Etusis Lodge
Welcome to the jewel of the Otjipatera Mountains. The Etusis Lodge is a small oasis in the heart of our nature reserve. A row of grass-covered buildings built with natural stone from Etusis is your retreat after a long journey or the day's excursions.
Our Accommodation
The homely Etusis Lodge is situated in a beautiful private game reserve 40 km from Karibib and offers a choice of accommodation ranging from camping and self-catering to private bungalows with half board, some of which are wheelchair-accessible.
Relax at the pool to the sounds of nature or enjoy many activities, e.g. horse riding, game drives or nature walks.
Our Facilities
At the heart of the property is our restaurant and main building with the bar under a camel thorn tree. A sundowner has never tasted better - when you step out onto the terrace, you can enjoy the view of our embankment with the small waterhole, which is frequented by kudus, zebras and baboons. Behind it rises the Etusis marble mountains and the mighty Otjipatera massif.
Our grass roof bungalows are spread around our pool. A wonderful opportunity to cool off, especially during the warm lunchtime. A table tennis table offers further variety. Our small museum with artifacts from Etusis and the surrounding area from nature or history invites you to visit and also serves as a room for conferences.
We have a lot to offer - don't just come for one night but rather stay with us for two, or even better, three nights, giving you the chance to really experience Etusis and pursue various activities. To travel the 17km from the C32 only for one night in our - admittedly very beautiful - bungalows would be a shame.
Groot Constantia Estate
As an important part of World Wine Heritage Groot Constantia Estate is also a world-class international tourism destination in Cape Town, capturing the rich and diverse heritage of South Africa, to deliver a unique cultural, social and historical experience to locals and tourists alike by producing world class quality wines and offering you sensory encounters as well as special experiences. As a provincial heritage site and a living museum, we are tasked with preserving the legacy of our South African wine industry.
Situated in Cape Town's suburb Constantia and founded in 1685, our Groot Constantia Wine Estate is South Africa’s oldest wine estate which produces award-winning wines including the world famous Constantia Wyn aka Grand Constance.
Located on the aesthetic Cape Peninsula overlooking False Bay, our vineyards are tucked in the steep valley on the eastern side of Table Mountain. Enjoy a 45- to 60-minute guided tour through our modern cellar, followed by a wine tasting and audio visual screening. We also have restaurants on the premises to tantalize your taste buds.
Groot Constantia Museum
The Dutch East India Company nominated Simon van der Stel to manage the Cape of Good Hope in 1679, according to history. He requested land from the Company after years of devoted service. He dispatched riders to gather soil samples on a regular basis in order to conduct research. He fell in love with the soil in 1685 and chose 891 morgen (about 763 ha) behind Table Mountain for its wine-growing potential and breathtaking landscape. Over the years the wines produced on the estate caught the attention of influential people across the globe - due to its impressive quality.
Groot Constantia’s rich history shows how one man’s love of wine established South Africa’s first wine farm more than 330 years ago and how those 891 morgen of land formed the origins of the commercial South African wine industry, with Emperors and Kings such as Frederick the Great of Prussia and Louis Phillipe (King of the French) buying ‘Constantia Wyn’ at auctions across Europe.
South Africa’s oldest wine became so celebrated globally, that it appears in Jane Austen’s novel "Sense and Sensibility" as a cure for a broken heart to be drunk to lift a character’s spirit as in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" by Charles Dickens.
The Museum
Its Orientation Centre in the Jonkershuis complex uses panel, object and archaeological displays to give an overview of Groot Constantia from the past to present, including slavery on the estate.
Carriages are on display in the Coach House and in the historical wine cellar, while the Wine Museum exhibits wine storage and drinking vessels from antiquity to the early 20th century.
The Homestead, with its exhibition of furniture, paintings, textiles, ceramics, brass and copperware, provides an insight into the life of a successful 18th to late 19th century Cape farmer.
