For the perfect coastal bolthole, trundle over to Weskus PanDokkies, set on the unspoilt nub of land called Strandfontein. Here, pleasures are simple and beachy – long walks, fishing, collecting mussels, swimming in the largest tidal pool in the Southern Hemisphere, paddle-boarding and kayaking. But down the drag, there’s also the pull of cool hikes, challenging quad-biking and 4×4 trails.
Managed by engaging host Hanli Basson, these under-the-radar gems with their private entrances are a mere 700 m from the Atlantic rollers. And they’re ideal for couples. Paleis and Pondok accommodate two people each, while the house has space for three.
Neatly furnished with a generous sprinkling of pre-loved pieces, the clean-as-a-whistle pondokkies have en-suite bathrooms, kitchenettes with all the necessary gear and an indoor braai. Best part is: the units are solar-powered, while the geysers and stoves run off both gas and electricity. Bye-bye loadshedding.
From July to September, the surrounding veld, fringed by stark ochre cliffs, erupts into kaleidoscopic colour with wildflowers as far as the eye can see. Meanwhile, in the ocean, Southern Right whales make sure they’re not outdone by the floral extravaganza. Thar she blows!
Tariff: R975 – R1 075 pn; 45 Kronkel Ave, Louis Rood, Strandfontein; ph 083 7776670, hanlibasson@gmail.com.