Bet you thought you couldn’t actually stay in a treehouse, right? Well, in fact, there’s no better place to rest your head while exploring South Africa – book your stay with Culture Trip and take your spot under the stars.
Wide open spaces, quiet, cold nights and areas far away from any light pollution make South Africa one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations for stargazing. Head out of the cities to the desert, mountains or bush and the vivid night skies will take your breath away. For a real once-in-a-lifetime treat, book a unique treehouse to truly get back to nature and watch the stars until the moment you close your eyes, lulled to sleep by rustling leaves all around.
The eight treehouse suites at this lodge by the Marico River may be built among the leaves, but you certainly won’t be roughing it. Each suite has its own outdoor shower, indoor bath and private viewing deck, and is reached by elevated, lantern-lit walkways. All meals and drinks are included, plus twice-daily game drives and exclusive access to the Terrapin Hide, a water-level hideout for getting up-close-and-personal with the local crocodiles – safely.
Lion Sands is renowned for its lavish five-star lodges on the Sabie River, a stretch of water it shares with Kruger National Park. However, its three spectacular treehouses are the real talking point, built on platforms above the ground and completely open to the elements, so you can stargaze from under the duvet after a sunset picnic dinner. This is a night you’ll be talking about for years.
This ecofriendly lodge is partially off the grid in 36ha (89 acres) of Knysna Forest, so be prepared to really get away from it all. Though there’s a bar, art gallery and even a petting zoo, the resort is best suited to the adventurous – rooms are built around a gorge in canvas, wood and glass, and located between two and six metres (6-20ft) above ground. Don’t be surprised if a curious monkey takes a peek in your suite when you’re not around.
Staying in a treehouse doesn’t need to mean glorified camping. This farm is surrounded by fruit trees and vineyards in the foothills of the Saronsberg mountains, and its treehouses are more than a match for any lavish hotel room, with a private barbecue area, air conditioning, coffee machine, balcony and breakfast served in bed. Guests can also use the day spa and gym, visit the farm shop or even try gin tasting.
Keen birdwatchers are in for a treat at this adorable apartment among the trees, complete with its own garden and terrace. There are nature reserves and bird sanctuaries nearby, though all sorts of birds come to the forest itself to feed, so you can watch them without going anywhere at all. The cottage has one double bed, a bathroom and a kitchenette, and is next door to the bird-loving owner’s very own wooden house.
This clutch of treehouses, owned by devoted stargazer Gary Els, are perfectly located for looking up at the skies; Gary will treat you to a tour of them with his telescope if conditions allow. There are several treehouses and two cottages to bed down in afterwards, including the Faraway Treehouse, built on two levels into a sycamore tree with its own fireplace, and the smallest Romantic Treehouse with its own spa bath.
Beach lovers can still experience treehouse tranquility at this luxury hideaway, hidden among ancient trees and rocks in the coastal village of Scarborough, 30 minutes’ drive from Cape Point. The home has two bedrooms and comes with its own private plunge pool, wood-burning fireplaces, top-of-the-range kitchen and even an outdoor shower. All this and the Atlantic Ocean is just minutes away.
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