How the allure of orchids elevates our safari experience

Orchids and African safaris may not seem connected, but these intriguing, showy, flowering plants have become an integral part of the MORE Family Collection experience.

If you've ever been on a luxury African safari with us, you'll know it's the small touches that often create the most memorable moments. For many of our guests, the sight of an orchid instantly transports them back to one of our lodges – and the special memories made there. Orchids have become synonymous with our stays, and the idea behind incorporating these exquisite blooms across our properties came from a desire to bring the warmth and inclusivity of a private home into our guest experience. These colourful blooms grace guest bedrooms, bathrooms, our spas and various other places throughout our lodges and hotels, such as windowsills and mantelpieces. Inspired by our matriarch, Louise More, who has cultivated orchids for over three decades, the MORE Family Collection Botanical project started in 2014 with 1200 orchids inherited from Louise’s private collection. In fact, the original shade house still stands with all the original wood preserved, on Folly Farm near White River, which has now grown to accommodate eight shade houses and 8500 plants, primarily orchids but also bromeliads and spekboom - an indigenous plant capable of absorbing 4 to 10 tonnes of greenhouse gas per hectare each year. This means selected orchids and bromeliad varieties from around the world are put on display for guests year-round.

Intriguing orchids

“Orchids are the most highly evolved of all flowering plants. Some species have developed the ability to mimic the appearance and scent of female insects to attract males to pollinate them. There are also more than 25 000 species of orchids, making them the biggest group in the plant kingdom,” explains Louise.

Operations Manager, Jen Hadley-Lowes oversees the day-to-day management and is as passionate as Louise. “The orchids on display at the lodges and hotels are often labelled with details about their history, colours, fragrances, and growing conditions for our guests to learn more about them. If you’ve ever tried to transplant, repot or care for an orchid, you’ll know they’re extremely sensitive, requiring a gentle touch, the ideal position, and just the right amount of water and light. This makes successful blooming even more special. We carry species that we know will retain their bloom and once their flowering period is over, the plants are returned to the shade houses on Folly Farm for further care,” says Jen. “I have a soft spot too for the bromeliads, and they are truly making their mark. They do incredibly well in drier environments and our guests are just as intrigued with them. They are a fitting companion to our orchids.”

“We are a small team, and this project has provided the incredible opportunity to upskill two of our employees, David Hlatshwayo and Phumlani Nyundu, who have grown tremendously under the tutelage of our prominent horticulturists Doug McMurtry and Shane Burns,” adds Jen.

Jen and David, who have been with the project since inception, recently returned from visiting the team at Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel and More Quarters Neighbourhood Hotel. “The orchids are flown direct to Cape Town, and we are delighted that all our people share this interest and are invested in the care of these intriguing plants," says Jen who sees first-hand the excitement when delivering the fresh blooms.

Each of our properties has a distinctive botanical theme that speaks to its location and personality, and it is no surprise that orchids have filtered into this. At Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel, the wild and iconic green wood orchid (Bonatea speciosa) felt like a fitting alignment with the green theme so prominent at this hotel. At Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, the leopard orchid (Ansellia africana) captured our attention. You’ll see these elements brought into our welcoming notes and other collateral.

Discover the beauty of our orchids and the warmth of our hospitality on your next luxury African safari.