So you have always wanted to… Be immersed with Nature & Wildlife

ZARAFA CAMP, SELINDA RESERVE

THE TWELVE APOSTLES HOTEL AND SPA, CAPE TOWN

GROOTBOS PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE, STANFORD

BOTSWANA

AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

DUBA PLAINS CAMP, OKAVANGO DELTA

BABYLONSTOREN HOTEL AND FARM, SIMONDIUM

LOCATIONS AND INFORMATION

THE TWELVE APOSTLES HOTEL AND SPACape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa stands at the edge of the world. On one side, a line of majestic mountains – The Twelve Apostles – reaches towards the heavens; on the other, the sun sets on breeching whales, playful dolphins, and crashing Atlantic rollers. And all around, you can walk the wilderness trails of the Table Mountain National Park. We’ll even pack you a picnic.

And yet this luxury 5-star boutique hotel is just a few minutes from worldly, cosmopolitan Cape Town. City-centre theatres and art galleries, plus the shops and restaurants of the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront are only 15 minutes away via our complimentary car transfer service – quicker still if you use our helipad.

Nearest of all is the elegant area of Camps Bay with its beautiful golden beaches. Or, if you prefer adventure to sun-soaked relaxation, we can arrange sea fishing, shark and scuba diving, or whale watching trips.

Further afield are the Cape Winelands (private tours by arrangement), notably the town of Hermanus where you can visit one of South Africa’s leading boutique vineyards, Bouchard Finlayson, see whales from the shore and, beyond that, the ancient tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet.

BABYLONSTOREN HOTEL AND FARMSimodium, Western Cape, South Africa

Dating back to 1692, Babylonstoren is a historic Cape Dutch farm that boasts one of the best preserved farmyards in the Cape. Beloved for its magnificent garden that is laid out over 3,5 hectares (8 acres), the garden is divided into 15 sections that comprise fruit, vegetables, berries, bees for pollinating, indigenous plants, fragrant lawns, a prickly pear maze, ducks and chickens, and more.

A secluded path runs along the stream where thousands of clivias flower in spring. The garden also boasts a plethora of trees of historical and botanical import. Every aspect of Babylonstoren – including the contemporary Farm Hotel & Spa, the Farm Shop and Bakery – are led by the ever-changing tapestry and botanical diversity of the garden.

GROOTBOS PRIVATE NATURE RESERVEStandford, Western Cape, South Africa

Nestled between mountain and sea, the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is a five-star eco-paradise showcasing the incredible Flora and Marine life of the Southern Tip of Africa. Home of the “Marine Big 5” - whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins; and with unparalleled floral diversity, Grootbos offers you a one-of-a-kind luxury African experience. Only 2 hours from Cape Town on the way to the world-renowned Garden Route, Grootbos is perfectly situated between the classic attractions of the Cape and is most certainly a highlight on any itinerary.

The name Grootbos, an Afrikaans word meaning Big Forest, is derived from the presence of our ancient Milkwood Forests. It is amongst these ancient forests that Grootbos has artfully laid out its exquisite two 5-star Lodges and exclusive Villa, with breath-taking views across the fynbos plains towards the sparkling whale sanctuary of Walker Bay in the distance. Whether one’s interests are birding, wild flowers, whale watching, diving with great white sharks or relaxing on unspoilt beaches, Grootbos has it all. The gourmet cuisine on offer at this luxury destination is crafted from the finest and freshest local ingredients, including seafood specialties and excellent South African wines.

Grootbos is about more than just luxury accommodation and eco adventures. Your visit directly contributes to the conservation efforts of the Grootbos Foundation as well as the development of sustainable nature-based livelihoods amongst local communities.

DUBA PLAINSOkavango Delta, Botswana

The Duba Plains Suites is a brand new, intimate, two room exquisite tented villa located on the 77,000 hectare Duba Plains Private Reserve in northern Botswana, an area tucked into pristine Okavango Delta wildlife habitat at the base of the Okavango’s Panhandle. There is simply no other safari experience on offer like this in the Okavango Delta, built entirely under canvas, and a perfect partner safari experience to the Zarafa Dhow Suites.

The Duba Plains Suites are designed to fit into the landscape and to take advantage of the shapes and textures of shade but also to evoke the old classic African safari style of the 1920’s. The Duba Plains Reserve is a wildlife connoisseur’s getaway with views horizon to horizon across the flood plains filled with iconic African wildlife species. Located adjacent to Duba Plains Camp. The Duba Plains region prides itself on its extraordinary wildlife experiences and intimate up close exposure to the best of the best wildlife, from lions and leopards to elephants and buffalo and everything in between. Duba Plains is also known for interesting Kalahari species like Aardwolf and Pangolins.

Many consider this region of Botswana to be the Okavango Delta’s Maasai Mara because of the sheer volume of wildlife. This is the area that owners, and National Geographic filmmakers, conservationists and Explorers-In-Residence – Dereck and Beverly Joubert – chose for their home base. Great Plains Conservation is the only operator on the concession, thereby offering guests the ultimate opportunity for private wildlife sightings.

The Duba Plains Suite successfully retains a clearly African feel, while balancing that delicate relationship between personal and informal and romance and adventure. There is no equal in terms of its environmental credentials and its careful appointments.

Each of our camps have executive chefs and a hand picked wine list. Duba Plains main camp is no exception and boasts a cellar of a few hundred bottles of wine from friends of the Jouberts – winemakers who tell their story beyond the bottle, conservationists, people who have a community they support or something they give back to besides being on the Great Plains Wine Selection for the quality of their wines. We will offer the service of shipping cases of wine to our guests should they fall in love with a particular blend or label during their stay.

ZARAFA CAMPSelinda Reserve, Botswana

Zarafa Camp is an intimate, four room exquisite tented camp located on the 320,000 acre Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana, an area linking the Okavango Delta and the Chobe/Savute corridors. Its villa, the Dhow Suites, consist of two tents and private main area and operates entirely independently of main camp. Few camps rival the location of this little gem, Botswana’s first and only Relais & Chateaux property. Overlooking the crystal waters Zibadianja Lagoon, the source of the famous Savute Channel, every area of camp has a magnificent view. The lagoon is also the water source for a tremendous population of wildlife – dry season sightings boast buffalo and elephant by the hundreds.

Zarafa Camp and Dhow Suites are the brainchild of the founders of Great Plains Conservation, who pooled their collective experience on safari to create what they deemed to be the best and most environmentally innovative camp. As a consequence, Zarafa may in fact be the “greenest” luxury safari camp on the continent. Only recycled hardwoods and canvas were used in the construction and all the camp’s electricity comes from its solar farm while ‘bio gas’ plants recycle waste into usable cooking gas.