There’s something delightfully unique about Struisbaai. According to the owner of Despacito, it’s as good as a tropical island getaway, without the palm trees and the Piña Coladas. More of a rustic, raw and rugged, laidback stillness. Turquoise waters and long stretches of pearly white sands. Fynbos veld amongst the dunes. And a venerable South African vintage in the ice bucket.
As the Spanish name suggests, slowly does it. Despacito implores you and your giddy holiday clan to go as gently as the waves rise and fall on the Overberg beach. Drifting through your days beside the sea in a resplendent state of resignation. Answering to the call of ice cream, the sounds of the seagulls flocking to the fisherman’s market, and the pacifying pace of a summer’s day. Yes, this old fishing village seems to be dishing up the good life in buckets and spades of simplicity. From the southernmost point of Africa.
Less than a 100 metres from the shoreline, Despacito digs her Mexican-inspired white-washed walls into the vanilla sands and layers little pockets of living, cooking, gathering and entertaining spaces like a beach hacienda does best. Cocooning from the wind, opening out to the sun, nurturing the nature, and welcoming the light. All of the rich earthy textures and tones generously displayed throughout the home, adding to the sentiment of taking things slow. The entire house being built and considered around the existence of the goose-feathered couch! A mammoth mountain of comfort for all to climb upon and settle into the living space that fosters familial fun.
Three bedrooms with their beautifully appointed bathrooms – one with a Rasul steam room! – can accommodate as many as eight of you. The upstairs loft room being ideal for the kids with a games and TV area as a necessary appendage. Plenty of fireplaces and fire pits for gathering around – whatever the weather. Cooking up a seafood storm – sourced from the fish market at the harbour – in the open-plan kitchen.
The kids will be playing with their puzzle pieces or perfecting their water colours on the canvas. A potjie simmering over the flames of the open braai. Of course, when the wind is out to sea with the whales, you’ll be in the pool or on the swinging daybed, the hot tub or beside the boma. When it returns with its notorious gale, you’ll resume your positions around the puzzles, the fireplaces aplenty, the comfy reading nooks and that glorious kitchen.
Tranquility, simplicity and authenticity
All of the other moments will be made up of Struisbaai’s best kept secrets. Perfecting your surfing in the shallow waves at Robbie’s Surf School. Immediately on the beach, just a few minute’s walk from the beach house. Horse riding and e-Biking, beach walking and swimming, snorkelling and stingray spotting.
The long-living resident stingray, Parries, will be in the shallows, gracefully drifting along the tepid currents. Ice cream feasts around the clock. Visits to the lighthouse and the harbour to source the freshest fish from the market. Collecting seashells and all of nature’s treasures along your walks. Witnessing the kids revelling in real entertainment. Savouring the slow pace of course. Pressing the pause button and letting the Struisbaai bliss be your travelling team’s default mode, from dawn til dusk.
Reviewed by Colleen Ogilvie