Cradled by the rugged Cederberg Mountains, roughly three hours north of Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat is a 7,500 hectare private sanctuary where five star luxury meets living wilderness. Part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, this multi award winning retreat is a place of wide open plains, sculpted sandstone formations, crystal clear rock pools and rare, dreamlike silence.

The reserve safeguards more than 130 ancient San rock art sites, some over 10,000 years old, and holds Grade I South African National Heritage Site status for their preservation. Days are spent on guided nature drives, rock art walks, canoeing, swimming, archery, stargazing and slow wanders through the walled garden that supplies the kitchens.

Accommodation comprises individually decorated rooms, suites and the private Koro Lodge, each filled with handpicked art, antiques and heritage furniture that celebrate the culture of the region. Private terraces open onto uninterrupted views of mountain, river and plain.

The award winning spa draws on indigenous botanicals such as rooibos, baobab, cape aloe and mafura butter, with a riverside treatment gazebo, a heated outdoor pool, a health bar and a fitness centre. Inspired local cuisine is served across a collection of settings, from the elegant Makana dining room to open air Embers and intimate shepherds hut dinners beneath the stars.

A rare and restorative escape for those seeking beauty, wellness and a deep connection with the wild.