SMITH AWARDS 2019 Best villa runner-up

De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa

Morukuru Ocean House

Price per night from$2,752.34

Price information

If you haven’t entered any dates, the rate shown is provided directly by the hotel and represents the cheapest double room (including tax) available in the next 60 days.

Prices have been converted from the hotel’s local currency (ZAR39,130.43), via openexchangerates.org, using today’s exchange rate.

Morukuru Ocean House Photos

Style

Modern marine

Setting

Whale of a time

Sleeps

8

Bedrooms

4

The sand dunes of De Hoop Nature Reserve form a dramatic backdrop to Morukuru Ocean House. But never mind them, what about the whales? Your private four-bedroom base in this scenic marine reserve puts you in fin-flicking distance from South Africa’s best land-based whale watching. Or, in your case, the country’s best bed-based whale watching. Simply sit back in your sea-facing suite and admire the marine acrobatics offshore. A long list of included extras – from tailormade activities to meals, chefs and guides – means your South African adventure is set to be a memorable one. Start the day with sandcastles on the dunes; end with beachside braais.

Smith Extra

Get this when you book through us:

A welcome bottle of sparkling wine

First Glance

Photos Morukuru Ocean House
  • Expert guides help plan tailormade activities before and during your trip. Plus, there’s a private safari-style vehicle for spotting land-based game around the reserve (ostrich, antelope and more).
  • Chefs wait to whip up extravagant all-inclusive meals and drinks are on the house as well (save for the special ‘reserve list’ wines).
  • In case you worry you might have to lift a finger, there are butlers, too.
  • Morukuru Ocean House is sister lodge to Morukuru Beach Lodge, a short walk away in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. The main distinction being, that at Ocean House, you get 100 per cent privacy for you and your group alone.
  • The exterior of Ocean House is crafted from sturdy stone walls and full-wall glass windows, designed to showcase the scenic reserve and coast. A ‘green roof’ cloaked in South Africa’s fynbos shrubbery artfully blends the building with the landscape.
  • The main internal areas spread along the ground floor, with bedrooms fanning off an open-plan dining space and lounge. There’s a large fireplace at one end, primed for evening board games.
  • There’s also a large kitchen area, too, where you can nip in to see the chefs at work and maybe even master some South African recipes. Or, you can leave the experts to it – and wait for the meals to arrive.
  • A staircase leads up to the second floor, home only to the a sea-view lounge and bar, kitted out with stylish couches and floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s even a telescope up here to take in the views.
  • Interiors throughout are contemporary and beachy, with whitewashed walls, driftwood lighting and splashes of colourful textiles that reflect the fynbos and sea outside.

Villa highlights

  • Exclusive-use lodge
  • Whale-watching hub
  • Scenic marine reserve

Sleeping arrangements

Photos Morukuru Ocean House
  • All four 52sq m bedrooms face the sea and are similar in layout.
  • Bedrooms 1 and 2 fan off to one side of the open-plan communal lounge; bedrooms 3 and 4 are on the other.
  • They’re all on the ground floor and display the same vibrant, beachy interiors that run throughout Morukuru Ocean House, inspired by the fynbos.
  • Each has a king-size bed that faces the sea, plus a log-burning fire.
  • The ensuite bathroom in each is separated from the sleeping area by a sliding door, which pulls back to reveal a monsoon shower, freestanding tub, twin sinks, robes, Morukuru bath products, a shaving mirror and hairdryer. Essentially, everything you need to hog the bathroom for hours. There’s under-floor heating, too – and the bath in bedroom 4 has ocean views for the ultimate seaside soak.
  • Finally, next to Bedroom 4, there’s also a small TV room and study, which can be converted into a fifth bedroom that sleeps up to four under-16s.

Key kit

  • All-inclusive meals.
  • Free drinks (excluding ‘reserve list’ wines).
  • Tailormade activities included.
  • Chefs, butlers and guides.
  • Private game-drive vehicle.
  • Telescope for whale-watching/star-gazing.
  • Free use of snorkels, masks, water shoes, sandboards and other gear.
  • Beach towels, bags and hats.
  • Babysitting service.
  • Electronic safe.
  • Free WiFi.
  • Extra beds can be added on request (R5,000-7,200 for adults, R2,500-3,000 for children; prices vary by season).

Poolside

Photos Morukuru Ocean House
  • Leading off from the main open-plan lounge, you’ll find a small sheltered courtyard with a 10-metre lap pool. It’s surrounded by cushioned loungers and parasols, with a dining table for alfresco meals. Lunch, anyone?
  • On the beachside, a path leads down to a bright orange Dutch hot tub that’s wood fired and set amid the fynbos, looking out to the coast.

Grounds

Photos Morukuru Ocean House
  • There’s also a stone patio and grassed lawn at the back that’s ideal for evening braais. Indeed, you can relocate meals almost anywhere around the reserve (within reason): request a blanket on the beach, a table near the dunes, a feast amid the fynbos – the choice is yours…
  • On the second floor, a glass-walled roof terrace is the ultimate sundowner spot.
  • There’s free parking on site, plus a private safari-style vehicle for excursions to spot the ostrich, antelope and other wildlife around the reserve, including a colony of rare Cape vultures on the Potberg Mountain.
  • All activities are tailormade and included. How about a marine walk along the coast, a fynbos hike through the reserve, a spot of sandboarding down the dunes, or guided mountain biking around sandy trails? Failing that, simply build sandcastles on the shore, go sunbathing or survey the rockpools. The whole ethos here is to do as much, or as little, as you like.

Location

Photos Morukuru Ocean House
  • The lodge stands amid the wild and untouched De Hoop Nature Reserve at the tail-end of South Africa’s Western Cape. Though it feels miles from anywhere, it’s actually only three hours from Cape Town, two hours from the whale-watching hub of Hermanus and another three hours on to the start of the Garden Route – a scenic 200-mile road trip that commences at Mossel Bay. In short, it’s ideal for a stop-off between some of South Africa’s celebrated sights.
  • The easiest international gateway for Morukuru Ocean House is Cape Town, a three-hour drive to the west.
  • Johannesburg’s another option, if you’re starting with the sights of the Eastern Cape. From Joburg, you can connect via domestic flights to Port Elizabeth or George airports, before docking in at De Hoop, where there’s free parking.
  • Most people self-drive in South Africa, as car hire is inexpensive and the main roads are excellent – especially along the N2 coastal highway. That said, if you’re entering a sandy area like De Hoop, you’ll need a four-wheel drive – and it's best to arrive well in advance of sunset to avoid navigational hiccups in this off-the-beaten-track area.
  • The reserve also has its own private airstrip, served by 50-minute charter flights from Cape Town. Call Smith24 to enquire. If you choose to come in this way, you’ll be collected from the airstrip and transferred to Morukuru Ocean House via a 25-minute drive (included in the rate).
  • The house is literally steps from the beach. Or should we say, ‘the beaches’? You can see the sea and smell the salty air, so simply follow the sandy tracks down to whichever stretch of coast you fancy. We loved Hippo Pools for its enveloping rock walls and wicker basket waiting with beach games, parasols and more.
  • There are no restaurants or bars nearby – nature is your entertainment.

The Guestbook

Whenever you book a stay at a Smith hotel or villa, we’ll invite you to review it when you get back. Read what other Smith members had to say in Morukuru Ocean House ’s Guestbook below.
No Smith members have posted their reviews of Morukuru Ocean House yet. You could be the first!

You’ll also find Morukuru Ocean House in:

Price per night from $2,752.34

Book now

Hotels nearby

Villas nearby