If you love the rugged beauty of this rocky coastline, then you’ll love the new rest camp at Suiderstrand – a small coastal town 5km from Agulhas. Sheltered by fynbos covered dunes, the eight new chalets have uninterrupted views over the ocean and seem worlds removed from the bustling coastal settlements.

The wooden chalets are perched on poles so they touch the Earth lightly and you cross a walkway to get to your hut. The spacious open-plan living area has a fully equipped kitchen, dining area and lounge with fireplace for those stormy winter nights. The bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with a huge shower and on the sweltering day of my visit it was deliciously cool.

Four of the chalets are intended for families and sleep four people in two bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. The chalets also have a sleeper couch for an extra guest. Chalet 1 has been adapted for people who use a wheelchair.

The main draw card here is the ocean and the chalets are just a short walk from the beach. Tourism manager Derick Strydom pointed out the best swimming spot, a lagoon near the rest camp. Just deep enough for a swim, it’s a safe spot for kids and the sun should take the edge off the water.

Fishing is high on the list of things to do, but the proximity to the seaside towns means there’s no shortage of fun activities. You can go for a ride on the beach, follow the Elim Wine Route or visit the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum. A visit to the lighthouse is a must – the SANParks office is just across the road if you want any more pointers.

The 2-bed chalets will cost R975 a night, the family chalets R1925. For bookings call 012 428 9111 or email reservations@sanparks.org.

Things to do in Agulhas

Agulhas park office: 028 435 6078

Morning Glory horse rides: 082 853 6732

Elim Wine Route: Francis Pratt on 028 482 1880

Shipwreck Museum: Odette Weir on 028 424 1244

Coastal tours: Derick Burger on 082 774 4448, derick@coastaltours.co.za

This article was taken from the Summer issue of Wild Magazine 2010/2011.