So you have always wanted to… Safari in Africa’s Ultimate Villas!

ZARAFA CAMP, SELINDA RESERVE

ELLERMAN HOUSE VILLA, CAPE TOWN

VILLA @ GROOTBOS PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE, STANFORD

BOTSWANA

AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

DUBA PLAINS SUITE, OKAVANGO DELTA

LOCATIONS AND INFORMATION

ELLERMAN HOUSE VILLASCAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Ellerman House is the quintessential urban retreat, close to all the attractions of Cape Town yet tucked away in Bantry Bay with its spectacular Atlantic Ocean views, dramatic mountain scenery and proximity to fine beaches.

In contrast to the old-world elegance of Ellerman House, two luxury private villas add a glamorous edge to the hotel’s classic style and refined ambience. Entirely separate from Ellerman House yet on the same property, these exclusive-use, privately staffed villas offer all the benefits of being attached to a small hotel with the advantage of complete privacy and flexibility. Both villas are perfectly suited to families or friends with en suite bedrooms, spacious entertainment and relaxation areas, and private infinity pools.

Villa One houses the Ellerman House Spa and two deluxe spa bedrooms on the ground level. Villa One may be booked either as a three-bedroom villa or as a five-bedroom villa with the addition of the two deluxe bedrooms on the spa level. Villa One comprises a formal lounge, TV lounge, dining room, and study, spacious outdoor living and pool. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms with spacious bathrooms and private terraces, and a small reading room.

Villa Two has three bedrooms with open-plan style bathrooms and private terraces. There is also a study and private cinema on this level. The top floor’s open-plan living and dining areas flow outdoors onto two terraces and the pool. Below Villa Two is the Ellerman House Wine Gallery, a showcase for South African wine and the hotel’s vast wine collection.

THE VILLA @ GROOTBOS PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE Stanford, 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 PLAINS SUITEOkovonga 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 DHOW SUITESelinda Reserve, Botswana

The Zarafa Dhow Suites is an intimate, two room, exclusive use tented villa located on the 320,000 acre Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana, an area linking the Okavango Delta and the Chobe.

Savute corridors. Home to some of the classic species, such as leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, Red lechwe, zebra and giraffe, the Reserve is also a refuge for some of the more uncommon species such as African wild dog, cheetah, roan and sable.

Few properties rival the location of this little gem built entirely under canvas and of the largest tents ever built on the continent. The Suites are located adjacent to Zarafa Camp, Botswana’s first and only Relais & Chateaux property. Overlooking the crystal waters of Zibadianja Lagoon, the source of the famous Savute Channel. From the Dhow Suites, hippos are visible in the Lagoon and elephant wander through regularly.

Zarafa Camp is the brainchild of the founders of Great Plains Conservation. Zarafa means “the beloved one” or “the lovely one” in Arabic. The name comes from a giraffe, which was presented to Charles X of France in 1826 by the Viceroy of Egypt. She travelled from Africa in a traditional Dhow boat, the inspiration for the name of the Dhow Suites.