Luxury glamping among the daisies – Canvas Collective

Imagine waking up in a warm bed covered in fine sheets to a breakfast prepared by the on-location chef in the field kitchen (no need to rush out of bed). Then, following a hot shower in your own bathroom (no shared abolition blocks), you and your guide embark on an exploration of the surrounding area and discover the Namaqua flower in full bloom. And meet the two wild horses, all too happy to join you on your walk. 

 With the chef handling all your meal needs at camp, you don’t have to worry about lunch preparation, so you don’t have to rush back. Instead, you can enjoy a delightful meal as soon as you return. Ready and waiting.

As night falls, gather around the fire to share stories with fellow travellers or indulge in some hot tub time. Then, as the sun disappears, the sky changes its hue from blue to bright pinks and purples to a deep black, revealing stars in the distance. As you sip on your Pinotage, you watch the Milky Way appear like a string of clustered pearls above you. Then, allow yourself some time to relax and breathe. 

Finally, dinner is served, and you sit down to a 3-course gourmet meal that will leave your taste buds in awe—an absolute foodie’s paradise. Your every need catered for here, be it how you take your Nespresso or which wine prefered. 

Upon returning to your tent for the evening, you discover it’s nice and cosy, mosquito nets ready, duvet fluffed and a sweet treat for later.

 Fall asleep listening to the sounds of nature as you snuggle into your comfy bed heated by a heated blanket.

That would be a perfect day of glamping!

We had the opportunity to stay at one of South Africa’s most luxurious mobile camps. Currently, Canvas Collective Africa is in the heart of the spring flower region.

Luxury lives in the finer details. It’s a cloth napkin at a dinner table. It’s a mint on your pillow before bed.

Iggy Azalea

Camping vs Glamping

If you are anything like me, you love being outdoors and the idea of camping. However, when it comes to setting up a tent, I much prefer it already set up or a cosy room. I call it a bit of champagne taste. So now take that first thought- the campsite prepared; add a few horses, stunning panoramic mountain views, and fields of yellow daisies. That is Canvas Collective Africa – luxury glamping and fine dining.

Camping redefined! 

Canvas Collective Africa – luxury glamping and fine dining

With an all-inclusive, immersive, and luxury field camp founded by Samara Stern and Dez Lundy, Canvas Collective Africa is taking advantage of what the Western Cape in South Africa offers. Every three months, they pack up and relocate to a new breathtaking (sought-after) location to experience the western Cape in-depth and in luxury—the perfect reason for you to escape the city every three months. 

But this isn’t just camping or glamping; this is Haute Glamping at its finest. Or, if you prefer, Posh camping. It’s just a matter of arriving and relaxing. With everything taken care of – from the tent set up to the chef preparing all your meals – you won’t have to do a thing but relax. Wouldn’t that be the ideal retreat?

Expect to be pampered and looked after.

The facilities 

Sleeping between the daisies- the glamping tent

Nothing beats falling asleep in a warm, cosy bed with the sound of nature lulling you to sleep. Or perhaps it is being woken up with breakfast in bed? It turns out that all of the above is exactly what we experienced. 

You’ll find high-quality furnishings in the canvas tents as in a hotel room. Including a king-size bed with stylish linens that are perfect for snuggling into on a chilly evening, along with a heated blanket.

One of the most impressive features of the tent is the attached en-suite bathroom which provides hot water and excellent pressure from a high rain shower. (One of the things I struggle with when camping is the ablution blocks. So I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that here. We have our own bathroom with a view, by the way.) 

The presence of a Nespresso machine in a hotel is a significant plus for me. My first glance at a room is the coffee bar. In addition to loving a good cup of coffee (never that instant stuff, thanks), I also enjoy having a cup as soon as I wake. Nespresso machines eliminate the need to call reception or wait for the coffee to be delivered. So I was thrilled to see one in our tent.

Snacks and a minibar are also available in the tent for when you feel a bit peckish around midnight. I love that they thought of all these details too.

They have thought of almost everything you will need, from a full-length mirror to a place to hang and pack clothes and even a place to store your suitcase. 

Turndown service

Who would have thought that you could have turndown services while camping? After dinner, as we walked into our tent, we were pleasantly surprised to find it warm and cosy. The mosquito net was prepared, the sheets fluffed, and a sweet treat placed on the bed for us to enjoy. Putting a small heater in the room was an excellent idea. As the temperature outside began to drop, the tent remained comfortable and warm. Additionally, cute solar lights are provided since they turn off the generator, or genie as it is called by the staff, from 10:30 pm until 7 am. How is that for camping?

Also see: Nieuwoudtville secret flower season- 5 things to know

Gourmet field kitchen

Besides luxury glamping, Canvas Collective Africa offers fine dining too, perfect for foodies. Gourmet meals are prepared by the resident chef in the open-plan field kitchen of the mobile glass and canvas cabin. You can expect three-course meals served in the same glass cabin, with tables arranged so that you have fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. Remember that I said you wouldn’t have to lift a finger? Well, here you go. Breakfast is served buffet style in the glass cabin, or if you prefer, a delicious continental breakfast can be prepared and brought to you in bed.

The campsite

Apart from the luxurious tents, glampers can spend time in the communal areas such as the boma or lounge are in the glass cabin, meet fellow glampers and share stories around the campfire. Whether you want coffee or Pinotage, the butler service makes it easy to get a drink while lazing around the camp. 

In addition to relaxing around the camp, you can meet the resident wild horses, wander among the daisies, or unwind in the wood-fired hot tub. If the sky is clear, stargazing here is next level. You might even see the Milkyway as we did. A sight sorely missed in the city. 

Where is Canvas Collective Africa & how to get there

Well, that is a good question. The current timeframe for each location is three months. However, co-founder Samara Stern declares, “Our launch locations in the Overberg, the Cederberg and the Swartland have been carefully picked to ensure the perfect weekend getaway – dream escapes in tranquil environments away from the hustle and bustle of city life“.

Currently located between the wildflowers on Enjo Nature Farm in the Biedouw valley since mid-July until 30th September 2022. Perfect, probably the best location to see the spring wildflowers of the region. 

Our scenic 3-hour drive from Cape Town introduced us to what was ahead with patches of flowers along the N7 towards Clanwilliam. Finally, we drove through the majestic Cederberg mountains and over a gravel pass to reach the camp.

Depending on your vehicle, it takes 45 minutes to get there from Clanwilliam as you have to cross a gravel pass. In my Peugeot 207, we manage pretty well, albeit slowly.

The next camp will be in the picturesque mountain area of Witzenberg, close to Tulbagh, from mid-October till 15th December 2022.

Also see: Day outing on an old Locomotive to Elgin Railway market

Activities

We set out for a guided hike up the mountain on our first morning. To reach the top, we hiked 8 km along picturesque paths with views of the valley below. The flowers constantly changed as we made our way, creating a breathtaking scene. Because we often stopped to take photos, it took more than two hours to complete the hike.

• Guided hikes – short to much longer hike- depends on your preference 
• Flower seeing
• Star gazing

If you are heading to or from the camp, you can explore the Rooibos route, visit the Cederberg rock art or visit the Tankwa Karoo National Park.

In search of the spring flowers

As the camp is currently located among the beautiful spring wild flowers, we were lucky enough to see the start of their bloom. Spotted a few I wanted see for a few years. If you need help identifying the flowers, remember you can make use of Clan flora mobile app.

Tips

• There is only one tip, relax and leave the stress at home. 
• However, do note there is no cell reception. 

Travel plan:

• Accommodation:            Canvas collective Africa
• Accommodation style:    Glamping, Luxury
• Price range:                    $$$$
• Booking:                      All-inclusive, min stay of 2 nights for 2 people 
• Mode of transport:         Car
• Interesting finds/souvenirs: Photos of wildflowers, the Namaqua daisies

Let’s try it again, rewind to YOUR arrival at camp. You know it’s going to be a great weekend when there’s a glass of bubbly and a hot tub waiting for you…

Take advantage of this city escape to relax, unwind, and enjoy nature in luxury at the camp. Canvas Collective Africa created the luxury glamping and fine dining experience for those who love nature and adventure but still want to be pampered and enjoy life’s finer things. It’s perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle without much effort. 

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.

Frank Lloyd Wright

      *Disclosure:  In collaboration with Canvas Collective but as always, opinions expressed here are my own