Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop

Up at the main area, the views of the beach and ocean are simply astonishing. On a sunny afternoon, head onto the wraparound deck and gaze out to sea, or cosy up inside on a squashy sofa and keep an eye on all the happenings on the sand. An interactive, open kitchen is at the heart of the space and you'll either dine at the long tables here, family-style, or outside, feet-in-the-sand, on the beach, accompanied only by lanterns and the crashing of the waves.

Set along a 6 kilometre stretch of cotton-candy beach, the seven rooms are cosy, comfortable and totally beach-chic. Fronted by floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the views do the talking and you'll be able to watch all the marine happenings from the comfort of your bed. Each also has a wood-burning stove to ward off the chill during winter, verandas on which to enjoy evening G&Ts and ensuite bathrooms with all the necessities.

The land-based whale watching is definitely a big drawcard for De Hoop (from July to November) but there's plenty more to get stuck in to. On offer are nature and fynbos walks - the reserve is actually part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, classified as a World Heritage Site in 2004 - explorations of the nearby rock pools, beach walks and sundowners, dolphin watching (year-round), and drives across the reserve, taking in the resident wildlife and ending at the nearby Cape Vulture colony. We also hear talk of move nights and screenings to cover the fascinating history of the area - we'll keep you posted!