Lekkerwater Beach Lodge - Go With The Flow. Naturally.

November 17, 2021 Posted in Review / Travel

In October, three things happened at once: a belated birthday weekend away and two unexpected events I never dreamed possible. Like most surprises, my life turned topsy-turvy overnight. I had three days to prepare for a weekend away, a cooking class, an overseas flight, and a six-week holiday abroad. At times, we must grab the open door before it shuts on us.

Fortunately, Butch is pragmatic and ordered me to calm down, breathe, and take things one step at a time. He assured me there was ample time to get my ducks in a row.

In a jiffy, I packed the essentials for our two-night stay at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge, set on an exclusive concession in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. Fortunately, the dress code is casual: beachwear, sunnies and flip-flops. My problem, though, was that it was still raining. Cats and dogs.

I was determined not to miss out. According to the website, I was in for a treat. “Here, we offer a new kind of luxury. The indulgence of wide-open spaces, peace and privacy, gorgeous sea views, the smell of the ocean, barefoot beach walks and incredible sunsets. You won’t find TVs, minibars, heated towel rails or air conditioning – this is where you can fully embrace and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.”

Once I’d got the cogs clicking and turning, things fell into place, and we were able to set off on Friday morning, stopping for a hot Minestrone and crusty bread lunch in Bredasdorp, just two hours from home, before setting off to meet the guides and guests who would be our companions for the weekend.

It would be a wet weekend. There was no sunshine or clear skies, and the road to our meeting point was painfully slow as we navigated ruts, puddles and mud in a sedan. With hindsight, the drive to the Lodge in a safari vehicle made perfect sense.

The short scenic drive through fynbos, grasses, and rolling hills set the scene and prepared us for a weekend in nature. We collectively gasped as we crested a hill and saw the Lodge nestled below, with a six-kilometre stretch of pristine white-sand beach and the Indian Ocean before us. The guides winked and smiled knowingly. They knew this was coming, of course.

While we snacked and quenched our thirst, the friendly staff made us feel at home by introducing themselves, sharing local tips, and ensuring we felt cared for. This warmth made the experience even more inviting for my fellow travel enthusiasts and nature lovers.

We soon had our binoculars and cameras out, ready to glimpse the Southern Right whales that migrate from Antarctica to calve and breed in the warm waters. We weren’t disappointed, and soon someone spotted a mother and her calf in the breakers.

Butch and I were allocated the Family Room, with unsurpassed views of the coastline and the sea. We soon built a fire and settled in to take it all in. While he read and napped, I went for a walk on the beach, retracing steps from a previous hike with friends.

Although the landscape hadn’t changed one iota, our lives had changed drastically. That’s the thing about nature’s rhythm. It ebbs and flows while we battle on and plug away to stay afloat. With only a screech of gulls, five breeding pairs of Black Oystercatchers, and a bluebottle for company, I kicked off my shoes, dug my toes into the cold, wet sand, unwound, and found my equilibrium again.

Just before sunset, refreshed, we made our way back to the Lodge to meet up for sundowners around the Gin Bar. Indigenous coastal herbs such as pelargonium, wild rosemary, and dune asparagus are foraged and used to garnish and flavour locally distilled gins.

As a tea-totaller, I was pleasantly surprised by the attention I received from Gift, who offered to shake up a virgin cocktail for me. Throughout my stay, I was continually topped up. Thanks, Gift.

In the open kitchen, Chefs Tatenda and Don were preparing our three-course dinner from local produce, creating traditional South African cuisine with a twist. By breakfast the next day, they had their hands full with us as we badgered them for recipes and suggestions for a cooking class. They took our banter in good humour and diplomatically declined our enthusiastic proposals.

We all dined at the long communal table and soon became well acquainted; that’s what happens when good food, excellent wines and stimulating like-minded folk get together.

Inclement weather marred our days, but it didn't stop us from taking every opportunity to go on hikes, explore the coastal areas, dip into rock pools at low tide, and search for and find the resident octopus. Our informative guides, Chade and Matt, imparted their knowledge and taught us about the smallest molluscs, snails, fish and colourful anemones that flourish along this coastline.

Another highlight was our relaxing dip into the hot tub situated on a rocky shelf overlooking the beach. Getting the water to a desirable temperature takes time and patience, but the result is pure bliss. While we dipped and wallowed, a group of barefoot hikers, drenched and dripping plastic raincoats, ambled by, quite unaware they were under scrutiny. This time I did not envy them.

Our two-night stay soon ended. Reluctantly, we packed our bags, said goodbye to our new friends, and waved farewell to an exceptionally professional staff (Jo, Matt, Chade, Tatenda and Don), who wowed us with their attention to detail, friendliness and care.

For the next six weeks, my life was spent waiting in our vehicle in the car park. Dreamlike is how I describe the adventures awaiting me.

Lekkerwater means “sweet water.” This is certainly a destination for everyone’s bucket list—the perfect hideaway for a romantic getaway, honeymoon, family get-together, or special celebration.