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Address:
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve,
off the R340,
Uplands, Plettenberg Bay,
Western Cape,
6600,
South Africa

Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge


BARONESS LUXURY SAFARI LODGE, 4 STAR LODGE
WESTERN CAPE LODGE ACCOMMODATION

The opulent Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge is a remnant of Africa's earliest colonisation and the discoveries that it entailed. It was constructed by Baron von Pletten in 1822 within what is today known as the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve. Baron von Pletten was very involved with the conservation of this land, spending much time exploring South Africa and its abundance of fauna and flora and finding ways to protect these valuable resources.

The Baroness has been built using natural stone, creating a sense of being part of the African bushveld and surrounding terrain. This also lends it a romantic, yet authentically natural, ambience. Surrounded by forests, the Tsitsikamma Mountains and the plains that are home to zebra and various antelope species, the Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge is certainly one of South Africa's precious gems.

Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve

The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is situated along the world-acclaimed Garden Route. This road extends from Storms River in the Eastern Cape to Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. However, it is generally considered to refer to the entire distance between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay. This is the largest reserve of its kind in the Southern Cape area, stretching over 2200 hectares. There are many animals, over 35 different species, that have made their home in this reserve. These include crocodile, giraffe and hippo, as well as several bird and antelope species. In fact, over 100 different avian species have been identified in the reserve. Notably, this is also the largest game reserve for the endangered White Rhino. The stunning views over the Bay of Beauty are sure to enthral guests as much as they continue to impress the locals.
The reserve has several biomes. Some of these are indigenous forests, fynbos, and grasslands. The Keurbooms and Palmiet rivers wind their way through and around this exquisite vegetation.

The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is the habitat of the Big 4; i.e. the lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino. These are not the only animals that guests will be enjoying during their stay in these malaria-free conditions, but are certainly some of the most impressive. Hospitality defines the African culture and guests are sure to revel in their warm welcome.

The reserve is only 12 kilometres from the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay, which is a vacation hotspot for travellers from other areas of South Africa and the world. This means that guests of the Baroness have easy access to the shops, restaurants, sights and activities available in Plett.

Game drives and other off-road adventures are a must for guests of the Baroness. Qualified and experienced guides are on hand to enlighten and enrich guests regarding the plant- and animal life in the area.

The Cape Floral Kingdom, of which the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is part, boasts more indigenous plant species than any other area of a similar size on Earth.

This reserve is equipped for day visitors as well as for those wishing to spend a few nights. There is a curio shop, coffee café and a bar serving refreshing drinks, light meals or heart-warming nightcaps. The children's play area allows parents to relax in peace while their children burn energy. There is an alfresco dining area alongside the play area, keeping parents refreshed. On chilly winter evenings, the two fireplaces are sure to be welcome retreats for the weary traveller.

Plettenberg Bay, and many other coastal towns along the Garden Route, is known for its stunning weather, almost all year round. Daytime summer temperatures average between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, while winter days are still warm enough to explore the stunning outdoors.

Accommodation

The Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge has 10 rooms. Six are double suites, three are family rooms and one is a twin room. These rooms promise luxurious comfort and convenient amenities for individuals, couples and families. Each opens onto a stunning garden with courtyards and an inviting plunge pool. High ceilings, antique furniture, chandeliers and yellowwood floors ensure an authentically colonial feel, while kilim rugs and animals skins introduce an element of a more modern chic.

The rooms are equipped with king-size four-poster beds (with mosquito nets draped over them for an added sense of African nostalgia), showers and free-standing baths.

The lodge also boasts a library as well as fireplaces in the guest areas to ensure that a cosy home-away-from-home air exists throughout. Escape into another world as you admire the trophies and photographs that define the area and lodge.

Dining

For a uniquely African experience, guests of the Baroness are invited to enjoy tasty flavours in the outdoor Boma. Traditionally, a boma is the meeting place for the leaders of African tribes, in which they eat, drink and discuss weighty issues of tribal living. The Boma at Baroness is equipped with a bar and a deck that has been constructed to overlook the dam. This water is the local favourite for one of the most popular hippos of the reserve, William. The views that can be enjoyed while satisfying one's hunger extend over much of the reserve and Plettenberg Bay.

Breakfasts are tasty and filling to prepare guests for a busy day spent exploring or a lazy day spent around the pool. These meals are served on the terrace, which can be open on warm mornings, but is semi-enclosed and equipped with a fireplace for the cooler winter mornings.

Light lunches are served in The Shed. This facility is only a short distance from the lodge and is the departure point for the game drives and other off-road rides on offer. Once full, guests will enjoy exploring the bushveld from the comfort of a Land Rover or on horseback. Alternatively, rest in the comfort of the spacious suites as the sounds of nature echo their very own lullaby.

Hearty dinners are a three-course affair at the Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge. Home-cooked cuisine never negotiates on fresh ingredients and skilful expertise. The bar is situated within the Boma and is the ideal venue at which to relax with a refreshing beer or glass of wine before a meal, or to share a tasty nightcap with friends before bedtime.

Activities

The Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve offers guests of the Baroness safaris in 4 x 4 vehicles or on horseback. Both include an experienced guide, and offer passengers the opportunity to experience African wildlife in its habitat. Enquire at the hotel regarding the bushwalks through the forest.

Game Drives
Game drives through Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve, the Southern Cape's largest game reserve, are intriguing and rewarding.

The drive lasts for two hours and is always accompanied by a knowledgeable and trained guide. They are conducted in large open Land Rovers to allow for passengers to see as much as possible. The prolific number of wildlife, birds and plants promises exceptional sights for nature enthusiasts. The rangers make it their job to point out specific species, so that visitors do not miss out on tiny critters or their more elusive counterparts.

There is no better way to end a day of exploring the African bushveld than by sipping on a cool drink at the bar, discussing your sights and experiences with friends, family or other guests.

Horse Safaris
Seeing the fauna and flora of South Africa atop a well-trained and responsive horse makes for lifelong memories. Because the animals in the reserve are used to horses, they allow these animals closer to them, which implies a better perspective for the rider too. Horse riding also allows greater flexibility regarding access and the speed of your ride.

The horseback safari lasts for two hours and is suitable for riders that are experienced as well as for those who have had no prior dealings with these wonderful animals.