01 WESKUS HOKKIE
LAMBERT’S BAY, WESTERN CAPE
It’s a sad state of affairs when you’re jealous of a cat. Chutney wound herself around my partner’s legs and looked up adoringly at him, purring for attention.
‘What’s better than a beach cottage and a cat?’ he asked happily. I harrumphed. Perhaps a beach cottage and a girlfriend? Chutney looked at me smugly.
We’d arrived earlier that day and crunched our way down the shell-strewn path to our cottage, passing a sign that said ‘Private’. It certainly was – we felt like we had the whole landscape to ourselves. The outdoor hot tub foamed invitingly and we stacked the fireplace with wood. This little surf cottage looks out over textured fynbos towards the ocean and is banked up against a wide semi-circle of rocks: your barrier to reality. Those same rocks have been incorporated into a cave-like outdoor shower and bath area shaded by a stretcher tent. The sun sets right in front of the cottage, and that evening we watched the fiery sky fade into a deep, liquid blue. Behind us, the fire sizzled and popped mixing with the sounds of distant crashing waves. When you visit, bring enough firewood to last you long into the night and beware: Chutney will try to steal your man. ROMANTIC ELEMENT Outdoor hot-tub for night-time stargazing.
DO IT Self-catering Weskus Hokkie is on Steenbokfontein Farm, eight kilometres from Lambert’s Bay. Owner Albert Burger has been surfing this coastline for 30 years and will point you in the direction of the best beaches and waves. From R850 (sleeps two). westcoastwonder.com