Looking for somewhere inspirational to stay? Two Cape hotels have just been picked by Telegraph travel writers as their all-time favourites in The Telegraph’s 50 Best Hotels in the World.
”’Found on one of the world’s finest whale-watching coastlines, Grootbos, a five‑star retreat offers unadulterated luxury without the guilt. Every effort has been made to assimilate these fabulous private lodges – with unsurpassable views – into the environment.
”And what an environment: a 1,750-hectare reserve that is home to more than 740 different species of plants and the impossibly white sands of Walker Bay.” From here you can explore the wonderland of the Cape Floral Kingdom and delight in botanical wonders at a nature destination of such pioneering exception that British conservationist David Bellamy claims is “the best example of conservation diversity … ever seen”. See our Natural Abundance tour as well as our Cape Archaeology tour
Another reason why we are so proud of Grootbos is their link between people and plants. Grootbos partners with projects such as Eden in Cornwall, and has initiated a foundation which contributes to the conservation of the reserve and surrounding natural areas, plus the development of sustainable livelihoods among local communities.
The other is La Residence – ”An 11-suite extravagance on the slope of Franschhoek, the Cape village that is probably South Africa’s prettiest. No expense has been spared. Each of the suites has its own decor theme, from Buddhist retreat to French decadent, while the public areas are a riotous collection of Louis XIV furniture, Persian carpets, plus objets, art and fabrics from India, Indo-China, France, Italy and everywhere else. And it works thanks to the impeccable taste of Liz Biden, the proprietor.”
