Life-changing experiences. A community that benefits.

Progressive Tourism Tour

From the very beginning, we’ve always been about much more than luxury travel. Which is why we designed the entire Grootbos experience around a new movement we call Progressive Tourism: and we want the world to share in this vision too.

Changing the world’s approach to tourism

"Every action we take has a positive impact."

What is progressive tourism? It’s a term we coined to explain a new way of living that is at the heart of the entire Grootbos experience. It’s about every action we take benefitting someone else or having a positive impact on the environment.

From the freshly grown tomatoes you eat at lunch, to the recycled candles in your room, to the earrings you buy at the gift shop – we’re constantly seeking out new ways to create sustainable livelihoods for the people who call this unique area home.

Green Futures

Our horticulture and life skills college focuses on making young adults employable.

Siyakhula

A project that creates sustainable livelihoods through small business development.

Football Foundation

This initiative uses sport to educate and empower hundreds of young people in Gansbaai.

85 Entrepreneurship Training Beneficiaries

22 202 Combined Hectares of land protected in Conservancy

30 000 insect specimens pinned from 812 insect morphospecies

10 Rapid survey BioBlitzes per year

12 240 Sanitary pads distributed

947 Plant species found on Grootbos

35 Small Business Beneficiaries

2 608 Football Foundation youth beneficiaries

The Grootbos Florilegium

FLORILEGIUM (flôrəˈlējēəm).
A collection of illustrations featuring plants from a specific garden or region.

Where Nature Meets Art

Discover the Grootbos Florilegium, a unique collection of botanical illustrations by a collaboration of local and international artists. The collection depicts the rare, endangered and charismatic plants found on the Grootbos reserve and surrounding regions. What makes these artworks even more distinctive is the inclusion of insects, pollinators and other creatures associated with the flora.

Pack for a Purpose

We are proud partners of Pack for a Purpose. If you would like to participate or if you would like more information about how you can easily assist the Foundation, please click here.

Pack for a Purpose
Embrace the transformative power of nature by reconnecting with yourself and finding inner harmony.
Explore Immersive Wellbeing

Testimonials

Delightful, a must do! Proteas were growing and blooming in abundance all over the reserve. It was a wonderful experience.

Lorettam Boyers - United States

The highlight of the best trip of our lives - We loved the location immensely!

Ryan Danz - United States

Perfect end to a trip. It was a great decision, the property is beautiful.

Harrison B - United States

Amazing few days in glamorous wilderness resort.

Niamh G - United Kingdom

The highlight of the best trip of our lives - We loved the location immensely!

Ryan Danz - United States
Enjoy the warmth of our hospitality

Grootbos Foundation and global recognition

Grootbos is a world leader in sustainable tourism and has been awarded some of the highest international accolades possible, making us one of only a handful of lodges to achieve this.

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A UNIQUE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

Grootbos invites you to experience our country's most precious floral biome and marine wilderness like never before. Enjoy unique guided experiences while being treated to five-star luxury at our lodges and villas.

Our Spring Splendour special offers South African residents an exclusive discounted rate and additional benefits. 

What's new at Grootbos - New Garden Lodge and Florilegium

The last year has been a busy one at Grootbos. We rebuilt our beloved Garden Lodge entirely and re-opened it in April 2022. We also officially launched the Grootbos Florilegium - Africa's first contemporary florilegium - which is a collection of botanical illustrations created by local and international artists, depicting the charismatic plants found on our reserve and the surrounding regions.

Click below to learn more about these exciting developments.

See New Garden Lodge See Florilegium