Hammocks have come to symbolise summer, leisure, relaxation, and easy living. A day has even been devoted to it! Hammock Day takes place on 22 July, right in the midst of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The fact that it’s winter here down south, however, is of no concern to us ─ with our lazy coastal paradises and spectacular nature, we’re in the fortunate position to celebrate Hammock Day virtually any time of year!
Taking into account factors such as view, sound, fresh air and remote location, LekkeSlaap carefully selected some of the best spots to put up your hammock this year.
West Coast
There’s just a certain feel to this charming stretch of coast, which, especially out of season, resembles a remote island with no inhabitants. Life passes at a fisherman’s pace and you might be lucky enough to benefit from the day’s catch of crayfish. Spectacular sunsets, crisp air and the kaleidoscope of wild flowers in spring all set the scene for the perfect hammock vacation. Here are some suggestions for accommodation that fits the bill:
16 Perlemoendraai Beach House is a charming whitewashed house located on the beach in Moeriesbaai, one of the small bays of Jacobs Bay. Leading out from the living area is a spacious veranda where guests can enjoy amazing views, relax in the hammock with a book, or take a few steps down to the beach and tidal pool.
Type: Self-catering house
Capacity: 6
Bedrooms: 2 plus a loft
Highlight: Step right off the veranda onto the beach!
The 10-sleeper Skye Beach House is situated right on the beach on Golden Mile Boulevard in St Helena Bay and boasts ocean views from each bedroom. Other treats include an indoor fireplace and spacious veranda with an outdoor braai ─ a great spot for quality time with friends and family in full view of the kids having a ball on the lawn right next to the ocean.
Type: Self-catering house
Capacity: 10
Bedrooms: 3 plus a loft
Highlight: Big lawn for children, right next to the beach!
Wild Coast
There are many advantages to making the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape your lazy spot. In this remote area everyday obligations, rules and demands don’t apply, placing you well away from sources of stress and worry. Just appreciate the rugged coastline, unspoilt sandy beaches and lush greenery. Allow the local inhabitants and livestock to set the pace and choose one of the following spots for hanging your hammock:
The spacious deck at The Sullies offers you beautiful views of the lagoon and the protected nature reserve in Morgan Bay, and there is more than enough space for your whole party to get the most out of the experience without being in each other’s way.
Type: Self-catering house
Capacity: 10
Bedrooms: 6
Highlight: Large covered deck with floating chairs, hammocks, table and benches!
The beautiful Cintsa on the Wild Coast is surrounded by rolling hills, tropical beach forests and views of the warm Indian Ocean. Crawford’s Beach Lodge is the perfect base from whence to explore this Garden of Eden, and comes complete with a bar, buffet dining overlooking the ocean, and a spa. You can have your hammock experience on their beautiful lawn under the tropical Khamanga palms.
Type: Lodge
Capacity: 72
Units: 6 categories, from 2-sleeper rooms to 6-sleeper family suites
Highlight: Each unit has a sea-view deck or balcony!
Cape Town
Rumour has it that Cape Point Nature Reserve has some of the freshest air in the world, which makes the South Peninsula an excellent spot to take a ‘breather’. From the hub of Cape Town, coastal roads with breathtaking views take you to suburbs that are shared with penguins, baboons and seals. Dolphin and whale-watching opportunities abound, and that’s exactly what you can do from a hammock at one of these places:
Two homes in Kommetjie, Bungalow Beach House and Casablanca, provide outdoor living to the max. The former is right on the beach so you can hammock-hang within hearing distance of the ocean. The latter, Casablanca, has some interesting features above and beyond its fantastic two decks: Two of its bedrooms have Jacuzzis, one with an ocean view.
Bungalow Beach House:
Type: Self-catering house
Capacity: 6
Bedrooms: 3
Highlight: Step right off the deck onto the sand!
Casablanca:
Type: Self-catering house
Capacity: 8
Bedrooms: 4
Highlight: Two beach decks and two en-suite Jacuzzis!
Hout Bay Beach Cottage is just a few minutes’ walk from the swimming beach in Hout Bay. Its fantastic outdoor entertainment area will delight you with a hammock, loungers, pool, fire pit and dining space.
Type: Self-catering house
Capacity: 6
Bedrooms: 3
Highlight: Solar-heated swimming pool!
Little Hampton’s mix of nautical and English country blends well with Simon’s Town’s naval and Victorian heritage. Its character and style also perfectly complements the town’s breathtaking scenery and ocean views. For children, this beach cottage is filled with adventure ─ there is a lush garden to explore, or they could seek out the company of penguins just down the road.
Type: Self-catering beach cottage
Capacity: 7
Bedrooms: 4 plus a sleeper couch in the living area
Highlight: Wrap-around deck for a morning coffee at sunrise!
If you’d like to get closer to the roots and heartbeat of the Mother City, you might want to consider lazing at Alta Bay. Set on the slopes of Table Mountain, this four-star guest house boasts beautiful views of Table Bay and the city. Its location is many a traveller’s dream as you can use the tranquil garden setting to recharge in between exploring the nearby V&A Waterfront, beaches and Kloof Street with its array of restaurants and coffee shops.
Type: Guest house
Capacity: 7
Rooms: Two 2-sleeper rooms and one 3-sleeper cottage
Highlight: Cape Town’s major historical attractions right at your doorstep!
Garden Route
A mere stroll in the Knysna Forest provides a feast of sights, sounds and smells ─ Knysna loeries and Cape vervet monkeys frolicking in the branches, the earthy aroma of moss-grown tree roots, and fallen trees that create openings in the canopy to allow magical sun rays to light up the leafy carpet. The sounds of birds, frogs and insects echo in this lush cocoon, which every now and then opens up to reveal the most breathtaking views of fynbos covered kloofs and the ocean beyond.
If you think this sets a favourable scene for a hammock, we’ve got two wonderful retreats in the Knysna Forest for you!
Not much guess work is needed to determine the location of a place called Forest Edge, so you can just imagine its access to the forest’s walking and biking trails, rock pools and scenic picnic spots. Forest Valley Cottages is also on the forest’s edge, albeit with a more elevated location so that its decks allow you to enjoy magnificent views of the valley and Outeniqua Mountains right from your hammock!
Forest Edge:
Type: Lodge
Capacity: 26
Units: 3 luxury cottages, 2 standard cottages and a 6-sleeper house
Highlight: Beautiful picnic spots!
Forest Valley Cottages:
Type: Self-catering cottages
Capacity: 18
Units: 2-sleeper and family cottages
Highlight: Spa baths in all the cottages!
Overberg
This fertile mountainous region is bordered by a stunning coastline that serves as the playground for whales and sharks. More inland, the landscape displays a colour spectrum ─ from green agricultural lands to blue mountains in the distance, making way for a different hue of blue that is the clear, crisp Overberg sky.
Hangklip House is an old radar station nestled at the foot of the mountain which has been restored to a charming self-catering house with scenic views of the Pringle Bay shoreline. There is sure to be a lot of hanging around as you’ll be lazing in a hammock right beneath Hangklip (hanging rock).
Type: Self-catering house
Capacity: 8
Rooms: 4
Highlight: Uninterrupted views from the hammock!
Moving inland you’ll find Stanford Hills Cottages which comprise two labourers’ cottages and a beautiful old homestead, all transformed into guest accommodation. The original homestead is believed to have been built by Philippus de Bruyn, founder of the village of Stanford. The farm offers an abundance of activities and attractions to keep young and old entertained, including a tasting room, restaurant, farm dams for swimming, rowing and fishing, horse riding, a kids playground and pet-friendly facilities.
Type: Self-catering
Capacity: 19
Units: 2 cottages and 1 homestead
Highlight: Entertainment for everyone, children and pets included!
Limpopo and Mpumalanga
More trees and decks ideal for hammocks present themselves toward the scenic regions of the Waterberg Mountains in Limpopo and the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga.
A rich variety of birds and mammals can be seen and heard during your stay in the Bushveld-style thatched cottages at Diamond Creek Bush Lodge in the Waterberg region. The same applies to Swallows House in Mpumalanga, which is situated on the Da Gama Lake. Its indoor fireplace and large viewing deck with a hammock make indoor and outdoor living at this self-catering house equally fun.
Diamond Creek Bush Lodge:
Type: Self-catering lodge
Capacity: 18
Units: 3-sleeper chalets
Highlight: The sights and sounds surrounding you during your Bushveld braai!
Swallows House:
Type: Self-catering house
Capacity: 4
Rooms: 2
Highlight: Spend your days overlooking the dam and walking along its edge.
Gauteng
Last but not least, if you find yourself in the country’s busiest hub, the City of Gold, the dwellings mentioned above might not be within reach for a quick weekend wind-down. But lo and behold, we found something for you too – a tranquil retreat within the borders of Gauteng!
The four-star acclaimed Whispering Pines Country Estate is only an hour’s drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria in Magaliesburg. Here you can relax at the swimming pool or in hammocks under the trees, or be pampered at their on-site Wellness Studio. Fine cuisine can be enjoyed either in their restaurant, or by candlelight under the stars on Bushwillow Terrace.
Type: Lodge
Capacity: 34
Units: 2-sleeper cottages and an 8-sleeper house
Highlight: Their honeymoon suites are ideal for a quick romantic getaway from Johannesburg!
With our beautiful coasts, fresh air, natural scenery and rich wildlife, there’s no need to wait for Hammock Day to celebrate. Which of the above destinations do you think provides the atmosphere most conducive to a lazy afternoon? Let us know in the comments below!
Feature image: Hangklip House (LekkeSlaap.co.za)
