Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve - The Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge.
The beautiful colonial-style Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge was built in 1822 by Baron von Pletten, an early South African pioneer and conservationist, who used the original, smaller Lodge as his base to explore the then untamed African landscapes.
Built from local stone, the Lodge has lost little of its original 'out of Africa' feel and is both romantic and luxurious with spectacular views across rolling lawns where zebra and antelope room freely, to the indigenous forests and majestic Tsitsikamma mountains in the distance.
Each of the 10 spacious luxury rooms opens onto the picturesque gardens with their indigenous plants, cool verandas, courtyards and quaint plunge pool. There are six double suites, three family rooms and one twin room. The bride and groom will be accommodated in the Lodge's romantic honeymoon suite.
Suites are spacious and comfortable, with high ceilings and original polished cement and yellowwood floors. The décor is eclectic and colourful with antiques and giant candelabra and chandeliers mixing effortlessly with leather couches, shabby chic sofas, kilim floor rugs and animal skins. Romantic four poster beds are draped with gossamer fabric mosquito nets and dressed with cotton linen and chenille or faux-fur throws. There are extra warm blankets for chilly nights.
Rooms have showers and freestanding bathtubs, some with views across the indigenous forests.
The guest living spaces are heated by log fireplaces and there are many comfortable sitting areas with a library of books for guests to browse through and many beautiful artefacts, trophies and original photographs to admire.
The outside Boma, which provides an authentic African dining experience, is guarded by two massive carved wooden doors and has a bar and deck built above the dam where guests can enjoy sundowners while they watch the antics of William, the resident Hippopotamus. In the distance, the view is of Plettenberg Bay, the holiday seaside town named after the infamous Baron von Pletten.
A day at Baroness Luxury Safari Lodge starts with a delicious breakfast served on the semi-enclosed terrace which is warmed by a log fireplace on fresh mornings.
After breakfast guests can join an experienced game ranger on a two hour game drive in an open Land Rover or a horseback safari through the sweeping grasslands of the Reserve.
The rest of the morning should be spent lazing at the pool or on the deck, reading or birding.
Lunch is served at The Shed, a short distance from the Lodge and the departure point for games drives and outrides.
After lunch, enjoy a siesta in the coolness of your luxury suite or book a late afternoon game drive followed by a drink at the bar with your ranger to recollect your experience.
Dinner is an indulgent three course home-cooked meal at the Lodge with pre- or postprandial drinks in the Boma.
Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is just 15 minutes’ drive from Plettenberg Bay, so guests also have the option of spending the day on one of the glorious Plett beaches and having lunch at a restaurant in town. |
