Nestled in the Blekinge Archipelago in Sweden lies Eriksberg Nature Reserve, one of Northern Europe’s largest protected areas for wildlife.
On the animals’ terms. That’s the mantra at Eriksberg. “The only species that doesn’t belong, is us,” says Per Arne Olsson, CEO of the reserve and hotel as we drive in the still morning across the reserve.
Set across 925 acres, the area – now deemed the largest safari park in Scandinavia, has been the focus of preservation and protection since its acquisition in 1938 by author, zoologist and nature photographer Bengt Berg, who is considered a pioneer of nature and wildlife management.
The first thing to do when one arrives at Eriksberg is to close your eyes. Listen. The sounds signal a thriving community of birds, animals, bees and so much more. The chirps. The buzz as the pollinators float around the fresh lavender situated in the herb garden.
The second is to look, patiently. In time, many of the species at Eriksberg reveal themselves. From European bison and mouflon sheep to wild boar and a flurry of deer be that majestic and mighty red deer, the elegant fallow deer, or Père David’s deer – the green fields and grass are a sight to behold. Cranes, woodpeckers, geese and ducks are amongst the wildlife you can also find whilst out walking, cycling and exploring the reserve. Beetles tinged with electric blue and butterflies can be spotted if you look closely.
Sustainability is paramount to Per Arne and the team at Eriksberg. Beyond conservation efforts of the estate itself, focusing on the hotel, there are multiple measures to encourage energy efficiency, the uptake of renewable energy and the adoption of smart systems and design. For instance, energy is sourced through a green certificate, solar panels are situated in the entrance area and there is electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Importantly, rock heating is used throughout to minimise energy losses. Rock heating has been selected with the intention of removing the need for cooling via electricity during the summer months. Rock heating has been made possible with 8 drilled holes into the neighbouring mountain, approximately 100 metres deep. These drill holes can make it possible to heat and cool the pool and hotel.
In the spring of 2024, Eriksberg opened the Ark Hotel, designed by architect Oskar Årevall. Intended to mirror a boat, that has landed in the reserve’s environment, guests can now board a journey to experience the animals, birds and their environment from both inside, and outside of the hotel.
To encompass biophilic design within the new hotel’s interiors and ensure guests feel connected to the natural environment through the use of nature and space, power design duo Carl Philip Bernadotte and Oscar Kylberg of design studio Bernadotte & Kylberg were commissioned to not only set the tone for the rooms but also design three majestical suites. Learn about the sustainability credentials and design in detail here.
It is this level of attention to detail throughout the estate and its various rooms and buildings that earned Eriksberg the accolade of Northern Europe’s most luxurious nature reserve at the World Luxury Hotel Awards in 2019.
Travel notes from Eriskberg Nature Reserve
Monday 1st July
Over dinner at Eriksberg’s Havsören Restaurant which focuses on seasonal and local produce, I was fortunate to learn from Per Arne Olsson, CEO of Eriksberg, who has worked on the ground since 2001. “For me, this is not a job, but a way of life.”, shared Per Arne.
We talked about how his father’s work in forestry taught him much of what he knows today as well as how trips to Africa and regions such as Tanzania and Botswana have provided inspiration for Eriksberg as a luxury game reserve. We passed through a multitude of topics ranging from the powerful benefits of forest bathing, how the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged Swedes to visit Eriksberg, to the degree of effectiveness of Greta Thunberg in galvanising action amongst the younger generation. What is the impact of war on nature? Why must Eriksberg employees take time to go for a walk in nature? How does the hotel embrace the concept of nose-to-tail dining? Per Arne shared his thoughts on all of these things too.
Tuesday 2nd July
To wake up to the sounds of birds chirping with a view of animals in the distance was the perfect way to start the day. A powerful antidote to usual city life. We set off on an early morning drive to see the reserve in stillness. Per Arne shared details on the history of the trees, and the ancient rocks, drawing attention to the power of mycelium in action, with many trees rooted in the rocks over centuries.
A pit stop for tea saw us also explore an old Croft house, where families that used to live on the estate farmed and undertook community life, learning about how they used the land.
A favourite moment was passing Lake Färsksjön, a vast water lily lake which has one of the world’s largest stocks of the protected red water lily. It is this view that has inspired the wallpaper design by Martin Bergström in the Skog Suite of the Ark Hotel.
Visiting the viewpoint of the nature reserve which looks out onto the Baltic Sea is mesmerising. Here, you can stay at the Illusion villa, an escape from everything in a solar-powered space with ultimate comfort and secluded appeal.
The afternoon’s adventure took us to the island of Dragsö and the archipelago inside the nature reserve. Docking and observing, this was one of the most quiet places I have been in a long time. We traced how families used to live here, Per Arne recounted that at one time, five families survived farming on the land. Here, animals exist but are more timid, the fallow deer are quick to run at the slightest of movements or sounds. The island is home to WW2 defences, rock formations, and features dating back to the Ice and Iron Ages. Brilliantly, the team at Eriksberg are building a set of bridges later on in the year so that visitors can explore this area for themselves, without the need for a boat.
Fire and the Norrsjön lake punctuated our evening where we were treated to dinner in the fresh air and a drive home whilst the sun gradually set, watching the deer and a calf swim through the water.
Wednesday 3rd July
Cycling through Eriksberg offers a new perspective, with a closer look at the animals. Leica binoculars are provided by the hotel and are also featured in rooms. The quality makes watching the animals and birds a multi-dimensional experience. A few steep hills make this a brilliant morning workout too.
In the afternoon, Petra from the team took us outside of the reserve to explore the different ARK 56 routes. ARK 56 is a series of connected coastal trails in the UNESCO biosphere reserve that you can explore by bike, on foot, in a kayak, or by boat. You can download the app to plan your trails. Eriksberg has refreshed several WW2 defences so that guests can stay in them on their hikes, and we sat in the shelter for tea. Following the orange trail made for a perfect walk with varying terrain, looking out over the water, succumbing to more forest as well as mountainous and rocky landscapes. At the end of the trail lies a new wooden platform and expansive seating area, this is the perfect place to watch the water and relax; it would be heaven to sit here on a sunny day and read a book.
Before I headed for my last dinner, I took a dip in the heated pool in the main part of the hotel. Being able to swim and simultaneously watch the animals was one of my favourite moments. To sleep in the Himmel suite feels like you are floating on a cloud teetering on the edge of nature, just as Bernadotte & Kylberg intended.
My tips for travelling to Eriksberg Nature Reserve
- The reserve and hotel are dog-friendly
- Download the ARK 56 app to explore adventure routes in the surrounding areas
- My recommended duration of stay would be at least 3 days, especially when the new bridges are built to allow for time to explore the island of Drögso and the archipelago
- There is charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, also a helipad – if you are that way inclined
- The hotel hosts conferences and corporate events. What a dream place this would be for a team-building trip
- En route home, be sure to visit the shop so you can take a piece of Eriksberg home with you and some freshly baked fika for good measure
- My recommended travel route (from the UK) would be to fly to Copenhagen Airport and take the 2.5-hour direct train to Karlshamn. (A one-way ticket is approximately £25)
Transitioning from the evergreen of Eriksberg to city grey landscapes is tough. I am already looking forward to returning, this time, waiting patiently for the Sea Eagle.
This article is written with a very special thank you to Per Arne Olsson, Åsa Olsson and the entire team at Eriksberg Nature Reserve for their hospitality, for sharing so much with me and for making my first time in Sweden so memorable.
To stay at the Ark Hotel, you can book your room via the website. When staying at Eriksberg you can also book a number of activities in advance including guided tours.
Read my interview with Bernadotte & Kylberg, the design studio behind the interiors of Eriksberg’s Ark Hotel. You can also learn more about the sustainability credentials of the building here.
See highlights via Instagram.
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