Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge has a spectacular setting, overlooking a private sweep of beach in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. Just over 3 hours’ drive from Cape Town, this beautiful reserve protects fynbos-covered hills and a rich marine life. All along the coast you’ll find sheltered bays and countless rocks pools; pods of dolphins are often seen out to sea and – from July to November – you can experience some of the best land-based whale watching in the world!
The lodge was built on the site of former president FW de Klerk’s coastal retreat; this is where he’d come to plan and reflect on South Africa’s transition to a new democracy. The place has a blissful seclusion with the whole magnificent coastline seemingly to yourself. Go on long beach walks, peek in the rock pools at low tide, walk through the Cape fynbos with an experienced naturalist or hop in a vehicle to see the Cape Vulture colony.
Lekkerwater is a cosy and intimate lodge with just 7 rooms, including a family room. Each room has floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a small deck – making the most of those wide ocean views. The main lodge has plenty of comfortable corners and a wrap-around deck for delicious, family-style lunches and (in whale season) a good dose of whale watching too. In the evenings, look forward to sundowners on the dunes and beach barbecues accompanied by the region’s finest wines.