Canvas and Tent Europe
Bringing South African Luxury to Europe by Steph Curtis-Raleigh
It’s not every day I get invited to visit a company overseas but Marc Van Den Bosch is very persuasive. “We are working on one of the biggest tented lodge developments in Europe, come and visit and see our showroom as well,” he says. So, one Monday morning I find myself on a train from London to Brussels – which takes only 2 hours – the equivalent of a rail journey to Leeds or Manchester. “I think our position in Belgium is a huge advantage to us as a company,” says Marc. “It is the ideal position for people to come and see us and I always urge customers to see our showroom in person, so they can truly understand what our product is about.”
hunting and luxury lodges and resorts internationally and has an impressive client list, including Virgin boss Richard Branson. The parent company, which is situated in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains in Ladysmith, South Africa, also has a heritage as one of the leading tent suppliers supplier to military and humanitarian organisations.
Marc runs Canvas and Tent Europe, which is a division of the market-leading South African safari tent manufacturer; the Canvas and Tent group, which has been manufacturing tents since 1968. Their brand, Bushtec Safari, is well known to safari camps and game reserves,
Over the years, Canvas and Tent has massively expanded its range of luxury outdoor accommodation, according to Marc. “The company’s initial product offering was the Meru range of tents, which was a standard design allowing little room for customization. We
Marc Van Den Bosch recognised a need for a bigger variety and more options. As a result, our team took risks and began designing tents ahead of their time,” he adds. “This inspired us to take part in the yearly Tourism Indaba. Each year we push the boundaries of good design in canvas and create something new, beautiful, functional and trendy.” What began as a small company, manufacturing a few luxury canvas tents, is today a respected and trusted brand offering the best of both worlds; a back to nature experience, with all the luxury guests could wish for. For example; ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioned rooms, breathtaking interiors and complete kitchens to ensure the food compliments the scenery from guests’ private tented suite
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