The Magnificent Seven Safari

Overview

Ocean Eleven is an olde worlde, Cape Cod, colonial style guesthouse situated on the famous cliffs of Hermanus. The picturesque mountains beyond gently embrace the phenomenal, all encompassing vista of the bay.

The main house of Ocean Eleven was built with all the high ceilings, tall windows and teak floors that made colonial architecture so utterly elegant. All these features and thus the grace and style have been retained to this day.

Ocean Eleven boasts beautifully appointed rooms that have an all-embracing sea view over Walker Bay. Luxuries include 100% cotton percale linen and tea making facilities.

Overview

Perched majestically on the headland between two stunning bays, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve spans an impressive 2,500 hectares at the very heart of the world’s premier whale-watching destination.

This extraordinary reserve offers an unparalleled blend of exhilarating activities, all set against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty. Guests staying in its luxurious lodges and private villas are treated to panoramic vistas.

Imagine diving into the deep blue alongside majestic Great Whites, riding horses along the untamed Atlantic shores or witnessing the awe-inspiring sight of whales and playful pods of dolphins frolicking in Walker Bay.

Back at the property, you can savour the region’s finest wines meticulously selected by expert sommeliers and explore the diverse and fascinating flora and fauna through guided treks in the reserve’s lush valleys.

Overview

Like its siblings of the Royal Portfolio properties (Royal Malewane in the Kruger and La Residence in Franschhoek), Birkenhead House exudes a comfortable chic that is majestically modern yet intimate. Its position on the cliffs of Hermanus looking over Walker Bay confirms it as one of the best places to stay along the Whale Cape.

With only eleven rooms, a fully-equipped spa and an excellent restaurant, the service here is both attentive and personal and a broad range of activities from aromatherapy to shark diving can be arranged.

The interiors are an adroit marriage between traditional French-style furniture offset by antiques, and more clean modern lines using a fresh white and beige palette interspersed with expert use of vibrant colours that complement the views streaming in, and which mostly draws the eyes.

Overview

Thatch House is a beautiful boutique property that sits on the banks of the Hermanus Lagoon, looking out over the Cape Fold Mountains.

There are just four suites which gives the property an exclusive, intimate feel. The large, double volume suites – Waterfall, Flamingo, Lagoon, and Pincushion – are elegant and sophisticated and feature private terraces from which to gaze outover the lagoon. They all have an adjoining room with twin beds, making them perfect for families.

There is plenty to do on-site with two swimming pools, a chipping and putting green, Jacuzzi and floodlit tennis courts. Kids will have a wonderful time whizzing along the suspension bridges between the trees and exploring the tree house. You can also get out and discover the lagoon by kayak – boat cruises, tubing and water skiing can also be arranged.

There is the option to include all your meals here, and with locally sourced ingredients and a nose-to-tail and root-to seed philosophy, you won’t be left disappointed.

Overview

You need only look up from your table, bed or book when staying at the smart cliffside hotel of Marine Hermanus to see whales breaching the Atlantic surf of Walker Bay.

The 42 suites, that surround a pretty internal courtyard and lovely groomed gardens, are decorated in a light palette of colours which feels smart, comfortable and clean. Built in 1902, the use of traditional furniture, heavy fabrics, antiques and chintz wallpaper really enhances the classic, early 20th-century seaside character here too. However the main feature at the hotel is its position on the Hermanus headland which gives it 360? views of the bays, the Overburg mountains and quite frankly one of the most magnificent seascapes in the southern hemisphere.

The in-house restaurant usually employs a very reputable chef making the food at the hotel consistently excellent. Hermanus is well known as the one of the planet’s best places to spot whales from the shoreline, its local town also carries a tangible European feel with its many cafés and arts culture.

Overview

With views over the historic harbour, this modern small hotel of only eighteen rooms delivers a touch of seaside and convenience being at the heart of Hermanus town.

The impressive suites are tastefully decorated in modern style and offer spectacular views of the mountain cliffs or across the ocean below. Each comes with all the mod-cons, including a fully equipped kitchen.

Guests can relax on sun loungers by the hotel pool, and there is a designated children’s swimming area. The hotel also has an in-house restaurant with a modern à la carte menu, or you can pop out and visit neighbouring restaurants.

Hermanus town is renowned for some of the best land-based whale watching opportunities in Africa and the hotel is positioned with great viewpoints to capture this incredible scene.

Bicycle hire is available for guests who are keen to explore the local area by their own steam.

Overview

This historic hotel in colourful Cape Town has just 19 rooms, offering an intimate escape from the neighbourhood’s buzzy streets. It’s all about local artisans here, with artworks, crafts and striking pieces of furniture that create a bold but beautiful maximalist aesthetic. Expect emerald greens and distinctive printed wallpapers, accented with gold trimmings. 

The property is perfectly placed for exploring the restaurants and bars on popular Kloof Street, or for getting outdoors and atop Table Mountain, where views of the city are truly awe-inspiring. There’s plenty of pleasure to be found inside the hotel, too, though, with two prettily tiled swimming pools and a handful of loungers that invite you to laze around in the sun for at least a few hours. 

Food here is served in Upper Union, where a carefully curated menu offers seasonal produce by way of small plates and larger dishes, and the cocktails are a highlight for locals and visitors alike. 

Overview

The Grand Dame, heritage property of Cape Town, the Mount Nelson comes with bags of history and is perhaps the most famous hotel in the city. It’s set in large grounds and is made up of a number of different smaller buildings. Most rooms have been refurbished with a contemporary refresh, adding comfort and modern touches to the historic décor. The bar and restaurant have had a similar treatment making them a popular place to visit for Capetonians (a great sign for any hotel restaurant, particularly in the fickle and competitive Cape Town restaurant scene).

From their vermiculture project and on-site beehives, to their use of locally produced organic vegetables, the hotel puts a strong emphasis on having a positive impact on the environment and local community.

Rooms are very comfortable and spacious and are located in several buildings dotted throughout the large property and gardens. This makes it stand apart from other larger hotels in Cape Town as in this most outdoor of cities it’s great to have large, green gardens to take a stroll through and outdoor pools (and for the more active, there are also tennis courts).

Though The Mount Nelson is very much a location in itself, the large grounds sit just a short stroll away from downtown and also the Kloof Street Area, which is famous among locals for excellent new restaurants and boutiques. Afternoon Tea at the Nelson (or Nellie as it is affectionately known) is a Cape Town institution and well worth trying.

Overview

Whether you live in an Apartment in a city or a 4 bedroom House, More Quarters can give you that ‘home from home’ feel while still being immersed in the cultural centre of Cape Town. Nestled in a residential suburb away from the main tourist bustle, the Kloof Street area is often referred to as the heart of Cape Town by the locals. Enjoy the privacy and homely feel of your own apartment styled in a rare combination of historic exteriors with classic modern bohemian interiors, with all the conveniences and amenities of a hotel experience staffed by a family of professional, passionate people. The Redcliffe House is ideal for large groups or families, it being an immaculate 4 bedroom/bathroom home.

This historical building is actually one of the owner’s personal homes, utilized by the family for three months of the year. The remaining nine months the house is available to accommodate guests. The house is serviced daily by the staff of the Hotel, allowing your stay away from home to include being away from the house work. It also features an exclusive swimming pool, solely for your private use. With the ability to safely walk to local restaurants and boutique shops, you really feel as if you are a Cape local and experience the local cosmopolitan lifestyle. All the other amazing opportunities that the Mother City offers are an easy traffic free drive away.

Overview

Situated in the heart of the V&A Waterfront, the Cape Grace is one of Cape Town’s most famous luxury hotels in a location perfect for enjoying the restaurants, boutiques and entertainment of this upmarket area. The hotel also has a strong focus on contributing to community upliftment and has various measures in place to improve their water and energy consumption.

Reflecting its location, the décor has a nautical theme and is full of local detail, with antiques and maps adorning the hallways. In a playful touch, sumptuous chandeliers are adorned with unusual items (such as crockery and kitchenware in the Restaurant area). The 112 rooms and suites are spacious, comfortable and elegantly decorated, offering views out to Table Mountain, Signal Hill or the Marina.

For dining, savour South African dishes at the Cape Grace’s restaurant Heirloom, where the unhurried spirit and bountiful terroir of South Africa is celebrated. The Bascule bar draws on the city’s contemporary speakeasy culture, offering an immersive journey into the essence of the Cape with whiskey tastings and carefully crafted cocktails.

The hotel also features a heated pool and outdoor deck, along with a spa on the top floor. Immerse yourself in the serene ambience of the stylish treatment rooms, unwind in the sauna and refresh your senses in the salt room. You can walk straight out into the waterfront area here making it a perennial favourite.

Overview

For a dose of cosy luxury, check in to the Tintswalo Atlantic. Perched right on the edge of the South African shoreline, this boutique hotel is tucked away between the rugged cliffs and gentle waters of Hout Bay, providing you with a degree of isolation from the bustle of Cape Town yet remaining close enough to allow easy access to the area’s sights and activities.

This hotel makes for a great base camp in the region; from here you can enjoy watching the busy local harbor unloading their catch each morning, indulge yourself in some retail therapy at the V&A Waterfront, explore the nearby Constantina Winelands or head slightly further afield and trek through the Table Mountain National Park, just a short car journey away.

There are a host of themed suites to choose from, each with its own individual decor and ambiance. All come with stunning panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean stretching from horizon to horizon. When you’re not sampling the plush bedding, then take a dip in the saltwater pool on the hotel decking, or sip cocktails in the bar at sunset at the waves lap against the shore.

Overview

Sitting alongside the meandering Sands River, set amidst wild bush and enormous trees in the middle of South Africa’s ‘big cat country’, is Singita’s original Ebony Lodge. Unrivalled hospitality is blended with the heritage of an English county home to create a timeless and most welcoming safari experience.

The 12 suites, two which have two bedrooms and are perfect for families, all feature en-suite bathrooms and indoor-outdoor showers, private heated plunge pools and spacious game viewing decks.

Your suite has been decorated according to a black and white colour scheme in homage to the big ebony trees that surround the lodge and interiors are furnished with vintage campaign furniture from Luke Bailes’ (the founder of Singita) family collection, sepia photography, tribal print murals and imitation leopard and zebra-print fabrics. Interior walls have been replaced by canvas or glass to create a light and airy atmosphere and to capitalise on the amazing views outside, to beautiful effect in the bedroom where you’ll enjoy an uninterrupted view out onto the terrace.

The food here is exquisite yet unpretentious, fitting of the lodge’s homely feel, and is paired with an extensive range of handpicked South African wines. Free time at the lodge can be spent indulging in the Bush Spa, relaxing in the library, using the well-equipped gym or cooling down in the pool.

Of course the highlight here is the rich array of wildlife. Species such as leopard, lion, rhino, large herds of buffalo, elephant, reedbuck, hyena, hippopotamus, nyala, cheetah, wild dogs and many types of birds can be spotted on expertly guided day and night game drives, and thrilling walking safaris. Other activities such as stargazing will get Africa even further under your skin.

Overview

Bush Lodge is Sabi Sabi’s flagship accommodation, set deep in the bush overlooking a waterhole and an open plain. Steeped in tradition, with a history spanning over 35 years, the lodge has earned a reputation of a luxury home in the bush, service excellence and effortless personal attention that are synonymous with the wider Sabi Sabi Reserve.

The main lodge is home to the holistic Amani Spa, a well-stocked wine cellar and vast viewing decks that mirror the endless horizon and optimise the watching of wildlife of the nearby waterhole and plains.

The style of the lodge and each thatched suite seeks to echo more of ‘today’s’ tastes with a becoming blend of the modern with ethnic influences and artwork.

Featuring 25 suites in total including 2 Luxury Villas and the Mandleve Presidential Suite with each suite featuring en-suite bathrooms and al-fresco, glass-fronted showers, with wonderful views of the bushveld. The suites are air-conditioned and feature sumptuous linen and classic leather and wood furnishings.

Two spacious Luxury Villas feature a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, second en-suite bedroom, a private pool, library/lounge and beautiful patio facing a waterhole. The Mandleve Presidential Suite features a private plunge pool and luxurious interiors with endless views of the bush.

Safaris take place each morning and evening in open safari vehicles which drive through a wide variety of habitats, allowing visitors to view the vast interactions of the wild. After breakfast, guests on guided walking trails can experience the natural environment on foot.

Overview

Spread under a leafy canopy of ebony trees, six spacious stone cottages grace the banks of the Mabrak River in the western part of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

As one of only twelve guests at Dulini Moya, one feels instantly at home in this quiet retreat. The beautifully appointed suites boast generous plunge pools, shady decks and classic interiors that celebrate the signature style of the Reserve. From the privacy of your own plunge pools, you can enjoy watching game explore the dry riverbed just a few metres away. Your sitting area is an elegant space filled with big welcoming sofas and interesting African sculptures.

Dine under the ancient jackalberry tree where skilled chefs serve delicious Pan African meals, or steal away for a romantic candlelit dinner in the well-stocked wine cellar.

Overview

Located in the western sector of the renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve and bordering the Kruger National Park, is Leopard Hills. Spectacularly situated atop a rocky outcrop, this luxurious lodge offers magnificent views over the bush and an active waterhole on the plains below.

The property boasts eight beautifully decorated and entirely luxurious glass-fronted suites. Complete with sundecks and rock plunge pools, the suites enjoy amazing African bushveld views.

When you’re not out spotting the exciting game on your drives and walks, watch the animals from the pool and main deck with a pair of binoculars or the spotting scope. This tranquil spot is the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner or cool down with a crisp glass of wine as you take in the sights and sounds of the African bush.

The elegant dining room offers further views alongside decadent meals, while a cosy lounge and massage sala provide even more sumptuous spots to relax. The library is a peaceful spot and guests are welcome to browse through the large selection of literature and African journals.