Celebrating Rare Earth’s Well‑Deserved Recognition
From the beaches of Plettenberg Bay to the wilderness of the Northern Kruger, Rare Earth is celebrating recognition in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Awards.
Rare Earth has always stood out for the way their teams make guests feel — welcomed, seen, and genuinely at home. So when that appreciation comes directly from travellers themselves, it carries real weight. Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Awards have once again recognised the group’s commitment to exceptional hospitality, and we’re delighted to congratulate them on these achievements.
The Old Rectory: Now Among the World’s Top 1%
A special moment for The Old Rectory Hotel & Spa in Plettenberg Bay.
Previously ranked within the top 10% of hotels worldwide, it has now earned Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best in the Small & Boutique – Africa category.
This places the property in the top 1% globally — an extraordinary milestone for a boutique hotel that continues to set the standard for thoughtful service and effortless comfort.
The Outpost & Pel’s Post: Consistently Exceptional
In the Makuleke region of the Kruger National Park, The Outpost and Pel’s Post have once again been recognised among the top 10% of hospitality businesses worldwide.
Even with The Outpost temporarily closed due to recent flooding, this acknowledgement reflects the impact the team has had on guests over many years.
Their dedication, and the stories travellers choose to share, remain a powerful reminder of what makes these remote camps so memorable.
What makes these awards meaningful is their source - real experiences, shared by travellers who took the time to review their stay. Every review contributes to this recognition, and it’s a testament to the Rare Earth teams who bring these moments to life — guides, chefs, housekeepers, maintenance teams, reservationists and managers alike.
To the Rare Earth family, congratulations on these achievements. They speak to your consistency, your care, and the way you show up for guests every day. And to every traveller who shared their experience, thank you for helping shine a light on the extraordinary people and places that make Rare Earth so special.
Rare Earth Retreats - Wrapping up a year of growth
Rare Earth Retreats rounds off another year of growth across its 5 lodges, boutique hotels & wine estate.
It has been a productive and eventful year for RARE EARTH RETREATS, with much growth and many positive changes. Having hosted an inspiring management conference, finalised their new Brand Strategy and upgraded their trade resources, they have also welcomed lots of new team members to the family in recent months.
Summer has finally arrived and a bumper season across all properties has begun, thanks in no small part to you, our trade family and your wonderful clients! We are so grateful for your support and look forward to a long, hot summer of sharing our soul-stirring safari lodges, award-winning wine estate and exquisite heritage hotel.
MAKULEKE, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, THE OUTPOST:
Things are heating up in the northern Kruger and we don't just mean the temperatures! It has been an extremely busy season at The Outpost and Pel's Post, with exciting refurbishments, external training, a new fleet of game vehicles, lots of new faces and installation of a solar energy facility to improve the lodge's eco-credentials as well as the guest experience…
PLETTENBERG BAY, WESTERN CAPE, THE OLD RECTORY:
Drum roll please! The Old Rectory gained a well deserved, hugely respected, international award – a place in the Top 10 of the Condé Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards 2023 – we are delighted that the team’s efforts have been recognised on the international stage. As the hotel gears up for a very busy summer, we have welcomed a new GM and front-of-house team, converted the hotel to solar power, and are celebrating Plettenberg Bay's latest accolade as the no. 1 whale-watching destination in the country! …
WELGEVONDEN GAME RESERVE, TSHWENE LODGE & EKUTHULENI LODGE:
Our lodges in the Welgevonden have been extremely busy this year, keeping Sindy and her extremely hard-working team on their toes! In addition to a soft refurb of both Tshwene Lodge and Ekuthuleni Lodge, changes at the properties include a new spa menu and external training from Healing Earth – our wellness partner across the group. There is also lots of exciting conservation news from the management team at the reserve, covering everything from orphaned rhinos to newborn cheetahs.
“Remember our special offers including Stay4/Pay3 at all Lodges and either Stay3/Pay2 or Stay4/Pay3 in Plettenberg as well as Honeymoon Offers. ”