Bakkrans is one of the few places left in the world where the modern world cannot reach you. Nestled within a World Heritage Site and the Cape Floral Region, this 6,000-hectare sanctuary offers a landscape of magnificent sandstone ranges, ancient San rock paintings, and incredible biodiversity.

From the world’s smallest tortoise to the endangered Cape Mountain Zebra and the elusive Cape Leopard, Bakkrans is a living museum of natural and human history. Guests stay in traditional stone-walled veld cottages — modelled after the dwellings of early frontier herders — offering an authentic, grounded lifestyle. The experience is elevated by an indigenous eco-pool and a private sauna, providing the perfect vantage point for the Cederberg’s legendary star-strewn nights.

To complement this restorative escape, this lot includes two pairs of Aard Footwear. These soft, flexible, hand-stitched slippers are designed for natural movement and comfort, making them the quintessential companion for lounging around the Bakkrans cottages or stepping softly across the sandstone.

Bakkrans is a founding member of the Cederberg Conservancy. With no inner fences, the reserve allows for the free, unhindered movement of wildlife across the landscape. By choosing this experience, you are supporting a vital corridor of conservation in one of South Africa’s most sensitive ecological zones.

Founded by Ozzy Yerlikaya, Travel Designer is a Cape Town-based boutique operator dedicated to connecting the curious and the open-minded with Africa’s most remarkable people and places. Moving beyond traditional tourism, Travel Designer focuses on "Roads Less Travelled" — soulful, expertly curated experiences that encourage travellers to slow down and reconnect with nature.

As a values-driven brand, they specialise in conservation-themed journeys that leave a positive impact on both the environment and the host communities. From the rugged peaks of the Cederberg to the vast expanses of the Karoo, Travel Designer’s mission is to inspire a profound sense of wonder through previously unimagined experiences that deeply resonate long after the journey ends.

Handmade in Noordhoek, Cape Town, Aard Footwear is a labour of love dedicated to the art of mindful living and ethical craftsmanship. Specialising in grounding, barefoot-style footwear, Aard (the Afrikaans word for ‘Earth’) creates shoes designed to honour the natural movement of the human body.

Every pair is meticulously hand-stitched by an all-female team of artisans using repurposed leather offcuts — transforming what would have been waste into unique, one-of-a-kind functional art. By removing the rigid barriers of traditional soles, Aard shoes allow the wearer to feel truly connected to the terrain beneath them. With a zero-waste philosophy and a commitment to upskilling local women, Aard is more than a footwear brand; it is an extension of the belief that what we wear should respect our bodies, our makers, and the earth itself.