It really is a much-loved family beach cottage full of quaint vintage treasures. It has a very laid-back East African influence – the only shoes you will want to put on are your Havaianas, and your most important piece of clothing will be a kikoi (Kenyan sarong).
Spend your days keeping out of the midday sun, gazing at that blue, blue lagoon and watching the sailing, kayaking and fishing, or take long walks in the reserve, make sandcastles and explore by bicycle…all part of the back-to-basics lifestyle in the charming hamlet of Churchhaven on the water’s edge.
A digital detox for families
Being off-grid is just such a treat as you can either use the gas stove or bbq (the fridge is electric and runs off solar power) or light all the candles and settle in for the evenings to enjoy the stars or play good old-fashioned games together.
If you have never visited the West Coast of the Cape before you are really in for a surprise: the colours and beauty of the reserve, the fynbos wildflowers in spring, the quietness and solitude, and the pristine waters of the lagoon, all just an hour out of Cape Town. Birdwatchers and nature lovers come for the Namaqualand spring flowers, hikes and trails. This tranquil haven is a local secret, away from the madness of busy lifestyles.
PERFECT HIDEAWAYS in SOUTH AFRICA: Book 1, 2 and 3
Seagull Cottage was one of the first hideaways to be featured in our Perfect Hideaways in South Africa coffee table book (Book 1), a collector’s item now as it is out of print! Copies of Book 2 and our new Book 3 are available now in our online shop.
Book 1 celebrates our most treasured hideaways, each one embodying what it is that makes a holiday home ‘perfect’.
From bush to beach, from city to wilderness, PERFECT HIDEAWAYS IN SOUTH AFRICA is a collection of the most extraordinary havens offering unique experiences, architecture and interiors in exceptional destinations. Travellers today are embracing a new narrative for regenerative travel: how and why we travel, and how much time we choose to be surrounded by our family and closest friends, has become ever more important. But over the years, like that proverbial leopard, our Perfect Hideaways has not changed many of its spots.
PERFECT HIDEAWAYS IN SOUTH AFRICA is a tangible journey into the evolving landscape of our homes, mapping our ways back to the soul. Evoking a renewed vigour with the ways we wish to travel, yet retaining a nostalgic sentiment to simplicity.