Indi and I were so excited to begin our 16 day road trip. Our first stop was at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve near Gansbaai.
We were met on the wooden deck by friendly staff with warm face-cloths, dipped in Grootbos’ essential oil, and a delicious ginger-ale punch, filled with pineapple, guava and ginger. They were so good we had many more during our stay!
Lunch was delicious and my mom and dad couldn’t stop going on about the food. We were treated like kings and queens. Our room had the cutest twirly lights, a baby whale on the bed and amazing views of Walker Bay over the milkwood forest. In a small box on our bed was a balancing dragon-fly and a pack of bird trump cards – so cool. Mom and dad’s room was on the other side of the lounge and had a huge shower. They loved their gift of honey and a Field Guide to Grootbos.
In the morning after breakfast, we went horse-riding through the fynbos. We loved the smells, dew hanging off the ericas and the incredible views across the ocean. The funniest was seeing my dad trying to canter – horse-rider, not!
At lunchtime, Michael, one of the Grootbos founders, shared with us about the Grootbos Foundation and all the awesome work of its horticulture school, where 90/110 graduates have found work – very inspiring. The Foundation’s sports project has won lots of awards too. We also learned that Grootbos has over 750 plant species, just over half the number of species of Great Britain – wow!
Mom and dad went walking while we made crafts, did a treasure hunt and enjoyed a puppet show. In the late afternoon, we went down to Klipgat Cave, and learnt so much about the strandlopers and their way of life. Dad and I had to sneak a swim, even though it was freezing! Our fellow travellers from Texas were luckily distracted from our madness by a Southern Right whale breaching about 400m offshore - what a sighting!
Margariette and Elanza were the super-friendly and funny child-minders. We played pool and fuze-ball, created arts and crafts, explored the forest on a treasure hunt and watch movies on a massive screen while mom and dad enjoyed dinner feasts on their own.
I loved the horse-rides through the fynbos, playing with the cute bunnies, climbing the ancient milkwood trees in the forest, nutella ice-cream and little chocolate balls and my hot-water bottle each night. I also collected 8 eggs from the chickens, which was pretty scary.
Indi loved hanging out with Margariette and Elanza, playing family pool, feeding the animals, drinking hot chocolate and the horse-rides. And most of all seeing the whale jumping!
Dad’s note:
Grootbos is a very special place – ancient indigenous forest, filled with gnarly milkwoods and old man’s beard, hectares of fynbos to explore, incredible food - feast after feast and you simply have to try the seafood curry, spacious rooms with the most incredible views over Walker Bay and so many activities for our two girls. As parents, we had the unique combination of relaxing alone time, mixed in with exciting nature activities that we shared with our children.
Click here to book your stay at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve