I have a long love affair with Grootbos and the surrounding area stretching from Stanford to Die Plaat. I grew up somewhere in the middle under ancient milkwood trees next to the Klein River lagoon. There is nothing on earth more beautiful that a milkwood tree. Watching your children “hunting for frogs and fairies” under the Grootbos milkwood trees, lost in a world of wonder and new discoveries; is breathtakingly beautiful.

We stayed at the Garden Lodge, which caters specifically for families. Our two-bedroom luxury suite (better described as a cottage) was surrounded by milkwoods with an incredible view over Walker Bay that can be enjoyed from the wooden deck or beautifully decorated lounge.

The Garden Lodge is a little more relaxed than the Forest Lodge with a children’s play room and daily children’s programme of fun activities that includes pony rides, frog hunting, star gazing, pizza making, egg collecting and baking chocolate brownies with the chef in the kitchen.

It is always the people of a place that make it truly memorable and the Grootbos family made our stay absolutely magical. Our kids were entertained and taken on a magic carpet ride of new experiences, giving us time to sleep in, catch up and indulge in the delicious food and good local wines – just the two of us.

A highlight for big and small people is the fynbos safari. The knowledgeable guides open your eyes to the wonders of the Cape Floral Kingdom with stories about the ants, the wind and the relationship between fynbos and fire.

Guests can also enjoy a spa treatment (I enjoyed a glorious full body massage in the stillness of the milkwood forest.), a guided beach walk, whale watching, boat cruise to Dyer and Geyser Islands or a scenic flight over Walker Bay. 

The weekend at Grootbos was the perfect mini-family break to end off a busy year. We left refreshed with hearts overflowing with memories and lives enriched. Thank you Grootbos for the #grootbosmagic!

To book your own family, solo or romantic break away at Grootbos, visit http://www.grootbos.com or follow the conversations at #grootbosmagic for inspiration.