Direct importer · Marbella
African thatch,
from South Africa
to your roof.
We import the reed, store it in Marbella and supply it in bundles or as thatch tiles to trade and private customers all over Spain. And when the project calls for it, we build the pergola.
- 3,400 m²
- of warehouse and showroom
- 20 cm
- thick on a bundle thatch roof
- Up to 30 years
- of life with little maintenance
African thatch palapa
The material
A solid reed that water can’t get through.
African reed thatch – also known as Cape reed – is harvested in South Africa. Unlike European water reed, which is hollow, its stem is solid: that is why it has weight, stands up to the weather and ages slowly.
Laid in layers about 20 cm thick and at the right pitch, it lets water run off the outside without ever reaching the structure. Over the years it darkens and takes on a patina, and that is when it sits best in a garden.
- Waterproof by design The pitch of the roof and the thickness do the work: water runs off the outer layer.
- Cool underneath Twenty centimetres of plant fibre give dense shade, without the heat of canvas or sheet metal.
- With a certificate of origin Every consignment is supplied with the origin of the material documented.
Two formats
The same reed, in bundles or in tiles.
Bundle thatch is the traditional roof, the thickest and the longest-lasting. The thatch tile is quick to fit and can be replaced one piece at a time.
Bundles
For roofs 20 cm thick, ridges, finishing details and repairs. Thousands of bundles always in stock.
- Up to 30 years of life
- Supplied in packs of 10
- Laid by a thatcher
€1.50 per bundle · excl. VAT
Thatch tiles
45 × 80 cm thatch tiles that fix with their own clips or with staples. For umbrellas, pergolas and interior ceilings.
- 4.5 tiles per m²
- 8 – 10 years of life
- Quick to fit, no specialist skills needed
€16 per tile · excl. VAT
What it’s used for
From a beach umbrella to an entire beach bar.
We supply the material on its own and we also install it. These are the jobs we’re asked for most.
African thatch pergolas
Mono-pitch, gable or hipped, hexagonal or round.
Palapas
Conical thatched roofs for pool, garden and beach.
African thatch umbrellas
Made of thatch tiles: assembled in minutes.
Beach bar construction
From design to roof, alongside your architect.
African daybeds
For six people, with lighting, sound and a bar ledge.
Beach kiosks
Open on all four sides, with removable panels.
Choosing a roof
African thatch, heather, reed or synthetic?
No single roof is best for everything. It depends on how long it has to last, the look you’re after and your budget.
Compare the materials in depthAfrican thatch in bundles
Dense and thick, golden turning darker
Up to 30 years
€1.50 / unit
African thatch in tiles
Stepped, very even
8 – 10 years
€16 / unit
Spanish heather
Dark and rustic, in rolls or fringed
About 15 years when fringed
€12 / m²
Synthetic palm thatch
Imitates palm leaf
20-year guarantee
€105 / m²
Unit prices, excluding VAT and delivery. Volume discounts available.
Real projects
Villas, beach restaurants and hotels that already have it.
Why buy from the importer
Fewer hands between the field and your project.
- 3,400 m²
- of warehouse and showroom in Marbella
- Since 2018
- trading as Pérgolas Tropicales
- 20 cm
- thick on a bundle thatch roof
- Up to 30 years
- service life for properly laid thatch
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Prices at source
We buy by the full container and sell with no middlemen, wholesale and retail.
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Always in stock
The material is in our warehouse, not in a catalogue: you see it, you choose it and it ships.
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Certified origin
One hundred per cent African thatch, with the origin of every consignment documented.
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Installation if you need it
Our own team of timber-frame installers and thatchers.
Where we deliver
All over Spain, islands included.
The material leaves Marbella by road for mainland Spain and by sea for the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla. We also export.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask us before they buy
Do you sell to private customers or only to the trade?
Both. We sell wholesale to thatchers, landscapers and hospitality businesses, and also retail to anyone who wants to roof their own pergola.
How long does an African thatch roof last?
In bundles, about 20 cm thick and at the right pitch, up to 30 years with a going-over roughly every four years to remove loose strands. In tiles, between 8 and 10 years.
Is it waterproof?
Yes, by geometry: water runs off the outer layer without passing through it. That is why bundle thatch needs a steep pitch.
Do you deliver?
All over Spain – the mainland, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla – and we also export. Delivery is quoted separately according to volume and destination.
Can I see the material before I buy?
Yes. We have a warehouse and showroom in Marbella; call or write to us to arrange a visit.
Do the prices include VAT and delivery?
No. The published prices are unit prices, excluding VAT and delivery, and volume discounts apply.
No-obligation quote
Tell us what you want to cover and we’ll tell you what it costs.
The measurements, a photo of the site or the plans are all we need to prepare a quote for the material, with delivery and, if you need it, installation.