Owner of the five-star floral and marine eco-paradise Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Michael Lutzeyer, shares the journey of how this magnificent establishment near Gansbaai in the Western Cape grew to what it is today.
‘The COVID-19 developments have had dire consequences for families, countries and economies. The devastation and pain felt by many around the globe is incalculable. While we are slowly moving toward a new normal, we do not want to lose an important opportunity to reflect. So, I have taken a pause in the last months to block out the noise and think back over our 25-year journey at Grootbos. It has been a liberating experience,’ Lutzeyer says.
‘I bought the first Grootbos farm in 1991 with my late father ‘Oupa’ Heiner, as a country getaway for our family; an escape from our busy city lives. I have reflected back on those first years of weekends and family holidays on the farm, and then to 1995 when we opened Grootbos to our first guests, my wife Dorothee and brother Tertius in the kitchen, my sister-in-law Gabi on the floor and just eight other team members. Today, Groobos is something quite different, spearheaded by the Grootbos Foundation that focuses on creating sustainability in our communities while being privileged to be able to protect 2,500 hectares of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
‘Throughout the years our actions have been shaped by what is around us. Be it the beautiful fynbos, the local communities, the staff that work for us and you, the guest that has found their way to us. Our journey was not planned since inception but has come about through consciousness to the community and the beautiful nature that we live in.
‘During this organic journey of developing Grootbos into what it is today, we were continually awakened to the fragility of the societal systems in South Africa and the world. Whether it was a lack of consciousness towards the importance and intricacies of nature that surrounds us, the ever-growing inequality gap, or the lack of sustainability inherent in so much of human activity – the current status quo continually provoked a sense of discomfort within us.
‘Although COVID-19 has plunged humanity into a crisis, it has simultaneously magnified the importance of sustainability, caring for others and collective action. These values have preoccupied us for the last decade and have not only become my passion but that of my family, shareholders and core team at Grootbos. It’s more important than ever to look deeper at where we are and at the underlying causes of our fragile systems if we want to create a sustainable future.
‘Through our journey, Grootbos, and myself personally, have encountered many challenges, including lodges burning down, worldwide recessions, passing of loved-ones and changing markets. Underpinning this journey are fundamental beliefs that have formed the foundation of our approach to sustainability – beliefs centred around a harmonious approach to conservation, community, and the power of tourism to inspire and transform. We feel more deeply connected to these very beliefs now than ever before.
‘While we started out as a tourism enterprise supporting community and conservation work, we evolved into something quite different. We underwent a paradigm shift where the Grootbos DNA is about harmonious integration with our surroundings while simultaneously creating a Progressive Tourism business. Tourism has become the catalyst for realizing and sharing our belief in people and the environment. Our ability to offer life-changing tourism experiences are directly linked to our immersion in our surroundings and our community and driving these to a state of harmony. It is for this reason, that COVID-19 has not changed the core of our organisation. Our connection with the environment and our surroundings will just take a different form whilst we navigate these challenging times. So even now, as we consider when and how to push the restart button on our business, the crucial work of the Grootbos Foundation continues on all fronts.
‘Once the travel restrictions are over and people are able to travel again, they are going to be more passionate than ever to be closer to nature, and in a serene and authentic environment that fosters a true connection to harmonious living. We believe that our future guests will want to be immersed in progressive experiences that are transformative, and we are eagerly awaiting to share these experiences with them in the future.
We are entirely conscious of the fact that we are not walking this journey alone. It is you, our guest and greater family, that is the lifeblood of our future and of the community and conservation work in which we are so heavily invested. Grootbos and I are blessed to have you as part of our family. It is for this reason, that we are eagerly looking forward to welcoming you again in the near future.’
For more information, visit their website.
Image credit: Instagram/Grootbos
