Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Luxury
$ 222 (Pps)
Overview
- Journey through time in one of the most historic and scenically beautiful locations on the African Continent.
- Learn about the marine life, fynbos and pristine environment of the unusual reserve.
- Eat dinner on the beach with the sand between your toes and the region's finest wines on the table. There certainly aren't many places to enjoy this in South Africa.
- Experience some of the world's best land-based whale watching straight from your bedroom.
- Enjoy staying in a cosy and intimate lodge. Here, you will arrive as strangers and depart as friends.
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop is situated in the eastern sector of De Hoop Nature Reserve, just over a three hour drive from Cape Town. The lodge is positioned right beside a six kilometre stretch of private beach. It has a fascinating history. The area’s extraordinary beauty and blissful seclusion led ex-President FW de Klerk to choose the location for his ‘Camp David' for the early peace talks between De Klerk and the ANC.
Lekkerwater (which translates as ‘the place of good water’) has seven rooms, each of which enjoys a glorious outlook across the ocean and beach outside.
Activities at Lekkerwater
Activities include beach walks, sundowners on the dunes, rock pool explorations, walks and bird-watching.
Not only does the coastline outside boast a plethora of rock pools to explore, it also offers some of the planet’s most productive whale watching, with dolphins aplenty too. From July through to November, Southern Right Whales and their calves travel here from Antarctica, providing some heart-stompingly spectacular and unforgettable sightings for guests to take in. As well as southern right whales, you’ll also spot the less common Bryde’s whales and perhaps even humpbacks as well as dolphins cresting the waves.
Walks through the fynbos - Lace up your boots for a walk through the fynbos. As part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, you’ll discover thousands of endemic plant species in the reserve including the national flower of South Africa, the King Protea.
Bird-watching - with over 250 species of birds recorded in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, you’ll definitely be able to tick more from your list.
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop gallery
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop on the map
Rooms
Double or Twin room
The dream at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop was for the spectacular vistas to take center stage and room is fronted by floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the Indian Ocean- offering uninterrupted views before you. Inside, the rooms take inspiration from the natural beauty of the reserve and are earthy & comfortable. A wood burning fireplace takes away the evening chill and the open plan ensuite showers allow you a private peak at the ocean.
Family room
The dream at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop was for the spectacular vistas to take center stage and room is fronted by floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the Indian Ocean- offering uninterrupted views before you. Kids have their own private loft room with 2 three quarter beds. Inside, the rooms take inspiration from the natural beauty of the reserve and are earthy & comfortable. A wood burning fireplace takes away the evening chill and the open plan ensuite showers allow you a private peak at the ocean. Kindly note that there is 1 x bathroom (open plan shower & enclosed toilet) for the parents & children to share.
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge – Kate’s review
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge is on the site of an original holiday homestead which was requisitioned by the Government in the 80s. It is a simply gob-smacking location with views up and down this completely deserted beautiful stretch of beach. Basically this is as good as any beach destination in South Africa.
The main lodge is small but very charming and stylish in its décor. There is a large deck with a fireplace and also a netting overhang for lounging (sort of like a giant hammock)
There’s a short boardwalk down to the beach and hidden away is a kolkol Jacuzzi tub which you can book for private bathing session for an hour. Highly recommended though the water was also too warm!
They had to use the existing footprint of the homestead to create the lodge with seven new chalets. So that explains why the wooden chalets are all close together, and not that large. They are well-decorated, with a nautical theme.
Each room has a wood-burning fire which you need in the winter months. Huge floor to ceiling french windows give you an expansive sea view with a small deck with loungers. The seventh room is away from the rest and acts either as a honeymoon room or indeed a family room with a small upstairs area for children/teenagers with two extra beds.
We stayed for two nights which I felt was the right length or time as there are not a huge number of activties. We enjoyed a marine walk and a fynbos walk in the afternoon, both of which were good. But what it is really selling is its location.
