Opulence in Africa: Red Carnation Hotels
By Tully Luxury Travel | 05-31-2024 |
While luxury hotels and camps abound in South Africa and Botswana, none can compare to Red Carnation's repertoire of five-star properties. From the coastal cityscape of Durban to the sprawling deltas of Botswana, these properties are nothing short of masterpieces.
Red Carnation Hotels, a family-owned business, was born from the love story of Beatrice and Stanley Tollman in 1952. This passion is infused into every aspect of their properties, and is evident in the exquisite design, meticulous attention to detail, and, most importantly, the exceptional team at each hotel. Each property embodies the Tollman family values—passion, commitment, and care—creating unparalleled experiences for every guest.
At Tully Luxury Travel, many of our travel designers have experienced this all embracing hospitality first hand. Each Red Carnation property retains its own unique character, but the service is consistently excellent. Every preference, like, and dislike is remembered from hotel to hotel, ensuring a personalised and memorable stay. There is no better way to immerse yourself in the wondrous beauty of Africa than by staying at Bushmans Kloof, The Oyster Box, Xigera, or The Twelve Apostles—or all four. We highly recommend the latter. After all, this is where Red Carnation began, and true to its roots, these hotels epitomize the majesty of Africa in a way that other luxury hotels have tried and failed to replicate.
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat
Nestled in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains and a national heritage site that protects more than 130 rock art sites dating back over 10,000 years, Bushmans Kloof is an unspoilt ecological oasis that offers a wealth of possibilities amongst its open plains and ancient sandstone formations. There are few reserves quite like it anywhere on the continent. Irrespective of the season, the warm and attentive team at Bushmans Kloof brings together every essence of Africa in a hospitality experience like no other, complete with a multitude of dining options and a standout Spa.
The Oyster Box
Steeped in history, The Oyster Box is a veritable South African icon and a memorable occasion year-round. Just 20 minutes’ drive from the airport, overlooking uMhlanga’s landmark lighthouse and the Indian Ocean beyond, surrounded by tropical gardens, verdant lawns and tranquil ponds, there are few hotels in the country quite as charismatic. Inside, The Oyster Box is bedecked with an incredible art collection, lavished with splendid furnishings, and a multitude of dining options satiate guests while two swimming pools and an award-winning spa crown one of the continent's most cherished hotels.
The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
Perched above the Atlantic Ocean in the shadow of South Africa's most famous mountain range, those who wish to rest their heads at the tip of the African continent check into The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. The only property located on the spectacular coastal road that links Cape Town and Camps Bay with Llundudno Beach and Hout Bay beyond, the boutique Twelve Apostles Hotel is the perfect place to watch the sun set deep into the Atlantic, dine on fine international cuisine, luxuriate in the hotel’s award-winning Spa, or simply relax and enjoy the warm, first-class service.
Xigera Safari Lodge
Xigera is Red Carnation Hotels’ love letter to the magic of the African bush. Every aspect is handcrafted to beguile guests’ senses and stir their souls – from the evocative interiors to one-of-a-kind encounters.Transformed by Africa's life-enhancing beauty, it is a story of remarkable renewal. Of rebirth and family legacy, and of the pioneering spirit that drives us to seek out Africa’s wild spaces. The same spirit that inspired this remarkable reimagining, perhaps a complete reinvention, of an Okavango Delta safari. This is Xigera (pronounced ‘kee-jera’), named for the Pied Kingfisher that makes its home amid the watery channels of Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve. The culmination of a lifelong dream of the Tollman family, drawing on six decades of devotion to unparalleled luxury in service.