There’s only one thing I would change about my stay at Leisure Isle Lodge: stay longer! After a 5,5 hour drive from Cape Town, we arrived in Knysna after sunset; making our way through the amber glow of street lights to the pitch black expanse of lagoon and the tiny island set in the midst of it. We couldn’t see enough to fully appreciate where we were and the Knysna Heads did nothing but tantalise us with their faint outline against the night sky.
We pulled up at the boutique-style Leisure Isle Lodge and were greeted by the beaming smile of Chris; our charming porter who guided us into the cosy guest lounge where the warmth of a freshly stoked fire instantly embraced us. I fell in love with the casual, sophisticated elegance of the lodge. The upmarket cottage décor and colour scheme of white, cream, silver, and touches of pastel blue and green appear to have sprung from the pages of a luxury home magazine and landed on my “dream home” wish list.
Chris expertly showed us around before leading us to our room…which happened to be the exquisite penthouse suite as we were the only ones at the lodge that midweek evening. (I did a typical girlie happy dance the second Chris closed the door!) Even if we hadn’t been the only ones I’m certain we would have felt just as special, because Leisure Isle Lodge goes out of their way to add a personal touch to everything they do. From the complimentary hospitality tray with sparkling water, tea and coffee, shortbread biscuits, and sherry, to the hot water bottles that had been unsuspectingly tucked beneath our soft linen on our extra-length king-sized bed; every detail was taken care of. The plush duvet-from-heaven cannot go unmentioned and I dream of having my own just like it (which our lovely hostess, Cher, informs me comes from Hospitality & Home in Sedgefield).
The en-suite bathroom is about the size of my bedroom back home and comprises a massive shower, free standing bath surrounded by pearly white pebbles, double vanity, heated towel rails, and toilet. I couldn’t resist taking a shower before dinner and a candlelit bath afterwards. To top it off…I finally had the privilege of introducing my body to Charlotte Rhys bath products. Cher told me it was the St Tomas fragrance I was falling so madly in love with. Another item to add to my Leisure Isle Lodge-inspired wish list!
After a perfect sleep serenaded by croaking frogs and the gentle lapping of waves, I eventually managed to locate my hubby on the other side of the bed (it was that big!) and finally had a chance to take in our picture postcard setting. As if our stay couldn’t get any better…we were treated to a fabulous breakfast in the intimate dining room overlooking the lagoon and Western Head. An assortment of yoghurts, cereals, dried fruits, and nuts, were perfectly complemented by fresh fruit juice and a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee. What followed was the lavish “special of the day”: French toast with bacon, gorgonzola cheese, and maple syrup. They say all good things come to an end, and in our case it was a GREAT thing that ended far too quickly. With a jam-packed schedule ahead of us, our breakfast was not only the perfect start to the day, but also the perfect farewell to Leisure Isle Lodge.
While chatting to Cher for our Local Guide to Knysna, I realised that this little island alone has a wealth of things to discover. I have no choice but to return one day and find Cher’s secret sunset spot at the end of the island; to borrow one of the lodge’s canoes and row across to Featherbed Nature Reserve for lunch; to walk across the lagoon to East Head Café in the summer; to chill out on a lilo on the crystal clear waters of Bollard Bay; to visit Leisure Isle’s art gallery and nature reserve; to try one of the lodge’s sensational spa treatments; to taste the exciting contemporary cuisine at Daniela’s @ Leisure Isle Lodge; and to enjoy sun downers on the deck. You can bet that all of these things are going on my wish list!
Here are some beautiful photos to inspire your dream stay at Leisure Isle Lodge:
