Colin Hockley enjoys a beachside stay at Escape to the Beach Guesthouse, a luxury B&B along South Africa’s Garden Route.
I’m travelling west along South Africa’s well-trodden Garden Route and have arrived in the small and rather quirky town of Wilderness in Western Cape, overlooked by the Outeniqua Mountains, and facing onto the mighty Indian Ocean.
Escape To The Beach guesthouse, my home for the next 3 nights, is an exquisite beach front 5-star guest house that as the name suggests does exactly what it says on the tin. Just minutes after arriving I’m standing on my balcony, with an expanse of white sand below me stretching as far as the eye can see in both directions and watching a pod of dolphins frolicking in the surf.
Eventually as the others meander along the coast, two of these hang back with some paddle boarders and perhaps give them the opportunity of a lifetime to interact with these amazing creatures. The name of my suite is Southern Right and I’m now wondering what sights I may have seen had I been here a month or so earlier when Southern Right whales migrate from Antarctica to the warm waters of the Cape Coast.
Escape To The Beach Guesthouse has 5 luxurious air-conditioned suites, three of which face the ocean and two the mountains. My suite features what I’m sure is a larger than king size bed, a stand-alone egg-shaped bath with views over the balcony and across the beach to the ocean. Comfortable chairs offer a further opportunity to take in the magnificence of the views. The luxury bathroom also has a substantial walk-in shower and twin basins. Other facilities include hair dryer, coffee machine, Safe, Smart TV, Wifi, and Coffee/Tea facilities.
Downstairs the spacious contemporary open plan kitchen, living room and sheltered courtyard provide good opportunities for guests to meet and exchange experiences from their travels along the Garden Route. There is a good size pool in which to cool off from the South African summer sun and a pathway from the terrace directly on to the beach where you can walk for miles alongside the Indian Ocean.
The house is managed by the lovely Sarie who cannot do enough for her guests to ensure their expectations are met. The substantial hot and cold breakfast menu is served on the pool terrace overlooking the beach. This includes delicious home-made granola (including gluten free option) frittata and muffins. Sarie is also passionate about supporting local small businesses and sources artisan bread, cakes, and even fresh flowers from local farms bakeries and patisseries.
Wilderness itself is just a few minutes’ walk away, crossing the now non-operational but once scenic Outeniqua Choo Tjoe railway which passed through Wilderness until 2006 when serious flooding and financial issues came to a head. It’s hoped that one day the 67-kilometre (42 miles) railway will once again provide an alternative means of enjoying a most scenic part of the Garden Route. In the meantime, Wilderness station is now watched over by the Peron Coffee Bar ensuring that the station’s memory at least is preserved.
In the town there is a collection of restaurants and craft shops, and for great coffee and pastries, the Green Shed Coffee Roastery which is full of character and oddities. If you want more than just chilling within the confines of Escape To The Beach the surrounding countryside offers everything from hiking to paragliding and game drives to kayaking.
Images (C) Colin Hockley
Tell Me More About Escape To The Beach Guesthouse
Escape to the Beach, 69 Sands Road, Wilderness, Western Cape, South Africa 6560
T: +27 64 793 8469
Room rates from ZAR 4,900 (around £200) B&B per night.
