Coming into view after a meandering drive through the unspoilt De Hoop Nature Reserve on South Africa's famed Garden Route, Ocean House is an exclusive-use beach cottage with a difference.

Sleeping up to eight adults and four children in total luxury, every inch of this sprawling family villa has been designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, from the stove in the kitchen that burns wood from alien species cleared from the reserve to the fynbos planted on the roof to assist with retaining internal heat as well as blending the structure into its natural surroundings.

Beautifully decorated in a soothing palette that picks up the blues and greens of De Hoop, each piece in the house – whether a chair, candle or cutlery – has been specially considered and often imported from Europe. Designers have created bespoke chandeliers that echo the flotsam and jetsam found along the seashore, like pastel-hued and softly tumbled beach glass. At every turn, there is a peaceful nook with tranquil views for reading or daydreaming…

In addition to its green credentials, the Ocean House’s crowning glories are the outdoor area that is designed to be wind-free and the upper-storey bar and living room, which boasts a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape. Its adjacent sun deck – complete with funky ‘blow-up’ sofas – is the spot to watch one of the Cape’s famous incandescent pink sunrises or frolicking southern right whales, before heading off for your mountain bike ride or rock pool trail.

Highlights

• Secluded location within pristine De Hoop Nature Reserve
• Option to fly in by charter from Cape Town International Airport
• Green design & solar power throughout
• Swimming pool & Wi-Fi hotspots
• Wood-fired hot tub with ocean views
• Sandboarding, mountain biking & hiking
• Wood-burning fireplaces in all adults’ bedrooms
• Wine cellar with chef’s table & library
• Staff includes housekeeper, guide & private chef
• Land-based whale watching in season

Activities

• DAY TOURS
• PICNICS
• SNORKELLING
• STAR GAZING
• WHALE WATCHING
• BIKING

Fact File

Style & Décor

Ocean House is filled with special touches that reveal the designers’ attention to detail: immaculate textiles, harmonious colours and quirky, once-off pieces come together to create a soothing interior. Each of the four adults’ bedrooms is done in a different blue-green hue while the children’s room has an unexpected bontebok mural. Furniture encourages you to put your feet up and relax, and tasteful bric-a-brac and fresh-cut flowers add a homey touch. Outside, the house is an artful combination of local stone from nearby Bredasdorp and double-glazed glass while inside it is a cocoon of pale walls, lime-washed wooden floors and thoughtfully curated photographs, sculptures and paintings.

Neighbourhood

De Hoop Nature Reserve is three hours by road from Cape Town, near Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. It is about 340km in area and is home to about 260 species of birds and nearly 90 mammal species, including bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, caracal and eland. De Hoop is bordered by the De Hoop Marine Protected Area, which harbours southern right whales in season and endangered African oystercatcher breeding pairs. It is part of the incredibly diverse Cape Floral Kingdom and has an airstrip for small craft.

Suitability

As a 5-bedroom exclusive-use villa, Ocean House is best suited to multi-generational families or large groups of friends.

The best time to visit

De Hoop’s climate is considered to be ‘Mediterranean’, which means dry, hot summers (October to April) and cool, wet winters (May to September), with August generally being the rainiest month. Southern rights return to its shores between June and October, with spy-hopping and lobtailing whales often spotted from the nearby beach.

Special notes

Ocean House has underfloor heating and a solar-heated swimming pool. There are Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the villa but deliberately not at the dining room table. Staff live on the property and a private game-viewing 4x4 is available.

Rooms

Kitchen

The kitchen at Ocean House is the preserve of the chef and is designed to be as eco-friendly as possible. The gleaming Esse hob and oven run off alien invader trees removed from the reserve, with gas and solar-powered back-ups. The wood-burning stove also heats much of the water for the house. Next to the kitchen is a butler’s kitchen with a full array of beverages for guests and a Nespresso machine for caffeine fixes.

Main bedroom

The spacious main bedroom has a king-sized bed that faces double doors that open out onto the reserve. A wood-burning, glass-fronted stove keeps the evening chill off and the room has an easy chair, bay window seat with sea views and a long, well-lit writing desk.

Guest Bedrooms

Each of the three other adults’ bedrooms also has large beds with sea views and Wi-Fi. The children’s room can sleep four on single bunk beds and has the only TV set in the house.

Bathrooms

Each adult’s bedroom has a large en suite bathroom with a walk-in rain shower, egg-shaped tub, a double vanity and an enclosed toilet. There is a guest bathroom on the main level.

Living & dining area

There are several living and dining areas at Ocean House. The interior dining room table seats 12 next to an open wood-burning fire and beneath a bespoke free-form chandelier. It looks out over the ocean and the pool area. The cosy library sitting room also has a log fireplace and comfortable couches. The only room on the upper level, the lounge and bar is encased in glass and has 360-degree panoramic views. It has a fully stocked bar and a more masculine feel with dark woods, deep orange leather sofas and beaten copper coming into play. The bar also has a log fireplace.

Outside Area

There are also several outdoor areas. Off the upstairs living room, there is a sunny deck with ocean views comfortable loungers and all-weather sofas. Downstairs, the simple fountain of the wide lap pool tinkles next to the alfresco dining table and the outdoor lounge. Both these outdoor rooms are warmed by wood-burning stoves, while the pool runs off solar power. Off the library is another, more formal dining area while off the main dining room is a wide lawn that is perfect for picnics.

Other rooms

Beneath the house is a fully stocked, temperature-controlled wine cellar that is perfect for tastings or romantic candle-lit dinners.

Facilities

The house has a green design and is solar-powered throughout. The fully-equipped kitchen has a wood-burning stove, with gas and solar-powered backups. A butler’s kitchen is stocked with beverages and a Nespresso machine. There are several living and dining areas including a 12-seater dining room, a cosy library, lounge and bar area, wine cellar and outdoor living spaces. Other features include a wood-fired hot tub overlooking the ocean, a heated swimming pool with loungers, and Wi-Fi hotspots. A dedicated staff includes a housekeeper, guide and personal chef. You have the option of flying in by light aircraft.

Dining

A private chef is on hand to prepare lavish gourmet meals and will consult with you on your preferences and any dietary requirements. Expect authentic and lovingly prepared meals and an array of courses at each sitting to tantalise the taste buds. Enjoy lunches out on the lawn and dinners overlooking the ocean, paired with premium South African wines from the cellar.