Lekkerwater Beach Lodge, Western Cape

Sandwiched between land and sea, the lodge itself backs onto lush fynbos vegetation and overlooks a stunning six-kilometre stretch of beach. There are just seven guest rooms here, each with modern, coastal-style interiors, private decks and floor-to-ceiling windows that serve up stunning ocean vistas. A total lack of TVs emphasises Lekkerwater’s focus on ‘the simple pleasures of life’. Meals are served out of an open kitchen around a large communal dining table.

Just three hours from Cape Town, the De Hoop Nature Reserve is a designated Marine Protected Area and one of the finest places in the world for land-based whale watching. Expert naturalist are also on hand to lead birdwatching excursions through the lush interior, as well as explorations of reserve’s rich natural history, from the endemic fynbos to the fascinating inter-tidal ecosystems.