West Coast Magic
Waking up to the gentle sound of the ocean is not something many of us get to enjoy all that often. Sure, Capetonians live near the sea – they can see it from their balconies as they toast it with some expensive craft gin – but whether they can hear the sea over the city noise is a different matter altogether.
It may seem like a strange way to describe a sound, but it feels wholesome, and it feels like it relaxes a muscle deep in your chest that you never even knew you had. It is no wonder then that experts say living by the sea is great for your physical and mental health, and staying at dk villas Skillipark is just what the doctor ordered for a tired mind.
A former personal holiday home for dk villa owners Johann and Petra de Kock, dk villas Skilliepark is the perfect escape from the city. Decorated in a classic ocean colour palette, the villa feels familiar – like the home of an aunt or some distant relative. Driftwood picture frames hang on the walls, navy-and-white striped cushions line the soft beige sofa, Consol jars filled with sand from the beach only 200 m away decorate the table, and the high ceilings give the space a wonderful coolness in the hot summer months.
Complete with everything you could possibly need in a self-catering holiday villa, Skilliepark offers guests that homeaway-from-home feeling in the beautiful West Coast town of Dwarskersbos. Just a few minutes up the coast from Velddrift, Dwarskersbos is a hamlet of quaint white houses, the azure sea sparkling in the background.
Dwarskersbos is an escape – you won’t find any shopping centres, cinema complexes, or nightclubs here. Instead, the social experience is stripped back to the basics. It’s just you, your loved ones,
a bottle of vino, a great view and a braai fire. What more could you want for a weekend break?
The villa itself boasts two double bedrooms – the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom – a guest bathroom, a large balcony, plus an open-plan living room and kitchen. The master bedroom has the added bonus of a spacious bathtub for a nice soak after a day of relaxing on the beach.
Wake up to the bright sunshine shining into your windows, start the day with a cup of coffee and a lazy breakfast. Thanks to the fully equipped kitchen, meal-time is only a pleasure. Delight the family with pancakes, bacon and eggs or, for those who prefer a low-maintenance weekend, opt for a bowl of cereal and get ready for a busy day of beach-ing.
Pack your sun cream, umbrella, towel, bucket and spade, and take a leisurely stroll down to the beach. Dwarskersbos beach is a huge stretch of golden sand – you’ll see the occasional walker ambling past you but, mostly, a day on Dwarskersbos beach is a day to yourself. Keep a keen eye on the waterline as the area is great for whale-watching in season and is one of the few places that the exceedingly rare Heaviside’s dolphin can be seen.
In the evening, guests can head back to the villa, set up a braai in the outdoor built-in braai, add ice to that sundowner of choice, and enjoy some of the most spectacular sunset views anywhere on the West Coast. Seeing the sun dip below the horizon after a day spent frolicking in its rays is a peaceful experience – one that goes exceptionally well with great conversation, a glass of wine and the promise of a braai dinner in the not-toodistant future.
The owners of Dk villas have a thorough knowledge of their customers as is evident by the small personal touches throughout the villa. A makeup-removal towel is left in each of the two bathrooms – making sure that their luxurrious and ultrasoft towels are not ruined by a spot of eyeliner. The luxuriously soft robes they leave hanging on ornate white hooks are perfect for donning while you enjoy your morning coffee. A full Dstv package is available for use in the villa – a good thing, considering our visit was smack-bang in the middle of the Rugby World Cup. It simply would not have done to miss the Bokke in action.
After a weekend well spent, we packed the car and bid a sad farewell to our beachside haven. Thoroughly rejuvenated and ready to tackle another long week at work, we sped back to Cape Town with nothing but fond memories of dk villas Skilliepark. For more information, visit www.dkvillas.co.za.