The build-up to the @the_rhs Chelsea Flower Show has begun, and we’re waiting with bated breath to see the final design constructed in the iconic Great Pavilion.
“Life After Fire” has been the phrase on everyone’s lips at Grootbos in the months following the wildfires that roared through the region. We’ve been revelling in the blooms that have since dotted the reserve with refreshed vigour.
With just days until the Chelsea Flower Show, we wish the teams well and know that they will do South Africa proud.
📸 @leonkluge
#capefloralkingdom #botanicaltreasures #lifeafterfire #rhs #chelseaflowershow
@premierleague continues to make an impact in our local communities.
In March, the @grootbosfoundation coaches hosted a Community Coaching Workshop in collaboration with the Premier League and the British Council in Gansbaai.
The workshop was designed to support the development of grassroots coaches and football organisations by sharing best practices, modern coaching methodologies, and practical on-field learning aligned with the Premier League’s coaching framework. Young coaches from schools and clubs in Gansbaai, Stanford, Hermanus and Cape Agulhas were invited to attend at no charge. This opportunity was not wasted on them, as they understood the cost of training and the value of hands-on, in-person learning, which is often absent from online courses.
Premier League is deeply committed to and has invested in Gansbaai and Grootbos Foundation since 2008, when it sponsored the state-of-the-art artificial pitch for the town of Gansbaai. In 2025, the Premier League replaced the original pitch, which was laid just before the 2010 Soccer World Cup, with a new artificial surface. Co-sponsors and collaborators, @rhino_turf_sa installed the new pitch. This fruitful collaboration gives the youth and community of Gansbaai access to world-class artificial playing surfaces, opening the door to bigger dreams and competition against the best teams in the country.
Special mention must go to the Overstrand Municipality, which manages the whole sports facility for the benefit of all.
#grootbosfoundation #spacesforsport #gansbaai #premierleague #britishcouncil @rhino_turf_sa ,
Fynbos is a fire-driven ecosystem, and after a fire, certain plants appear for a brief period, while heat stimulates others. After the most recent fires, we have had some botanical artists on standby to capture the essence of these plants as they emerge from the ashes.
One of these plants is 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘦𝘢 𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢, the Firelover tulip, which belongs to the plant family Iridaceae. It flowers en masse only after a fire and is endemic to the Western Cape. It can be found on rocky sandstone slopes from Piketberg to Bredasdorp.
The artist currently painting 𝘔. 𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢 is Lynda de Wet, who is also a Western Cape endemic. Lynda, originally from Cape Town but now based in the Overberg, began botanical art in 1999 and soon embarked on a journey to document the Sandveld fynbos along the West Coast, producing around 900 sketches to help identify different plants.
#lifeafterfire #fireandfynbos #fynbos #capefloralkingdom #botanicallyrich
The flavours of Grootbos are more than something you taste. They are stories told by our chefs.
Inspired by their own experiences and love of local ingredients and flavours, our chefs bring a deeply personal touch to every dish.
There is wonderful memory, culture and passion in every bite.
#gourmetcuisine #culinaryadventure #grootbosfood #foodies #chefs #grootbos
Nature’s rhythm is one that is slow, steady and ultimately reliable.
In 2006, with an enduring love and curiosity for botanicals, Heiner Lutzeyer, Stephen Gibson and Adam Harrower went out onto the reserve to discover and record the blooms that had come up after the fires that blazed through the region that year.
At the time, Stephen was one of Grootbos’ first botanical guides. Now, 20 years later, Stephen works alongside our Florilegium artists. Adam now works as the Chief Horticulturalist at Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town.
Just as they discovered what came up after the wildfires all those years ago, so we are out in the field every day, learning, uncovering and marvelling at what has become of the reserve after the most recent fires.
📷Adam Harrower
#lifeafterfire #grootbosprivatenaturereserve #grootbos #naturesbiggestcomeback
We all need a moment of peace from time to time.
Find yours at Grootbos, where the fynbos-infused tea is warm and fragrant and the quiet moments are just for you.
#grootbos #grootbosflorilegium #grootbosmagic #luxurylodge #fynbostea
Anyone who has visited Grootbos knows our guides are more than just experts in the natural world; they are an essential part of your experience.
From the moment you arrive until the second you depart, they are with you on your journey, through ancient forests, across our fynbos reserve, long rocky coastlines and everything in between.
It is not just about what you do, but how you experience it, and our guides are there to make sure you make the very most of it.
#natureguides #fynbosguides #grootbos #grootbosmagic
We truly love the gentle shift from summer to winter at Grootbos.
The fynbos outside thrives in its cooler setting, while indoors, we pause and relax into the warmth and cosiness of our suites.
With a glass of Cap Classique in hand and a fireplace softly crackling beside you, there is no better place to take in the winter season at Grootbos.
#grootbos #luxurylodge #inharmonywithnature #bubbly
Bird watching is a patient hobby, but oh-so-rewarding.
During their breeding season, some male birds physically change their appearance to attract females. This is known as breeding plumage.
In the reserve's burned area, this male Malachite sunbird was spotted donning his ‘eclipse’ plumage, a layer of feathers worn during its non-breeding season. While most birds take on a drab-coloured plumage outside of their breeding season, this male sunbird looks pretty dapper to us.
#lifeafterfire #birdwatching #grootbos #malachitesunbird
In full bloom.
It’s no secret we’ve been reinspired by the blooms that have followed the wildfires. Every drive into the reserve is a chance to find a new flower rising from the charred earth that has been blackened by the flames. These bright and jubilant pops of colour bring an atmosphere of discovery and wonder into our hearts and minds once again.
#lifeafterfire #capefloralkingdom #grootbos
Beyond the luxury of Grootbos lies something much deeper.
It is a true connection with the natural world that comes with living in harmony with your surroundings.
From mindful walks through ancient milkwood forests and fynbos-covered hills to exploring ancient coastal caves, each experience is rooted in nature. Dining on farm-to-table meals and enjoying quiet moments of reflection while taking in the views further enhance the connection to this magnificent landscape.
And in that connection, one begins to feel more grounded and in tune with the natural world.
#grootbos #harmonywithnature #luxurylodge #beyondluxury
The first of our winter rainfall brings a certain refresh and reset to the ancient milkwood forests.
Rain slips gently through the canopy of trees, caught by moss and lichens that swell with moisture. Their greens deepen and brighten, and the whole forest feels alive again as if it’s taken a deep, mindful breath.
#milkwoodforest #grootbos #winterrains #grootbosmagic #forestbathing
