Mosaic Lagoon Lodge offers majestic reboot for weary minds

If you find yourself needing an escape from the madness of the last month, you’ll find the perfect reboot for body and soul at Mosaic Lagoon Lodge.

It’s a little more than two hours’ drive from Cape Town, putting it within easy reach for both locals and upcountry travellers jetting in. And if the last months have taught us anything, it’s that we’ve all earned a short break.

If time allows, skip the mountain pass through the Elgin valley and take the scenic coastal route on Clarence Drive, skirting the ocean with the fynbos-clad Kogelberg Mountains to your left. Pass the lagoon at Bot River, where wild horses still roam, and cruise through the ever-growing town of Hermanus until you reach the village of Stanford, a place too darn charming for its own good. There are antique shops and bakeries, river cruises and craft breweries. You’ll be tempted to pull up the handbrake and go no further.

But you can always come back. From Stanford it’s only a short gravel road, muddy from good winter rains, that delivers you to the door of Mosaic Lagoon Lodge.

Pitched just metres from the water’s edge, it’s an intimate lodge with just five cosy suites sheltered by venerable milkwood trees. Think thatched suites bedecked with mosquito nets and fine linen, expansive baths and outdoor showers. All topped off with views to forever from your private deck.

Or settle in at the main lodge, where you’ll find a fire crackling and a fine selection of wines from both local cellars and Africa’s southernmost vineyards. And one thing’s for sure, you won’t go hungry. A chalkboard dishes up the menu for dinner and breakfast, from local smoked trout tossed in fresh pasta, to French toast given an upmarket twist. A few steps from the main lodge a small pool deck looks out over both lagoon and lofty peaks, offering a fine place to settle in when the weather warms.

Mosaic is an idyllic spot for a romantic escape, but families are just as welcome here too. Older children can take a separate suite close by, while those with younger ones in tow can enjoy the adventure of a separate bed in an alcove beneath the thatch. Best of all? There’s no TV in the room, meaning guests both young and old are all but compelled to get outdoors in the fresh air.

Mosaic Lagoon Lodge rests on a 1000ha conservancy that runs to the shores of the Klein River Lagoon. To the east, lies Stanford. To the west, the mouth of the lagoon and the Blue Flag-rated grotto beach. All of which means that if you’re staying more than a weekend there are plenty of diversions.

Top of your list should be a quad-bike discovery of the property, with fun-filled trails meandering across the fynbos hills of the conservancy, while kayaks and SUPs are available for exploring the lagoon come summer.

Too adventurous? Friendly guides offer daily walks through the fynbos, while winter and spring are ideal months for whale watching from the cliffs at nearby De Kelders, or on a wander along the clifftop path at Hermanus. Or, to properly wind down, the intimate Milkwood Spa set beneath the milkwood forests offers a compact range of Elemis and Kalahari treatments. They are, I’m told, rather good. I didn’t get the chance to try any, as for me the real magic of Mosaic is, simply, those gorgeous lagoon views and finding the time to simply stand and stare. We certainly all need a dose of it right now.

www.mosaiclagoonlodge.co.za