Morukuru Ocean House

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.

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 Agulhus, the southern-most 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 its own 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.

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 spyhopping 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.