Whimsical West Coast escapes

From sleeping in a shack that hugs the shoreline to glamping in a field of Namaqualand daisies, spice up your next weekend away with these six unique accommodation options on the West Coast.

- By Kyra Tarr, Photography by Brigette Rademeyer, Toast Coetzer,

I once spoke to an artist, Marlouw Walters, who’d lived on the West Coast for most of her life. She told me that she moved away because the sea, wind and sand had become too much for her. Barely a year passed after our conversation, and she had already moved back!

Whatever the West Coast means to you – surfer’s paradise, ancient landscape filled with fossils and history, quiet retreat, home – it seems that the sea, wind and sand tend to stick. In a good way.

Here’s a collection of unique stays in the region, each a far cry from your average holiday lock-up. Whether the ocean is on the horizon or on your doorstep, get ready to rise and fall asleep with the tide.

IN OTHER WORDS

MELDENE ROBINSON

CrayfishWharf, Paternoster “A visit to the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve is a must. The lighthouse is beautiful.”

HUGOLINA HICKMAN

Timeless Treasures, Dwarskersbos “My love for Dwarskersbos began in the late 1950s, when my family would camp here during the holidays. The beaches are ideal for swimming – beautiful, clean and safe!”

RASHID SAKAMA

ForkWest Farm “I moved here from Malawi in 2014. The West Coast is not only beautiful, but its people are warm and friendly.”

Weskus Quarry on Steenbokfontein Sea Farm, Lambert’s Bay