First Impressions of Lekkerwater Beach Lodge

Lekkerwater means ‘good water’ in Afrikaans (one of the local languages) and on arrival, I could see why. The sea was the most beautiful shade of blue on a beach of pristine white sand.

Lekkerwater was previously a retreat for former South African President FW de Klerk, and now it is only the guests at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge who have access to this private stretch of coastline. Beyond the dunes, the reserve is also a haven for endangered Cape vultures, Eland, Bontebok, Cape Zebra and the elusive Cape Leopard.

First Impressions of Lekkerwater Beach Lodge

My first impression as we pulled up to Lekkerwater Beach Lodge was that we had arrived at a stunning eco-paradise. The lodge was gorgeous and decorated in shades of blue and white, which fits in perfectly with the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.

It has a style in keeping with Natural Selection standards and features wooden tables, bamboo ceilings and wicker chairs. While taking in this beautiful lodge, we were made to feel very welcome by the staff and were given a delicious welcome drink and some freshly baked cakes and pastries.

The main areas at Lekkerwater

After a delicious re-fuel, we were shown around the lodge. There was a large wooden dining table as the centrepiece of the main area, which provided the setting for the communal dining. An open plan kitchen was also a feature and there’s a bar and fridge, where you could help yourself to any drink you wanted. There was also a cosy lounge area with a fireplace and a selection of games for some evening entertainment.

The lounge area led out to an expansive deck, which had stunning views of the beach and sea. There are a number of areas you could sit and relax to soak in the views and listen to the sound of the waves. Every night, sundowners were served with the backdrop of the most beautiful sunset, which was one of my highlights. The location of the sundowners varied from the deck to a bar set up on the beach. Dinner and lunch can also be served on the beach if the weather allows.

The rooms at Lekkerwater

There are six individual guest rooms and one family room, which are all facing the blue Indian Ocean. Each room has a private balcony, a place where I enjoyed spending time reading with a cup of tea.

The beds and showers are also sea-facing, so there is rarely a time when you aren’t looking out to the beach. The rooms are tastefully decorated and display beautiful original paintings of local wildlife commissioned by South African artist Jemima Sargent. There is also a log fireplace, which can be lit as part of the turndown service, alongside hot water bottles placed in the bed. It was clear there was an effort to reduce single-use plastic at Lekkerwater, which I loved, and there was a great eco-friendly feel about the rooms.

In summary, Lekkerwater Beach Lodge is a beautiful beach paradise with a high standard of accommodation. A stay there left me feeling relaxed and re-charged, and I would highly recommend a visit. I’d love to return, next time during the Whale season in September.