Lekkerwater Beach Lodge east of Cape Town, South Africa has recently opened. The intimate property sits isolated on a six kilometre stretch of beach in the De Hoop Reserve.
Rooms at Lekkerwater are perched on a cliff just metres back from the coast line, affording panoramic views of the ocean ahead and dolphin and whale watching right from the bed. Guests can expect to see seasonal southern right whales, but year-round pods of dolphin play in the waves right outside the lodge.
Each of the seven rooms has floor-to-ceiling glass doors which can be opened to let in the coastal breezes. For cooler evenings there is wood burning stove in the room which keeps the bedrooms snug and warm.
The main area offers 180-degree views of the coastline with vast, panoramic windows which open up and blur the lines between outside and in. A large communal table dominates the interior space, intended to bring guests together over meals to chat and share stories. The internal courtyard offers a more secluded space for relaxed meals and a ‘calm zone’ for relaxing by the swimming pool.
The property also has a very strong sense of historical place. The summer house and “Camp David” of the former South African president FW De Klerk, this is where he negotiated the end of apartheid and debated quietly behind closed doors the country’s new constitution.
Rates at Lekkerwater start at ZAR 6,400 per person per night, inclusive of all meals, house drinks and guided activities.
Lekkerwater is operated by Natural Selection Safaris, a safari company with deep roots in Africa, and this the group’s maiden lodge in South Africa. Natural Selection’s portfolio includes Meno a Kwena, Jack’s Camp, San Camp, Camp Kalahari, Mapula Lodge, Sable Alley, The Jackal & Hide, Hyena Pan, SkyBeds and Tuludi in Botwswana; and Hoanib Valley Camp, Shipwreck Lodge, Etosha Mountain Lodge, Safarihoek and Safari House in Namibia.