Cliff Top Houses - The Bees Knees

"The Bee’s Knees" is situated in a protected nature reserve surrounded by sea, forest and fynbos. This exceptional two bedroomed house is an ideal hideaway for those seeking peace, tranquility and something truly special.

"The Bee’s Knees" – to be excellent or of an extremely high standard

Designed by multi-award winning architect Henry Paine, this contemporary timber house set in amongst pristine fynbos directly on the cliff edge, is so close to the sea you feel you are on a boat. The dramatic position with waves crashing on the rocks below, headlands stretching uninterrupted into the distance and endless sea views is breathtaking.

"The Bee’s Knees" sleeps four in two bedrooms en-suite, both with private decks and spectacular ocean views. Watch whales from the double showers or romantic bath big enough for two.

Slide open the glass doors from the living room to the sea facing deck and enjoy endless sea views. Pods of dolphin pass by daily and whales in season come so close you can hear them breathe. The dining room leads onto the fynbos deck with flowers of pink, lavender, yellow and orange. If you are lucky, you might see a mongoose might come visiting or a you might glimpse a bushbuck passing by.

The house is fully equipped with quality furnishings and appliances.  with crisp pure cotton linen - everything you need to make you feel pampered and comfortable. A wood burning fire place heats up the living rooms on chilly days.

The spaces have been created for peace, reflection and conversation. Play games, bird watch, do a puzzle, read or simply gaze at the view - there is no television to spoil the atmosphere.

Accommodation
Main bedroom – large queen bed with pure cotton bedlinen leading onto private deck. Bathroom en-suite with luxurious bath, double shower. Glorious ocean and cliff views.
Second bedroom – Large queen bed with pure cotton bedlinen leading onto private deck. Bathroom en-suite with double shower. Spectacular ocean views.

The Nature Reserve
Zebra, springbuck, wildebeest and ostrich roam the plains along the top of the cliffs and bushbuck, bushpig and porcupine forage in the forested gorges. At night, you might see owls and the highly secretive Caracal (wild cat) hunting for small rodents.

Our nature reserve is a bird watcher's haven with at least 35 species that have been identified, many of them rare and endemic to the Southern Cape. It is home to sea, forest and fynbos birds making it unusually varied and prolific.

The nature reserve abounds with hiking trails, some gentle and some steep. The ‘Fynbos trail’ winds through fynbos flower species seen nowhere else in the world. The ‘Whale trail’ takes you along rugged cliffs and up and down steep gorges and the “Magic Forest trail” winds through forest and up to the plains. The rocks around Ballots Bay are a fisherman’s paradise and the pebbly beach is perfect for foraging and exploring or paddling in the river as it meets the sea.

The reserve is accessed via a private strip paved road that winds over rivers and up and down steep slopes that some call challenging, we call magical. But don’t be put off; it is easily accessed in ordinary vehicles.

Further afield
Drive 10 minutes to famous surfer’s paradise, Victoria Bay, which boasts not only world-class surfing, but also an excellent swimming beach. George with its shops, restaurants and cinemas is 15 minutes away.  Wilderness, also 15 minutes away has beautiful beaches, lagoon and river, canoeing, great walks, excellent restaurants and country markets.

Sedgefield, 25 minutes away is famous for its award winning Saturday “Wild Oats farmers market” with gourmet organic products grown in the vicinity. The serene inland lakes flow into the sea here and the beaches are amongst the finest on the Garden Route.    

The Garden Route is a golfers paradise featuring 11 of South Africa’s most spectacular golf courses, including the no 1 golf course – The Links at Fancourt. The Garden Route was awarded the 2014 Golf Destination of the Year for Africa by the International Association for Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).

Popular holiday destinations Knysna, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn and Plettenberg Bay are within easy reach.