villas and suites are carefully laid out to meet the needs of couples and families.
A Conservation Levy of conservation levy (~R 350.00 per adult per night) is applied.
Two private villas have their own pools, vehicles, chefs and guides.
In addition 26 rooms and suites are spread out across the homey Garden Lodge and the slick Forest Lodge.
Each freestanding suite has sweeping ocean views, a lounge and a wooden deck. Interiors are as sustainably-minded as they are luxurious; huge windows and natural fabrics invite the outside in.
Garden Lodge underwent a full rebuild in 2022.
At Garden Lodge and Forest Lodge, there are two pools, two organic gardens and two spas, plus two of the Forest Lodge freestanding units have pools.
Treatments are on offer in the units or at the villas, so no one is on top of each other.
Families are expertly catered for with a kids club, extensive activities and a creche, while couples can enjoy utmost peace and seclusion.
Each guest at Grootbos is allocated a dedicated guide, who receives them on arrival and helps curate and guide your itinerary.
The thoughtful ethos extends to the culinary experience, which revolves around the freshest, organic ingredients. Whether picnicking on the beach or indulging in a 6-course dinner in the Garden Restaurant, food is an integral part of the Grootbos experience.
Locally-sourced goods are a priority, too, from Grootbos honey to hand-reared pigs and fynbos-infused gin. Guests can even tour surrounding vineyards before settling down to sommelier pairings.
The sommelier team are always on site to help. Visit the wine maturation cellar and join guided excursions to other local surrounding wine cellars too.
Grootbos is full board including a 6-course dinner, buffet breakfast, light lunch, snacks and all soft and hot drinks. Alcoholic beverages are an additional cost.
Many of the activities available at Grootbos are unique.There’s nowhere else in the world you can enjoy a fynbos safari, see the Marine Big Five, Fatbike across sand dunes, collect honey and go horse-riding under one nature reserve.
Included in your stay: • 4×4 botanical and bird-watching safari. • Horse-riding through the fynbos or on the beach. • Guided hikes through the Cape Floral Kingdom. • Living the Future Tour to meet the thriving local community. • Coastal walks to historical caves and deserted beaches.
Additional activities: • Whale Watching with the Cape’s most responsible marine tour company. • A river cruise down the Klein River to Hermanus Estuary. • Fatbike tours across Walker Bay’s sand dunes. • Scenic flights.
Earth Changers +Plus: Book through us to receive a free unique Entomology experience! Head out into the fynbos with a specialist Entomologist to a special entomologist site, select and collect an insect and return to examine the insect/bug under a microscope. You’ll even get a photo emailed to you of your bug under the microscope a week later!
There is no offseason, although warm, sunny days are more frequent from November through to April.
It can be rainy and cold from July to October, although this is the best time for whale watching, with the whale watching season extending from July through to early December.
Garden Lodge is wheelchair-friendly
The Cape Floristic Region contains one of the richest concentrations of flora in the world including 1028 plant species and 812 insect species. Grootbos itself is home to a staggering 817 flora species including the endangered Overberg sandstone fynbos and ancient milkwood forests.
This unique ecosystem is teeming with wildlife including 118 bird species, 29 mammals and 21 amphibians – some of which are under threat of extinction.
Beyond the reserve, nearby Dyer Island is home to 60,000 Cape fur seals and penguins, and from June to December, Walker Bay hosts an unforgettable southern right whale spectacle.
Founder Michael Lutzeyer is a true eco-tourism pioneer who put nature and community at the heart of operations, providing exceptional experience for guests.
A symbiotic relationship, guests are actively encouraged to experience Grootbos’ valuable community work.
The Grootbos Foundation focuses on up-skilling the local population and the health and well-being of young people.
Grootbos aims to provide guests with a luxurious, personalized, and sustainable experience that combines nature, adventure, and relaxation.
Over 80% of the staff are from the local community and trained by Grootbos.
Upskilling opportunities include a horticulture training school, an organic garden, and guiding school.
Staff have an intimate and passionate knowledge of the surrounding area, which makes service more personable and enjoyable.
The Grootbos Foundation has played a fundamental role in the uplift of the local community and townships. The foundation operates under three programmes:
Where possible, Grootbos uses local suppliers – including Grootbos’ own organic farm Siyakhula run by women from the local township – to inject money and capacity building back into the community and surrounding region.
The lodge’s work supporting over 3,000 community members annually.
“The Grootbos Foundation vision is the conservation of the Cape Floral Kingdom and the transformation of the communities within.”
To welcome visitors to a “melting pot of biodiversity, culture & natural wonder”.
To restore and protect the Walker Bay ecosystem for the good of the natural world and local communities.
To operate a progressive, natural and inclusive tourism business.
To work with local landowners and conservationists to preserve over 2500-hectares of botanical and wildlife treasures.
To prove that eco-tourism can be a force for good social and environmental progress.
Certified carbon-negative since 2018, thanks to over 20 years of conservation efforts the 6,170-acre Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is home to more than 817 plant species, of which over 100 are endangered, including the Overberg sandstone fynbos and ancient milkwood trees. Other environmental priorities include:
Grootbos is now turning its attention to the creation of a wildlife corridor to link the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy with Cape Agulhas National Park. If successful, the corridor would create a 98,000-acre protected reserve.
With further landowners having secured conservation status, a protected wildlife corridor between Walker Bay and the Agulhas Plains has been created.
The Grootbos Foundation plays a fundamental role in the uplift of the local community and townships. Key projects include:
Grootbos has stood for an inclusive, shared model of tourism since its inception. In 2003 this was formalised with the creation of the Grootbos Foundation.
The Grootbos Foundation charity and Grootbos Private Nature Reserve tourism operation share a symbiotic relationship and the longevity and impact achieved, is testimony to the shared passion and commitment to sustainability and ‘Progressive Tourism’.
As a member of ‘The Long Run’, Grootbos demonstrates that profit should go hand in hand with protected ecosystems and prosperous communities. This framework acknowledges the importance of business viability to secure biodiversity, conservation and community wellbeing.
SDG 1 No Poverty: Set up post-Apartheid to support and integrate local communities with employment, income, opportunities and poverty reduction through tourism & community initiatives.
SDG 2 Zero Hunger: Organic farm Siyakhula helps provide food security and feed the community, came to the fore during COVID-19.
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being: The Football Foundation multi-sports training programme for youth offers education on health and nutrition; early childhood development centres support child health.
SDG 4 Quality Education: Organic farm, Siyakhula teaches adults enterprise development skills; Green Futures College offers an accessible course in horticulture, guiding and hospitality.
The Grootbos Foundation supports local schools and provides internet access for learners;
SDG 5 Gender Equality: Women from the local township run the organic farm, and are employed in the “Working For Water” programme.
SDG 6 Clean Water & Sanitation: “Working for Water” employs mainly marginalised women to remove the alien plant species – eucalyptus, acacias, pine trees – which are all big water users, compared to the natural vegetation, saving water, improving inequalities (gender, poverty) and make space for the natural fauna to survive (SDG 15) to restore the original ecosystem.
SDG 7 Clean Energy: Grootbos has implemented a solar power plant that provides 24-hour renewable electricity to powers the lodge and the Foundation, ensuring that the organization can operate sustainably for over 25 years. The newly rebuilt Garden Lodge incorporates solar and other clean energy sources.
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth: Supports jobs, training and education in tourism, horticulture, conservation, employability and enterprise development.
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Grootbos has developed innovative approaches and infrastructure to support its sustainable development needs in tourism, conservation, community uplift, education, energy, water, food, health, supply chain and enterprise development.
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities: Grootbos set up to work towards community equality and sustainability (also SDG 11 Sustainable Communities)
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption & Production:
Practices some of the best practice sustainable tourism
SDG 13 Climate Action: Engages in conservation efforts for emissions, energy, water, flora, and food.
SDG 14 Life Below Water: supports life below water through marine life and coastal conservation.
SDG 15 Life on Land: Actively works to protect and conserve the unique fynbos vegetation. Has discovered new plant species and documented over 860 plant species on the reserve, including in the artistic florilegium.
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals: Partners with local communities, schools, and businesses to create conservancy, community and industry collaborations to achieve sustainable development goals.
This is one of the best models of tourism for sustainable development in the world!
Getting There:
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is less than a two-hour drive from bustling Cape Town and just one hour from where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic.
The Kogelberg Coastal Route, Hermanus Wine Route, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and the Whale Coast are all nearby.
Included:
5-star accommodation
Buffet breakfast with English menu
3-course lunch
6-course dinner
All soft and hot drinks
Transfers to and from activities
Mountain biking and horse-riding
Nature and coastal drives and walks
Guided walks and hikes.
Dedicated guide to helps curate personal itineraries.
Rates From £600 per adult per night based on 2 sharing.
Optional extras:
Alcoholic beverages
Laundry
Spa Treatments, boat trips, scenic flights, quad biking, beach horse riding
Items of a personal nature
Relaxation sanctuary in greater Cape area Wonderful private reserve with approx. 9000 plants plant species and 6000 native to the area. The chalets are well designed and the overall facilities are perfect foe couples to unwind and relax. Within short distance to see whales breaching. Suggest 2 nights, 3 days to appreciate the surrounds, relax, eat, drink and be merry!
Most Magical Place in the World We went for three nights at the end of July. It was a little chilly but that didn't detract at all. We stayed in the Forest Lodge, room 22. Absolutely stunning - views from every room, immaculate room, fully stocked mini bar (wine, milk, kombucha, gin, beer, coffee, tea), heated floors. So beautiful that you didn't want to leave. Activites - Bongani was our guide for our three days. We did the Flower Safari, Hike, Fat Tire Biking, Horseback Riding. He was spectacular - so knowledgeable and loves his job. DO NOT MISS THE ART GALLERY - phenomenal. Dining Room - All the food was DELICIOUS and the staff was incredible. It ruined us for the rest of our trip in Africa. We especially enjoyed "Rhiana and Kim Kardasian" but my absolute favorite was Nwabisa. She notice the first lunch that I had picked out the green peppers and put them on the side of my plate and then, without saying, made sure I had no green peppers on any future dishes. Now that is attention to detail.
2023 Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards: Top 6 Resorts in South Africa + Top Resorts of the World
2019 We Are Africa Travel, African Responsible Tourism Award, overall winner
2018 Safari Awards for Best Marine Safari Experience
2017 World Tourism Market, Best Accommodation Award winner
2016 National Geographic World Legacy Awards, Engaging Communities finalist
2015 WTTC African Tourism Awards, Best in Poverty Reduction winner
2015 & 2008 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, finalist
2015 We Are Africa Innovation Awards Winner – Engage Africa
2015 We Are Africa Innovation Awards Winner – Experience Africa
2015 National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World – Founding Member
2015 We Are Africa – Most Innovative Project for the Local Community
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