SMILE, YOU'RE ON INSTA

Looking for a special weekend getaway or an escape from the city? We've curated an accommodation shortlist designed for unforgettable, picture-perfect moments.

- BY CLAUDIA DA SILVA

Aardts' Starlit Cabin

KLEIN KAROO, WESTERN CAPE

Cradled beneath a rugged koppie in the vast expanse of the Klein Karoo, the Starlit Cabin is a masterclass in architecture that harmonises with raw nature. Starlit Cabin is a collaborative vision of Joram Design, the interior sister-company of internationally recognised furniture studio Meyer von Wielligh and designers, Abrie and Jorika von Wielligh. Designed with a deep reverence for the land, the structure is engineered from sustainable materials such as stone, clay, wood and mud that were thoughtfully chosen to tread lightly on the earth. The discarded metal grain silo, salvaged from a local farmer, has been repurposed into a sculptural front door, a wood-fired outdoor hot tub, and an expansive skylight above the bed which teleports guests to the mystic cosmos of the Klein Karoo. Three-quarters of the structure sits below ground, echoing the desert burrows of the Karoo and providing a sheltered retreat. Organic curves flow through the interior in custom furnishings, as every room pays tribute to the owners' abiding love for nature's artistry. Outside, the landscape is sculpted into a desert oasis as indigenous plants and cacti frame the view, while lounge chairs, a fire pit and hot tub invite long sun-soaked days and starlit evenings.

Sand Cabin at Nima Lodge

GARDEN ROUTE, WESTERN CAPE