Book De Nova hotels

Staff and location

The location was beautiful and the night staff that greeted us were extremely friendly and helpful. We appreciated everything about the hotel.

I’ve stayed in many beautiful hotels around the world, but Botlierskop is, without question, the best hotel I’ve ever experienced. Booked 1 night, stayed 2 - best decision we made. One night isn't enough! We don’t often return to the same place, but we’ll definitely be back. The setting, the people, the service, the wildlife — it all came together to create a truly unforgettable stay. We stayed in a deluxe tent, which was stunning and incrediblycomfortable. The spa was equally impressive. What really sets this reserve apart is the attention to detail and level of service. The staff were warm, professional, and genuinely passionate. Huge thanks to the lovely reception team, the knowledgeable and funny sommelier, our amazing guides (especially Kali on our game drive and Victor for horse riding), and Jeclan the porter, who made us feel so welcome. We also had another wonderful guide on our morning game drive, extremely knowledgeable, though we sadly missed his name. The reserve is huge, spanning two valleys, and unlike other reserves, all animals live in the same natural environment. Animals roam freely, just as they would in the wild. The commitment to conservation is clear — from maintaining ecological balance to protecting endangered specie. You can feel that wildlife and nature come first here. We even had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of horse riding beside giraffes. We highly recommend doing both the morning and evening game drives — each offers something unique.

Fabulous views on the beach front. We stayed in Robben Island which was on top floor and had the most wonderful views of the gorgeous beach and sea. Room was spacious and clean with small kitchenette area with microwave which was useful. A short 5 min drive to some shops and restaurants. Breakfast was plentiful and fresh. Would recommend a stay at this wonderful location.

Breakfast was excellent every morning. Parking was very tight if you had a bigger car.

Gondwana offers a fantastic experience for anyone looking for a short Safari within the confines of a private game concession. There is a diverse array of animals to view in amongst beautiful scenery despite being close to Mossel Bay. Our accommodation went way beyond our expectations - a huge 3 bedroom lodge all to ourselves. We loved the 15+ minute self drive to get there! The food at Gondwana is nothing like you get on a typical safari - it’s more like a 5* hotel experience with so much choice (take aways available!). In summary we had an excellent experience