02 STROOI KOOI

CALITZDORP, WESTERN CAPE

‘What’s your comfort level right now?’ he asked.

‘Over 9 000,’ I replied.

We were stretched out on the king-sized bed of crisp white linen, watching sunlight flicker over the fabric shades dancing in the wind outside. If complete relaxation was the objective, we’d achieved it within the first half-hour of our stay at rustic and eclectic Strawbale Eco Cottage 1, constructed from straw, river stones, clay sand and river reeds.

‘How long do you think we could look at this view for?’

We were gazing through a frame of tall Balinese doors over a small plunge pool onto a bucolic scene of Sultaniye vines stretching out to the stony Besemkop mountain. The sun slipped past the horizon and as the evening cooled we lit a fire. And there we got stuck in conversation that nearly had us missing our dinner reservation at local restaurant Porto Deli. Later, a cloudy sky hid the stars so we skipped the outdoor stargazing daybed in favour of being indoors, and replaced moonlight with candles.

The following morning the cottage was awash in soft, flattering windowlight, and despite our best intentions to hit the road by 9am, we left much later. The tranquillity of this earthy cottage in the solitude of the Klein Karoo was hard to leave.

ROMANTIC ELEMENT Billowing drapes and dreamy light.

DO IT Less than two kilometres from delightful Calitzdorp (which is famous for its port), this eco-friendly cottage can be booked for R625 (sleeps two). airbnb.com/rooms/4620304