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Morukuru Beach Lodge

Morukuru Beach Lodge

De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa

Located on the coastline of the De Hoop Nature Reserve, Morukuru Beach Lodge boasts an enviable location right on Koppie Alleen beach, as well as an intimate, indulgent atmosphere. It’s one of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching — you can see whales breaching from your suites — and an excellent, family-friendly base for exploring the nearby reserve.

The main lodge is a low, wide stone building with massive windows to offer the best ocean views, as well as a heated swimming pool, hot tub, curio shop, restaurant and rooftop terrace. There's also an outdoor fire pit where you can enjoy a hot drink while taking in the vistas.

The hotel offers four Ocean View Suites and one Dune View Suite. All the ground-floor suites have contemporary minimalist decor, over-sized windows, a fireplace and a private terrace and seating area. The meals, which are served in the main restaurant, use locally sourced ingredients and include a mix of local and international dishes.

Whale-watching season, which runs June to November, is a particular highlight here since the hotel offers panoramic views of the shallow ocean basins, where southern right whales come to nurse their calves. Other activities here include marine walks, fynbos hikes, 4x4 nature drives, sand boarding, snorkelling and beach games.

OUR OPINION:

We love Morukuru Beach Lodge for its prime location within one of South Africa’s most biodiverse nature reserves, as well as the views across the Indian Ocean, where you can often spot pods of whales. We also like the privacy of the property, which makes it a peaceful retreat after spending the day outdoors.

OUR RATING: First Class

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Rooms

There are five private suites at Morukuru Beach Lodge, four with ocean views and a fifth with views across the sweeping sand dunes.

Each of the rooms offers you the best possible views, with large windows directed to the ocean and the dunes. The contemporary decor uses muted blues, tans and browns that echo the views.

The en suite bathrooms have level-access rain showers and bathtubs, while the rooms come with comfortable sofa beds, exclusive terraces and outdoor seating areas. In addition, you can relax in the heat of the day with a dip in the pool or the bubbling Jacuzzi, enjoy the shade of the tree-lined courtyard or soak up the sun and views from the rooftop terrace.

Location

The De Hoop Nature Reserve is a sprawling World Heritage Site located just three hours from Cape Town. Together with the nearby marine reserve, it’s one of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching — southern right whales use the shallows offshore as a nursery for their calves between June and November.

The shoreline also provides ample opportunity for exploring coastal rock pools that teem with life and for hiking through the endemic fynbos flora of the region.

Food and drink

  • Morukuru Beach Lodge uses locally sourced food and wines.
  • Picnic baskets on request.
  • Three-course fine dining every night.
  • Buffet breakfasts.
  • Fully stocked bar.
  • Minibars.
  • Light meals available throughout the day.

Families

  • Morukuru Kidz rucksack upon arrival.
  • Child-friendly activities like baking and board games.
  • Free Wi-Fi, TVs, DVD library and PlayStation.
  • Babysitting services can be booked in advance.

Facilities and activities

  • Spa treatments.
  • Sandboarding.
  • Private picnics.
  • Stargazing.
  • Snorkelling.
  • Bird watching.
  • Bike trails.
  • Hiking trails.
  • Whale watching.
  • Laundry.
  • Wi-Fi.
  • Bar/lounge area.

Tour ideas in De Hoop Nature Reserve

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Morukuru Beach Lodge as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favourite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    De Hoop Nature Reserve and nearby places