Hermanus, a seaside town about 90 minutes from Cape Town, is popular with both retirees, who live there full-time, and holidaymakers from all over South Africa, who come to stay for weeks at a time during the summer school holidays. And when they come, they tend to rent self-catering villas.

The Thatch House, which is a new-ish addition to the villa scene in Hermanus, is one of the biggest and best. It would only be a minor exaggeration to call it the Versailles of seaside thatch villas.

With probably 10,000 square feet of living space and several acres of beautifully manicured grounds that slope down to the ocean, the Thatch House is intended for family and friend groups who wish to rent out the entire premises, rather than singles or couples seeking an individual room.

Built in the early 2000s, the house is perfect for those seeking space, comfort and recreation all under one roof. Each of the four enormous multi-room suites works particularly well for families intending to stay a while, and includes separate sitting rooms, dressing areas, kids’ quarters, master bedrooms, and bathrooms with jacuzzi tubs and rainfall showers. The décor is upscale casual-elegant but not opulent nor fragile; it appeals to a moneyed crowd but is eminently user-friendly, which means less to worry about if your kids are a bit on the messy side.

Elsewhere in the house can be found a massive central living/dining room with a 30-foot-high pitched ceiling and plush couches, a mezzanine-level library alcove, a games and TV room, and a fitness room with a jacuzzi. The professional-quality kitchen can be used three ways: guests can self-cater and cook their own meals; bring their own food and have it cooked for them; or have the chef do both the provisioning and cooking.

But where the property really shines is in the on-site recreational possibilities. There is almost nothing you can’t do on the premises: there are trampolines, a putt-putt course, a tennis court, and two swimming pools (one facing the mountains to the rear, and one at the front overlooking the ocean). On days when the sea is calm enough, guests can take the inner tubes out for a spin, go kayaking, or just swim off the small jetty.

The staff are incredibly personable and helpful, with an onsite manager who will go out of her way to get you what you need or answer questions about the house or activities, no matter how big or small. Overall, the Thatch House is a fabulous, idyllic property for a multi-family or large group on holiday, if you can afford it.