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#2 of 3 Specialty lodging in De Hoop Nature Reserve
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
5.0
Service
5.0
Value
5.0
A mere three (and a bit) hour drive from Cape Town, Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop is the former Camp David of FW de Klerk, and now offers a luxury stay on this pristine six kilometre stretch of private beach. This is some of the best land-based whale watching on the planet, and there's the reserve to explore as well.
My wife and I had been travelling in South Africa for two weeks and were getting tired of living out of a suitcase. Out three night stop at Lekkerwater was just the oasis of calm, comfort and peace that we needed. The directions for driving to the Lodge were excellent and we had no difficulty except that we were relieved when we reached the end of the several kilometers of corrugations! The accommodation was extremely comfortable and private with stunning views and the constant sound of the sea in our ears. The communal lounge and dining areas were very well furnished with wonderful views in all directions of the endless sea and beach. The cuisine was excellent and prepared by a chef who clearly knew his trade; frankly better than some of the expensive meals I had had in Plettenburg and Cape Town. The guided walks were both of very good quality and very interesting being led by someone who knew what he was talking about and was able to communicate his love of the environment we were in in a very special way. All in all this was a very different, very comfortable and very peaceful diversion and we loved every minute of our stay. I particularly appreciated my conversations with Leigh who offered an insight into South African history both long ago and more recently as well.…
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Apr 15, 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this lovely review, we really do appreciate it. It's fantastic to hear that you enjoyed such a happy time with us here at Lekkerwater and we hope to be able to welcome you back before too long. Kind regards, The Lekkerwater Beach Lodge Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This property although in an idyllic location is really only geared up for a 2 night stay. They seem to have a ridged formula in terms of menus and experiences. We stayed 4 nights and had expected this to be the highlight of our multi stop trip on the garden route and in Franschhoek. Sadly we were served the EXACT same dinner menus twice over. Be sure to like red meat as this is all you get . Night 1 was filet steak followed by warm Bananas , this exact same dinner was served again on night 3 . Nights 2 and 4 were a barbecue followed by an ice cream cone for dessert. People had written in reviews of trips to the caves and vultures this is no longer offered to you. You get the beach experience and the fynbos walk. Once again the same thing rolled out again. There were no drinks on the beach around the Boma as shown in pictures on the website. Rooms are tight with no bedside tables. No awning or umbrella on the room terrace for shade. Room cleaning was only ‘ok’ Very sad to write this review as we met very nice staff members during the stay. Attempted to get management to compensate for a poor experience but even that doesn’t work well either. This should have been a high end experience and we had far better experiences for a lesser room rate on numerous occasions on the trip.…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Apr 19, 2023
Hi there and thank you for your review. We are sorry that expectations were not met as this would never be our intention, however, we have reached out to you directly in order to address the concerns raised. Rest assured all feedback is taken on board and the appropriate action will always be taken where necessary. Kind regards, Lekkerwater Beach Lodge Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The service was outstanding and the staff was always very accomodating The view and the rhythmic roar of the ocean were extraordinary The sunsets were amazing We will be returning and encouraging others to do so Overall a spectacular retreat from the busy world
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Date of stay: February 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Feb 27, 2023
Thank you so much for your lovely review, we're so pleased you enjoyed your stay and hope to welcome you back before too long. Kind regards, Lekkerwater Beach Lodge Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A wonderful opportunity to “get away from it all” in this very special lodge on an outstanding stretch of deserted and protected coastline. The individual private cabins on stilts are comfortable and appropriate for the setting, all with stunning views. The food, served at a long communal dining table, is surprisingly good given the remote location. Best of all are the guided walks in the fynbos and along the beach searching for octopuses in the tidal pools. All the staff are of very high calibre, nothing is too much trouble and you are made to feel at home - indeed, you are returning to the cradle of Homo Sapiens. Definitely stay for 3 or 4 nights not 2 and, given the 60km drive on dirt roads, an SUV or similar is preferable. An unforgettable experience.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Take strong walking shoes and long trousers for fynbos walks. Take a spare car tyre if possible.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Jan 26, 2023
Hi Stephen, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this review. We're thrilled that you enjoyed your time with us here at Lekkerwater, particularly the guided walks through the fynbos and tidal pools. We hope to be able to welcome you back before too long. Warm regards, the Lekkerwater team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We have been planning this trip for over 3 years and finaly! I had high expectations and it was sooo soooo much better than imagined! Breathtaking view and scenery, fantatic staff, delicious food! We spend our christmas at Lekkerwater and I cant find a better place to stay, my dream came trough! We will be back! Thank you Leigh, Tim, Jannie and staff,
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Date of stay: December 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Jan 6, 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this review - we really do appreciate it. It's fantastic to hear that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to welcome you back before too long. Kind regards, The Lekkerwater Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at Lekkerwater for 2 nights with our 19year old . From the beginning at the car park with all other guests and the camp manager you feel like highly welcomed and being part of the Lekkerwater family . This is the idea of the lodge , so open kitchen, a big table for communal dining helps to get to know the other guests and chat with them . Very interesting guided walk to the Rock Pool and do Not Miss the Fynbos walk . Both activities are worth to join . Rooms with a spectacular view . We saw whales !! Lekkerwater is a very special Place for nature lovers . Thank you Penny and team !!!!
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Oct 23, 2022
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this super review - it really means a lot. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us and enjoyed becoming part of the Lekkerwater family. We hope to welcome you back to your Lekkerwater home before too long. Kind regards.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I have been twice now to Lekkerwater and am already scheming to get back. It's a place of just such peace and serene beauty. Food is divine; the wines, all locally sourced, are authentic, elegant and delicious. The rooms are all heavenly with great views, not a bad one in the bunch. The trip from Cape Town is undoubtedly long (longer than the lodge states for sure), which means you should try to stay for three nights, not two. You will find yourself feeling very relaxed, very peaceful, at one with the world!
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Date of stay: November 2021
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Room Tip:All are lovely; the family room faces a different oceanfront direction and has twin beds up a set...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Sep 27, 2022
Thank you so much for leaving us this lovely review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to be able to welcome you back before too long. Best wishes - The Natural Selection Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a fantastic two-night stay at Lekkerwater but wish it had been longer. The cabins are divine, the food delicious, the staff friendly, the views incredible, and the service impeccable. We were lucky to visit at the beginning of whale season and we saw whales from the dining area and from the beach. Some things to note: 1) you should do both the beach walk and the fynbos walk - we only did beach and regretted it - hence the need for more than one full day, 2) dining is communal and you end up interacting a lot with other guests - this was great, but just something to know if you're seeking a secluded holiday, 3) it's a mission to get to, once you arrive at the carpark it's a 45 min drive in a safari vehicle over very rough terrain - again not a problem, but best to be aware. Thank you Penny and Lekkerwater team - we hope to visit again!…
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Date of stay: June 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Sep 9, 2022
Dear Poppy, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this lovely review. We really do appreciate it. It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your stay so much - we agree that it's a very special place. We hope to be able to welcome you back before too long. Best wishes
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
If you love nature, prefer to stay away from mass tourism, and are after a great, relaxing experience, this is the place to go to. We spent three amazing days at the lodge, everything was just perfect. Friendly, extremely caring staff, great food, very nice rooms with breathtaking views, and permanent show on the sea with whales literally passing by your windows. I can only highly recommend this place.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Natural Selection, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Aug 23, 2022
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this review. It's great to hear that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to welcome you back before too long. Kind regards
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The memory of our visit to Lekkewater will stay with me for a long time. It is a very special spot surrounded by nature. You feel happy and alive the moment you arrive and it stayed with me the whole time I was there. It is not only the surroundings that give this feeling, it is the friendly, helpful and professional staff who make this lodge run very efficiently. The emphasis is to make it your home. As soon as I walked into our room, I was in awe of the beauty and the view. My immediate thought was that I will book again - this time for longer! I loved how so much thought went into making the design and operations as green and as environmentally friendly as possible. And lots of little details - the map explaining the history of Lekkerwater in the main living section, the interesting booklet in the room giving information about the fynbos, the history, the art etc. We did an exceptional marine walk with Jo which was meditative and relaxing looking for life in the rock pools at low tide. The food is top notch and delicious. It is a place to totally unwind, made easier by the constant sound of the sea. I highly recommend it - at least a 3 night stay. Just book!…
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Date of stay: February 2022
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Room Tip:All the rooms have exceptional views.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Pru Allison, Marketing at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop
Responded Feb 10, 2022
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this review - we really do appreciate it. It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed such a happy stay with us and were able to soak up the beautiful surroundings in the company of our wonderful staff. We're also delighted that you appreciate the efforts we go to in being as environmentally friendly as possible. We really do strive for this, and it means a lot that you should mention it. We hope to be able to welcome you back before long. Kind regards, Pru - Lekkerwater marketing team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.