The Royal Portfolio is one of the top providers of luxury travel in South Africa, operating small boutique properties in stunning locations throughout the country. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to experience their outstanding properties and incredible hospitality during our recent trip.
From their stylish city hotel, to quiet sanctuaries in Franschhoek and Hermanus, to a broad range of unique safari lodges, you will be warmly welcomed at each property in this family-owned hotel group and will feel like part of the family.
Combining multiple properties from within the same hotel portfolio has many advantages, beginning with a consistent level of excellent service and amenities throughout your entire trip. The properties will all communicate with one another about your preferences and dietary requests, including the wine styles that you enjoy! We loved the personalized menus presented to each member of our group at every location, featuring only dishes suited to your preferences. Another great reason to combine several portfolio properties is to take advantage of their longer-stay discounts.
We began our trip at La Residence, located in a relaxing private 30-acre estate in the winelands region of Franschhoek, surrounded by mountains and vineyards. Each room is individually decorated by owner Liz Biden, to her exacting standards and in her unique style. In addition to the spacious suites in the main building, there are also vineyard suites which are perfect for friends or family sharing, and the newly opened, exclusive six-bedroom Franschhoek House.
From here we journeyed to the ultimate seaside retreat of Birkenhead House in Hermanus. Perched on a cliff side overlooking the sandy beach of Walker Bay, this property is calming and welcoming. A long list of activities is available here, from whale watching to kayaking to wine tasting, and we thoroughly enjoyed mussel picking. Donning wetsuits, we joined Chef Clive and headed down to the beach to learn the proper way to harvest mussels, and it was so much fun! Later that day, we joined him for a cooking class to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Our city stay at The Silo, Cape Town’s premier luxury hotel, was the perfect base for our exploration of the city. This architectural wonder is located in the heart of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, steps away from superb dining and shopping.
No trip to South Africa would be complete without venturing out on safari, and we ended our trip with some amazing wildlife viewing. The Royal Portfolio has a variety of stylish camps and lodges in the Thornybush Game Reserve, adjacent to the renowned Kruger National Park. Each property has its own special charm, and there is surely one to match your own personal style!
Each Royal Portfolio safari vehicle has a guide and a tracker who work together as a team to host your wildlife experience. These professional safari guides are some of the most qualified in South Africa, with several achieving the highest level of nationally recognized guide rating. In fact, there are only 13 guides who have achieved this highest Scout status, and two of them are on the Royal Malewane team. Collectively, the guiding team has over 350 years of experience in the African bush, and they will deliver an unforgettable safari for you.
We began our safari at Waterside at Royal Malewane, perched at the edge of a waterhole in the northern section of the Reserve. Opened in 2022, the spacious and light-filled rooms have a contemporary feel, in shades of green and blue. This family-friendly lodge also has a games room, rock climbing wall, and outdoor pizza oven, and the exclusive-use 4-bedroom Waterside House is ideal for a private family retreat. Wildlife viewing here was excellent, including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, zebra, wildebeest and more. If interested, you can also arrange a visit to the nearby Conservation and Research Centre and the Anti-Poaching K-9 Unit.
Our next stop was the place where it all began – Malewane Lodge at Royal Malewane! This was the first luxury safari lodge built by the Biden family, and there is a timeless elegance and traditional safari feel at this stunning lodge. Nearby is Africa House, a private 6-bedroom bush villa with vibrant décor and rich colors, and plenty of space in the multiple living and dining areas for the entire family to enjoy.
The wildlife viewing in this southern section of the Reserve was equally impressive, and we completed our viewing of the big five with a huge herd of Cape Buffalo, in addition to seeing more rhino, elephants, and a huge pride of lions.
We visited their small and intimate sister property, the nearby Farmstead at Royal Malewane. This property has just three farm suites overlooking a vibrant waterhole, plus there is also the option to exclusively book their private 3 ½ bedroom villa, the Farmhouse. The style here is a relaxed modern take on a farmhouse design, with vibrant colors, contemporary African art, and hanging daybeds for relaxing on your private deck, taking in the views of the surrounding bush.
The excitement did not end there! We were thrilled to have the opportunity to take a sneak peek at the newest property in the portfolio, Masiya’s Camp at Royal Malewane, before its official opening! As one of the very few luxury tented options available in the greater Kruger region, we have been anxiously awaiting its opening, and it did not disappoint.
Named in honor of the late master tracker Wilson Masiya, this unique tented retreat provides an immersive experience in the sights and sounds of the African bush. This intimate camp has just six tented suites, each individually decorated with bold vibrant colors and artwork. Each spacious suite has a dedicated indoor lounge area, a private deck with a heated plunge pool, and an outdoor lounge with expansive views. The communal lounge bar and dining area features an interactive kitchen, pizza oven, outdoor barbeque, and 360-degree views. This is a very exciting new addition that we think will become a very popular choice for discerning travelers!
With so many incredible options to choose from, we can design a customized itinerary for you so that you too can experience the Royal treatment in South Africa.
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