It’s all in the name: my family had decided to end our Garden Route safari at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge, tucked away in the De Hoop Nature Reserve about a 4-hour drive from Cape Town. The name Lekkerwater means “good water” in Afrikaans and was lovingly given by the first person to build a home here, a reference to the exceptional fishing and abundant marine life of the coast.

The drive to the lodge is part of the adventure (you need a high clearance vehicle) and once in the reserve we saw endemic bontebok antelope and mountain zebras before we’d even reached the car park! Our guide drove us the last miles to the lodge in a 4×4 game drive vehicle, and we were not disappointed with this hidden gem.

A view that feels untouched: long beach, rolling waves, and pure nature.

Lekkerwater Beach Lodge looks out over one of the most remarkable Marine Protected Areas in the world, stretching 5 km out to sea and spanning 51 km of pristine coastline — a testament to the natural richness that first inspired its name. It is a stronghold for Southern Right whales, which calve and breed there in winter (July to October). We were there in March – no whales – but we watched many pods of dolphins in the ocean from the comfort of our room. What a beautiful setting in summer or winter.

One of the highlights of our stay was the marine walk, exploring rock pools with family and other guests. As the tide went out, the shoreline transformed into a magical world full of tiny wonders. Armed with ‘rock-pool shoes’ from the lodge, we donned sunhats and let our curiosity wander along the beach.

Nature’s detail up close, vibrant and alive.

The kids were completely captivated. They pointed at bright orange starfish, tiny darting fish, and wobbly sea anemones that looked like underwater flowers. But the greatest highlight was finding not one… not two… but four octopuses within 50 metres of each other! We could hardly believe our eyes. Each was hiding in its own little pool, blending in with the rocks or sliding gracefully between crevices. Watching them change colour and move so cleverly was absolutely magical. See the video below.

It was one of those simple, slow moments in nature that ended up delivering a profound lesson: it became very clear to me that this amazing marine life is only there because it is a Marine Protected Area. No where else can you still see so many octopus. It was just us, the ocean, and a wild sense of discovery. The rock pools at Lekkerwater gave us more than just sea creatures to look at: they gave us memories we’ll talk about for years.

Seeing more when someone shows you how to look.

Another Lekkerwater experience we really enjoyed as a family was the guided fynbos walk. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and great with kids—pointing out unusual plants, telling stories about how they survive in such a tough environment, and even letting us smell and touch some of the fragrant ones. After learning about the traditional uses of plants, we all came away to see the landscape in a new light.

The best ingredient is always family.

And even mealtimes were memorable — not just for the delicious food, but for the experience itself. With only 16 guests at the lodge, everyone – families, couples, singles – sat at a long table which made for a relaxed atmosphere full of good conversation. The staff were fabulous and interacted well with our kids: indeed, Jano and Kai were invited to help in the kitchen and absolutely loved it. By the end of our stay, it felt like we were leaving behind not just a beautiful place but a community of people we’d genuinely connected with.

Small moments, lifelong bonds.

Lekkerwater Beach Lodge is truly one of those hidden gems you hear so much about. I loved the slow pace at the lodge with activities being very relaxed and not too long (each about two hours). It is the perfect way to end a safari in Africa: spend four nights here to unwind and relax – with some learning on the side – before heading back to the normal world.

Beach time with no one else around.