Twelve years ago, a couple stumbled across this stunning Zinkwazi property adjacent the lagoon, pondered on its humble foundations and prime location, and rebuilt their idyllic family seaside escape, upon the water’s edge of Zinkwazi’s pristine shoreline.
Aside from retaining the old Oregon floors and painting them the signature white, the rest of the contemporary beach house was built from the ground up, to maximise on its incredible views and direct access to the lagoon, the ocean, the long stretch of sand that goes on for miles, and the hours of tropical sunlight flooding every room.
Zinkwasi – The White House is a beachfront hideaway set on one vast level of light, open plan living, dining and entertaining spaces. It has four gorgeous ensuite bedrooms and two dormitory rooms for the kids – also ensuite. A fabulous, fully-equipped kitchen, with a tiered outdoor space that cascades down onto the rolling emerald green lawns and directly into the water below, sets this self-catering holiday accommodation apart.
A coastal escape and tropical wonderland
For water sports enthusiasts the waves curl relentlessly for that perfect surf all day long, occasionally breaking the lagoon wall and merging into one beautiful body of water washing itself around the palm trees at the bottom of the garden.
Avid fishermen jump aboard the boats and head off for the catch of the day, as divers forage the ocean boulders for crayfish and mussles – that’ll be buttered up and flamed over the braai later on, or tossed into a creamy white wine and lemongrass broth. Swimmers, skiers, kayakers, paddle-boarders, wake-boarders, boogie-boarders, booze-cruisers, sun-tanners and sand castle aficionados will be perfecting their skills in the sunshine.
The action is endless until the sun indicates it’s time to return to your chosen retreat space and settle on the long veranda with a couple of bottles of crisp sauvignon blanc resting in the ice buckets, as those eager cooks muscle-up with the catch of the day and prepare a feasting in the warm evening seaside air.
The Gambler hits its queue on the stereo as barefoot dancing resumes on the lawn, under the stars with echoes of the curling waves breaking the silence before the next track kicks the dancing back into action. Tonight’s the night for dancing. Tomorrow you can stretch out those battered heels on the lower deck with an hour’s pilates in the easy morning sun. Followed by a deep tissue massage in the comfort of your ensuite, listening to the fish eagles, the trumpeter hornbills and swallows as you drift off with the warm breeze.
And then it’s the moment to be poolside, on a comfy lounger with that great book or enthralling podcast as you settle back into that heavenly tropical temperature and escape with words and titillating tales of long-lost loves. Before the evening antics resume once again, for another night with the best of the best, singing you’re simply the best, better than all the rest!
Quite frankly, this place makes you believe you are just that. For which every single phone call, over the weeks, months and years was worth every dial. For every single memory made to date, and every single moment to come at Zinkwazi White House.
Reviewed by Colleen Ogilvie
Edited by Dawn Kennedy