This sprawling five-bedroom Hermanus villa is furnished like a five-star hotel but designed for family living. Located in a secure golf estate, within the whale-watching capital of South Africa, and surrounded by some of the best wine terroirs in Africa. A mere two-hour drive from Cape Town, this is both an alternative and an add-on to a city sojourn.

When the 330 residential erven that comprises Fernkloof Estate went on the market in 2004, it sold out within six hours of launching. Hardly surprising: strung like necklaces along the base of the Olifantsberg Mountains, within and overlooking the Hermanus Golf Club’s 27-hole course (redesigned by Peter Matkovich), Fernkloof offers a combination of high-tech security, excellent golfing, and glimpses of the wild beauty that makes this one of the Cape’s most popular coastal towns, with its wetlands, great swimming beaches, and mountain views. Famous for its whale watching (Hermanus is recognized by the World Wildlife Fund as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world), it’s also surrounded by some of the best wine terroirs in Africa, and a mere two-hour drive from Cape Town.

Named after its delightful owner, this sprawling five-bedroom Fernkloof Estate villa is furnished like a five-star hotel but designed for family living. First off there is a sufficiency of space – with four wings built around a courtyard this home offers plenty of privacy yet is generous enough for the whole family or group to congregate around one of several fireplaces (including an outdoor firepit); the bar and billiard table; the enormous stoep, with its extra-length sofas and views. All five bedrooms are en-suite and spacious, but the main bedroom is the plum: taking up the entire top floor, with fabulous views, this is most definitely the lair of the hosts.

It’s a villa that invites large-scale entertaining, with a beautiful open-plan kitchen, romantically lit with artful table lamps, as well as a separate back-end service kitchen for the more serious or professional chef or caterer (which we can of course gladly supply). Fittings and equipment in both are top-notch; maintenance is faultless, and there is a discreet housekeeper to ensure it stays that way. From the open-plan kitchen and living area, you look across to what is the natural centerpiece of the villa: a lush green rectangle into punctuated with a sparkling pool. Four of the five bedrooms open directly onto this protected oasis, an ideal spot to soak up some sun, or a playground for children to romp about in while parents watch from the comfortably furnished verandah. Wrap-around glass doors slide back for easy outdoor flow in summer, or close to create a conservatory-style space in winter.

For some, it’s the security that is the clincher. Aside from the brick-paved streets, with speed bumps, there is 24-hour CCTV camera surveillance and several manned access gates, making the entire estate a safe space for children to explore. It’s this peace of mind, along with the excellent-value luxury, that will allow you to kick back and relax, enjoying the kind of family holiday that imprints gratitude and joy in equal measure.

ADDITIONAL

• Additional costs: Refundable breakage deposit of ZAR 20 000

OTHER INFORMATION

• Check-in: After 2:00 pm
• Check out: Before 10:00 am
• Minimum night stay: 5 Night