Ilanga Travels back to Nature!

Welcome to this month’s newsletter, where we take a deep dive into the heart of nature!

In a world that often feels fast-paced and overwhelming, finding a sanctuary amidst the beauty of the outdoors can be a transformative experience.

This issue highlights two remarkable lodges that offer not just a place to stay, but a chance to reconnect with the natural world.

Josy presents:

Lekkerwater Beach Lodge

Lekkerwater is truly exceptional – the views are breath-taking, the beach is an untouched haven of nature’s wonders and the ancient De Hoop dunes are rich with untouched Flora and Fauna.

This is such a special location and it holds so much history. The nature activities on offer are like food for the soul and the chance to be able to interact with what this site has to offer is something not soon forgotten.

The guided beach walks are a highlight – in the capable hands of a knowledgeable guide, you are taken to the rock pools on a nature treasure hunt. We spotted starfish, sea anemones, loads of shellfish and even got to interact with an octopus! The birdlife is also abundant, and we spotted some interesting seabirds.

In 1985 the waters around De Hoop were declared a Marine Protected Area and all sea life has flourished here since. Whales, dolphins, seals and many more have made this area their home.

The sightings from the lodge are really amazing. Watching the whales with a sunset in the backdrop is a lovely way to spend an evening and definitely leaves a long-lasting impression.

Guided nature walks, gorge walks and cave explorations are also on offer and a must do while you are here.

A short distance east of the lodge lies Klipdrift Cave. Renowned for its paleontological significance, the cave shows evidence of human habitation dating back 64 000 years. This predates similar discoveries in Europe and North America by more than 20 000 years. In essence, some of our earliest ancestors walked the shoreline and dunes that surround Lekkerwater. It is said that all homo sapiens on earth come from this area – therefore when you arrive the theme is Welcome Home! Before the first dinner, our guide explained this history of the area and the Lodge – it is a real privilege to be able to visit Lekkerwater!

The lodge has 6 rooms spread across the right of the main lodge area and a family room off to the left. All have the most fantastic panoramic sea views. The rooms are small and cosy but not lacking in anyway.

The main lodge is like a home away from home, with communal dinning, an open kitchen, and easy interactions with staff. A wood-fired hot-tub near the beach is a must-do!!

If you are looking for peacefulness, quiet solitude and a wholesome interaction with nature, this is the best place to be. Because of its remote location, stargazing is like a cinematic experience.

Ocean, fynbos, whales, caves, stars – nature at its best and so, so precious!

Simbavati Cederberg Lodge

My family and I visited Cederberg Ridge recently and it was a lovely weekend retreat where we got to re-connect with nature and recharge our batteries.

The Cederberg region is rich with history and a dream come true for nature lovers. Simbavati Cederberg Ridge offers an array of different activities, which are all seasonal and weather dependant. These include farm tours, walking on the farm, self-guided hikes, Cederberg full day excursions, mountain biking, Rooibos Tea Farm tours, rock art excursions, star gazing and many more.

We enjoyed a 5 km hike after a short 20 minute drive from the lodge in the Cape Nature Reserve with our guide, who was extremely knowledgeable about the area and all the Flora and Fauna.

We ended the hike at a Rock Art Site which was very impressionable. Our guide has spent his entire life in the Cederberg region and told us many interesting historical facts, as well as educating us on Rooibos tea and how amazing it is!

The Lodge has two pools and a Spa as well – great for relaxing after a hike. The staff take a lot of pride in what they do, and this really shows – the service was very good, and we enjoyed our meals very much.

The rooms are equipped with all the amenities and are very comfortable and cosy. All in all, we had such a great time and have ignited a new love for the Cederberg area, all thanks to the warm hospitality of the Cederberg Ridge team and the impression the area and surrounds have left on us – we are sure to return! Thank you very much to the Simbavati Cederberg Ridge Family!

Let the beauty of nature inspire you, reminding us all to cherish and protect the world around us—until next time!

PS: Cape Town has just been crowned the Best City in the World for Food in the 2024 Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards!

We are so proud 😊😊