Bushmans Kloof has received another international accolade, by being voted as one of the coveted Grand Award Winners for 2004, in the USA’s Andrew Harper’s Hideaways Report. Bushmans Kloof is one of only three winners on the Africa continent, singled out as some of the world’s most captivating hotels and resorts.

Andrew Harper is considered ‘the world’s most noted travel writer’, and he provides unbiased, exclusive travel recommendations and information for the discriminating traveller.  His Hideaways Report is a connoisseur's guide to luxury hideaways and secret places, and this exclusive newsletter has been published monthly since 1979. (www.AndrewHarperTravel.com)

According to the Hideaway Report, to be considered for the annual competition, properties must be relatively intimate in size and be located in peaceful and scenically pleasing surroundings. Properties are judged for their all-round comfort, non-commercial character and passionate commitment to personal service. Also taken into consideration are first-hand guest experiences of Hideaway Report readers, as well as a quantified checklist and of course, incognito inspections. General décor, design, cleanliness and upkeep of lodgings and public places, are rated along with staff that are judged on esprit de corps, attentiveness, friendliness, thoroughness and efficiency. Other criteria include the food in terms of ingredients, inspiration and presentation, as well as the grounds on overall maintenance, to mention but a few.

But, says Harper, “Ultimately the awards are based on the ‘Q’ factor, the intangible summary impression that instinctively separates the good from the truly enchanting – exuding an inviting sense of warmth and charm conducive to a relaxing stay.”

In July 2003, Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve was voted one of the 25 Top Eco Lodges in the world, by the USA’s leading travel glossy magazine ‘Travel and Leisure’. Bushmans Kloof is a member of Relais & Châteaux, and in 2001 was the first game lodge to receive a 5-star grading in South Africa.

MORE ABOUT BUSHMANS KLOOF

Bushmans Kloof is located at the foothills of the Cederberg, a mere 270km from Cape Town (South Africa). It is a thriving wilderness which has been recreated from a derelict farm that now nurtures priceless wildlife, protects the history and culture of the San (Bushmen), and secures the future of the unique botanical diversity of the region.

It is a South African Natural Heritage site and is recognised as the “world’s largest open-air gallery” for its wealth of more than 130 pristine rock art sites. It is home to more than 150 bird species, 755 plant species, and 35 species of mammals that have been identified in the reserve, including many rare and endangered species such as the Cape mountain zebra.