Location is everything when it comes to property and Wavecrest Hotel & Spa is located on a one of the most attractive stretches of coastline in South Africa.
The Wildcoast is awesome because it is, well, wild. There are no crowds and no consumerism. A stay at one of the many hotels on the Wildcoast is like being comfortably marooned on a tropical island.
Having travelled and holidayed on most of the Wildcoast I can honestly say that the Wavecrest Hotel & Spa has one of the best locations on this incredibly beautiful coastline.
The hotel faces north east and looks out across the serene mouth of the Ngqusi River. The beach stretches off into the heat hazed distance and the deep blue Indian Ocean roles its waves onto white sand.
I particularly enjoy sitting at the pub at the end of a busy day. The long bar counter runs east to west and, looking over the barman’s shoulder, through the wide windows, the view is spectacular.
Accommodation
Like most hotels on this coastline, the accommodation is beach basic. That means you can walk into the room with beach sand coated feet and dripping swim wear without having to worry about damaging the carpet or rugs.
The accommodation may be simple but the beds are comfortable, the linen crisp and fresh and the bathrooms spotless. The rooms are serviced daily.
There are 30 units which include sea-facing and garden chalets, traditional free-standing rondavels and semi-detached family rooms. The rondavals can sleep two as do some of the sea facing chalets. There are other sea facing chalets that can accommodate families as they have extra beds in the loft sections.
The chalets also have their own patio and those with lofts have a balcony too.
There is new section that has been added to the hotel that is less rustic. The rooms are beautifully appointed and set apart from the hotel in a palm grove. Each chalet has its own balcony and they have a secluded swimming pool and sun decks too.
Facilities
As I have mentioned, the pub is awesome and a great place to meet at the end of the day. Adjacent to the pub is the dining room with wood paneling that lends itself to being on a galleon.
All hotel rates include dinner and breakfast. Both meals are usually in the form of a buffet with a delicious spread to cater for all tastes. Lunch is ordered off an ala carte menu and offers pub fare.
Behind the bar is the lounge with a TV room off to the side. Central to the lounge is a full size pool table with other games, such as darts, are also available.
There are no TV’s in the bedrooms as they would be a total waste. There is just too much to do to waste your time watching movies or series. However, if you want to catch up on the news or watch our boys and girls compete in your favorite sports then the TV room comes in handy.
There is a twelve seater and a forty seater conference room. The 40 seater conference room is impressive with a beautiful central table and large high backed chairs. This conference room is on the first floor and surrounded by a deck that offers great views of the river and estuary. The venue is ideal for weddings, corporate indabas and bosberaads.
The deck in front of the bar has a heated jacuzi and a swimming pool. The pool is a great place to rinse off the salty water of the estuary or beach.
There are also squash courts and tennis courts to keep you your eye in. As the name suggests there is a spa too.
Activities
The wealth of activities is the primary reason why you would visit Wavecrest Hotel and Spa. This is the home of the great outdoors. Make sure you pack your sunscreen and a hat but if you forget, there is a shop at the hotel that sells the basics.
The estuary is one of the southernmost mangroves in Africa and is home to a variety of bird and fish species. The bird watching is fantastic as there are a number of habitats – grassland, coastal forest, estuarine, tidal mangrove and beach and rock pools which attract a great variety of birds.
The fishing in this area is fantastic. The low density of people fishing off the beach and in the rivers as well as the lack of accessibility for commercial fishing vessels means that the fish stocks are good. Bring your own boat, whether it’s a river boat or ski boat, as launching facilities are available.
Explore the coastline or include Wavecrest Hotel in your glamping hike along the coast. Mountain biking and trail running into the interior or to visit the surrounding villages has proved very popular too.
The hotel offers free use of its kayaks and these are great for exploring the estuary.
The beach is spectacular whether for sunbathing, swimming or surfing.
Whether you are looking for a beach holiday for your young kids, a fishing holiday with the boys, a romatic tryst or a place simply to get away from the craziness of your everyday existence, then Wavecrest Hotel and Spa is perfect.
I can’t wait to return. See you there!
Contact Details and Location
Wavecrest Hotel& Spa is located on the southern part of the Wildcoast and is best accessed off the N2 at Butterworth. Travel via Kentani and follow the hotel sign posts.
The road is rough but can be used by a sedan.
I recommend using Google Maps. Find Wavecrest Hotel and Spa by clicking here.
For more information or to make a reservation call +27 (0) 47 498 0022 or +27 (0) 83 306 3043 or email reservations@wavecrest.co.za.
