The story of La Vista Lodge is one that invites guests to step into a world of tranquility, luxury, and a deep connection with nature. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this unique accommodation in Plettenberg Bay is sure to leave a lasting impression.
A milestone for La Vista Lodge: Reinforcing the foundation in 2018
What made you buy a property in Plettenberg Bay while you were only 30 years old?
Let me tell you a good story of growth - In tourism, in gardening and as a man!
I guess it must have started somewhere in the 90ies
Growing up in Ederheim in a small village in Germany. The view from the top was always amazing!
Building my first house (out of snow) and playing tennis games with my neighbour Tom that time. Tennis was booming!
But my love for the wild and calm ocean and crystal clear water was manifested in those years! My father Fritz was a chemistry and physics teacher and loved nature. My parents showed us the beauty of the sea in Europe! Imagine caravaning for 6 weeks during summer school holidays on a tight budget as a family through Italy, Spain, France all the way to the finest sandy beaches! Visiting historic towns and churches. But I enjoyed building sand castles or playing baseball on the beach much more! I was hooked on spending time at the beach!
Whenever we had a holiday near the sea I went in and played with the waves. Bodysurfing became my passion!
Study of Business and Finance
After school and German Army i studied and met René who like me loved reading the charts 📈! I had started an online newsletter where I told my opinion where stocks might go in future! René was convinced we could do this professionally. We took the risk and it worked! self employment with 21 years of age with René and Stephan. A financial advisory newsletter in PDF format that we emailed twice weekly - we specialised in leverage certificates. This gave me early financial security and good experience in risk management (this was needed a lot in coming years)
First time in South Africa in 2003:
After our financial advisory business took off I had enough funds for travelling. My cousin Bernd approached me if I would like to join him and his brother road tripping South Africa! There was no hesitation and I ended up backpacking South Africa for 5 weeks with my two cousins. Bernd and Michael. The moment we went into the ocean I knew I will return several times back to South Africa again and again. My first dip in the Indian Ocean happened to be in Plettenberg Bay in September 2003 at Lookout Beach! It was incredibly beautiful.
The adventure trip started in Jo‘burg - (day 1 in SA: A man grabbed my arm and said „we have already surrounded you“. My natural instinct hit and I ran away back to my cousins at the intertrans bus stop) and then overnight bus to Cape Town. No car in CT for 4 nights. Rented car (Toyota Tazz) for the next almost 5 weeks. We alternated driver and the one at the back had access to food :) - yeah including Roastercookers - it was a fun but adventurous experience when I was 23 years of age to travel all along the coast (From Cape Town to Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Hermanus, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Port Elizabeth, Addo, East London, Transkei, Hluluwe, St. Lucia, Blyde River Canyon, Pretoria and Sun City) - I got a great insight into the life, development and diversity in South Africa at that time and the natural beauty and uniqueness of Plettenberg Bay standing out on another level compared to all other destinations.
Study abroad at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in PE in 2005
Delighted to have a chance to go back to SA when my student friend Manu asked me if we should also do a semester abroad? We could not afford to go to USA, Australia and Sweden sounded nice but with my experience from South Africa. We applied for a Semester Abroad to Mauritius an South Africa. Of course we ended up going to SA!
Manu also asked me if he might have a similar business where he can have some income and still be able to travel. I told him: That is possible!
Our subjects were Business (internet marketing, international marketing and tennis :). Epic times for 7 guys in one house opposite the Summerstrand shopping complex in Port Elizabeth. We were frequent visitors to Brooks Pavilion and Toby Joe‘s and it‘s legendary deck parties on a Sunday. „It’s Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Toby Joe’s“ - Where you could see entire PE going pitch black during load shedding while the crowd kept singing and the music came back and the show went on.
The invention of drinking game - cup cup was not the only invention that time.
We had to do a presentation of a business plan in English language. Why planning if not implementing it? My mindset said: let’s do the plan and try it straight away.
2005 August I invented a postcard mailing service where you can send your own digital photos as printed postcards with an actual stamp to anywhere in the world.
what a coincidence. We lived in Torquay 6 opposite the print and copy shop. Our first orders we deliver via USB-Stick to Justin (whom we called „Just-in-Time“) managed to print, laminate and cut up to 6 postcards a day.
Long story short: The postcard business we turned into an App which is still used today, but I left it to Manu in 2018 due to our current seasonal business (further below)
We‘ve had the best times of our lives in South Africa in 2005 while we had time and everything seemed easy. And if not there were friends to help or to distract from any worries.
Our favourite student friend and daughter of the local priest Anton from Plettenberg Bay showed us the best view in Plett from an empty plot next to Rosheen crescent 17. That view we witnessed was something unique. Even many Plett locals didn't know about it. And still today don’t know that the view in Plett changes every 10 meters left or right and every meter you climb up. It is well worth checking out all the different views! It was like a secret spot to come to and visit Bahia Formosa in all it´s glory.
Body surfing at Central Beach was not the only pleasure in Plett that time.
While I was young and financially solvent through two businesses that I founded there was time to explore more of the world and visiting my cousin Michael on the other side of the planet.
Road tripping Australia’s East Coast in 2007
As a business student I got the opportunity to travel to Australia and visit my cousin Michael who did a work-and-travel experience down under. We traveled together like we did 2003. But no bay in Australia came close to the natural beauty while having the relaxed growth vibe and lifestyle of Plettenberg Bay.
In Summer of 2007 on day 1 after the time in Australia I came back 3 weeks after the semester had started and took the risk toto have a delayed start. I got rewarded unexpectedly: I met my wife at university on day one of my last semester when she had to hold a presentation about „Schumpeter“ but no picture was presented via Beamer. So I once in my life put my shyness aside and helped her to setup the beamer. I had to! When you meet her you will understand. I just came back home as a bronzed aussie that saw this beautiful girl needed help.
2008: we moved together and were able to buy a uniquely located flat in our town with a river view. No ocean, but water!
Another Semester abroad in South Africa
Eva wanted to study abroad too - you guessed it right - at NMMU in PE. So she applied and I asked if I could study in SA again? Of course you can!
Same subjects just no more tennis. I needed time to write my diploma thesis about the postcard company I started back in SA in 2005 together with Manu. The subjects were only Internet Marketing and International Marketing: "Delight the customer".
This time the trip was different. Way less alcohol :). Eva and me lived in Summerstrand - even closer to the beach in Bliss for 5 months after she had to listen to SA beach vibe life stories and the beautiful weather and friendly people for some time she wanted to witness it herself.
In the months of September till November we visited the original Vovo Telo Bakery regularly. Friends visited us and we showed them around. The Garden Route was our home.
Where did we travel to from Port Elizabeth? Plettenberg Bay! I wanted to show her the secret view spot, but it was gone. A massive house was built at Rosheen Crescent 15 in 2006 and blocked the view to the lagoon. That house cut down 6 meter deep into the soil and left Rosheen Crescent 17 on a smaller piece of land overlooking it all.
This is how we ended up staying at La Vista Lodge in Rosheen Crescent 17 the first time in August 2008 as guests. We enjoyed the view and were surprised by the special treatment we received - a heart warming hospitality and attention to detail from Michele de Smet (Whom we nicknamed "Miss England" due to her very British Accent. She was managing La Vista Lodge from 2004 until 2010.
We visited Plettenberg Bay whenever there was a student break or we had a chance and showed the fantastic located Accmmodation La Vista Lodge in 2008 to all our friends that came to visit us. Our both parents, and student friends from Germany.
With Eva´s Parents we did the Garden Route all the way to Cape Town and stayed on the Way to Cape Town and on our Return to Port Elizabeth with „Miss England“ :)
Lookout Beach was gone - washed away by historic rain 🌧️ on spring tide in 2007 and the river mouth totally changed the entire scene. But small Plett lost one of it’s main attractions. Direct beach access from Lookout Beach.
The return to South Africa and decision to buy La Vista Lodge.
we originally planned to come back to SA for the soccer World Cup and quickly realised that it would be more enjoyable to come in summer instead of SA winter. In February 2010 It was almost too hot for us. We missed our flight back but I was mad enough to think that buying a property in South Africa with a view like that! What should go wrong for the next 20 years? - With Plettenberg Bay growing up from a village to a town.
Witnessing the beauty of nature and while able to enjoy a relaxed and luxurious lifestyle from the comfort of your own home.
I was picturing our life travelling to SA as a family in future with parents and filling the house with family and friends. While I was young and risk taking I was told "you don´t have to do anything - it will be managed by a company and you only pay commission while it is occupied".
The self-catering phase of La Vista Lodge (2010-2014)
2011: our daughter was born and we could not afford to travel to SA as the purchase of La Vista Lodge brought us into huge debt and I trusted the holiday letting company to take good care. The previous owner Albert Kopp who bought the house in 2002 extended the Property in height and length in 2004 and covered up the troubles he ran into. Never did he disclose the hidden defects. Bastard!
2013: our son was born. While still pregnant we managed to visit SA and stay in Plett at our own property. Instead of flying home together I had to extend my stay and organise bigger repairs at the House. The repairs were so big that it took many weeks and the need to split up our young family for many weeks as more defects came to light.
The return of the 4 Star Luxury Accommodation La Vista Lodge through Shannon Rombi and Cornelle Naude.
I tried to sell the property but there was no buyer serious enough. Shannon Rombi was brave enough to ask if she could add La Vista Lodge to her Property Portfolio and bring back the Boutique Hotel in 2014.
It was with my Father Fritz just the two of us who were able to enjoy what a 4 star luxury BnB was like at La Vista Lodge. The house was just patched and repaired and looked beautifully - ready to host guests and serve breakfast. With Cornelle being a great chef she was happy to cook delicious food for guests on prior arrangement. Plettenberg Bay was still small but growing faster every year. It made more and more sense to host guests again, despite some building issues. With happy paying guests it would be possible to maintain the house and when guests are spoiled with great breakfast and occasional dinners they will not want to leave.
Guests loved the accommodation and the personalised service. So did we.
2015: We sold our River-View apartment from 2008 as property prices went up a lot in Germany. Two prospects wanted to buy the uniquely located flat at the exact same time. I was able to pay off the remaining loan for La Vista Lodge in South Africa and without debt we moved within our city into a semi detached rented house in a location we could not afford to buy a house but now had our own little piece of garden. It was just a lawn and a hedge. In our rental contract there still is a phrase: „the lawn and hedge had to stay maintained“
We finally could afford to travel again to SA and our kids loved it! I was familiar with the Garden Route for years and so was Eva. Looking for more secret view spots was a hobby. Like this one: The Paragliding View Site just above Sedgefield.
While we knew where to enjoy the best bakes and breads we had to discover that the repairs we did to the house in prior years were not enough - I knew I had to come back as soon as possible to maintain the property - again! But let's first enjoy the precious family holiday time together.
Our daughter and La Vista Lodge in November 2015 while I knew a new roof is needed.
2016: The ever so slight movement of the house did not fully stop. I kept on repairing what I could afford and whatever I was able to repair with the budget I had seemed to come back within a 1-2 years time period. I was advised to stabilise the house with new foundations. In order to install a stronger foundation afterwards a proper soil investigation needed to be arranged first.
There was no chance in keeping the financial advisory business going with my full input while I had a house in SA to look after and two young kids. I wanted to „fix the house first“ so I sold my share of the leverage certificate newsletter. My ownly income left was now from Postcards sold via an online App!
2017: while I had to organise repairs for the house, I started cycling through Plettenberg Bay. The fun part: you get to meet people and from La Vista it was downhill and effortless to start any cycle tour. I had to push the bike uphill for several days and remember well when I was able to ride those horrible climbs uphill. Coming back there were 7 showers to chose from and a cold plunge pool. dopamin levels climbed. So did the confidence to give repairs of the foundation of the house a chance through Kantey and Templer. Today no incline is horrible and I enjoy to ride them with ease up and down! Interval training is great for your heart!
Survived the Great Fire in Plettenberg Bay in June 2017.
Renata came from heaven to help with everything! Local lady Renata Kenig ever dreamed of her own hospitality business offered help and run La Vista Lodge until she became an offer from a Crypto Multimillionaire Roberto Spagni to manage his houses and I had to look for a new manager.
we run the house through several seasons and focused on repairs during off season. Finally having a chance to address the foundation issues that the previous owner knew about when he sold the house to me.
2017: Installation of Piles to a depths of 9m and 12m inclined into the bed rock below the house.
Becoming an artisan Christmas Cookie Baker
2018: My wife and I took over the Bakery of her Parents: A proper traditional Christmas Bakery in a small town called Kitzingen in Germany. My wife earns well today! Who doesn’t like cookies and gingerbread?
A stranded killer whale and plastic wrapped herbs bought from Woolies by Cornelle brought a change of lifestyle into my life and made my actions more thoughtful over time.
Even if the property might not be fully stabilising - and I won’t have a buyer for the property - I realised it makes so much more sense to host guests and keep it running to cover the expenses that come with the upkeep of the huge property.
i decided that we never buy plastic wrapped herbs ever again and start planting our first herbs.
The postcard business I quit in an agreement with Manu to fully focus on baking for the years to come for our very own family business …and gardening of course!
2019: First attempts to grow a little produce for the kitchen in SA failed, except some herbs here and there. So far away from the kitchen that it wasn’t really used much at that time.
I was sure I won’t give up and when an opportunity arose that my parents in law wanted to quit their own Xmas bakery I asked my wife if she wants to take it over with her sister. Her Sister pulled out. The only option to keep the gingerbread bakery within our family was to learn baking and become a professional baker!
as this was a seasonal job I realised that I will have more time for my family and „to fix the house“ and to enjoy Plett and any ocean!
Plan B („Plan Baking“) started to form in my head. If the house goes down, just make more handmade gingerbread. In order to not go crazy with all the hidden defects and repairs that I had to go through at the Lodge I started to focus on Plants. My mind was so overloaded with nightmares of house collapse that I needed something else to get positivity from. I was mad that our Manager in 2019 Cornelle was mainly shopping at Woolworth and mostly in plastic. I started intensive research on how to grow food.
The concept to turn the neglected forest piece of land below the pool into a food forest was the missing piece of puzzle. I followed James Prigioni‘s videos on YouTube and watched all content from Epic Gardening.
I just needed more time.
2020: I lost my childhood neighbour Tom on 4th of January. Covid was approaching fast! I felt I have to travel to SA and entered the country when it had 4 positive cases only!
Lockdown and the Impact of Covid. During Lockdown I had the chance to proof the concept of the food forest and used the first harvests! It felt surreal alone at the house with a massive garden, where food was just planted in recent months. Through a lot of research about how to grow food my knowledge grew every year. You need to build soil. The no dig method , huglebeds and raised beds all concepts we tried out at La Vista Lodge. And all of a sudden there was time for that!
it was difficult to convince the Manager Ade Alao to grow food at the property even with little to no travel. Tourism was closed! So were the beaches!
The moment I told Amos about the concept he believed it too and we both realised this might work longterm and benefit everyone that is pulling together to make this work.
Through the food forest project we could keep many jobs at the lodge during Covid.
We believed in the longterm vision to transform the garden and piece of land below the pool into a thriving food forest! We’ve been told „nothing will grow on that soil“ . We shared so many great ideas on what to grow and how to grow food that it became a passion. I started gardening back home in Germany immediately after I traveled home via German Embassy from Cape Town. Growing food in 2020 and didn’t stop until today! Our health and immune systems are solid and we look way younger ever since.
Going through tough times - again - the loss of my father Fritz
My Father in Law was diagnosed with Stomach-Cancer and we had no one to run the bakery in case anything goes wrong.
Not long there after on October 15th 2022 I broke my shoulder on the way to the bakery. On February 18th in 2023 my Father Fritz did not wake up on the day I was Covid positive.
You can’t make this shit up!
My father always encouraged me to not break the house down. I would have done so in 2014, 2016 and 2018 I was often close to quitting. He was a huge fan of the recent Food Forest project and whenever he had a chance he walked from the house all the way to the river mouth and back up to the house hours later. Just to come back with his very own pansy shells (Video). He had a nice collection which my mother can witness at home where she is living.
While on heavy pain killer (Tilidin) after the 2nd operation at my right shoulder when they removed a titan hookplate and screws for realignment of my AC Joint in My Shoulder I heard a radio advertisement to become a master baker in Würzburg Germany. No hesitation this time - I signed up to finally also become a certified master baker. My shoulder was just about to heal good enough that I was able to move it within the allowed range by the time the Baking Course started.
I became a proper Artisan Master Baker specialised on Gingerbread with 43 years of age in September 2023 with a master degree in business administration from 2008. Don´t ask me how, but I did it. Walking 24000 Steps until I couldn't walk any step further due to the sweat in my in the evening! I can´t believe it but the fairy goes on.
What a life! What a pressure to not fail! Our niece Annika motivated me during the exams preparation "you can do this". Working only from Mid August till Christmas! There is so much time now to swim
With my arm still recovering I didn't know if I will ever be able to swim again I put a lot of trust into the team managing the lodge and we had huge success bringing in funds to further upgrade the house and our highest rankings in guest satisfaction that time until load shedding got worse and eroded our accommodation business and it‘s core under pressure in peak season.
Sadly my go to manager Ade Alao who studied business management himself and was a popular manager among guests learned the hard way that it did not work out between him and me any longer. He tried to profit himself and pulled in different directions but thought he wanted it to run the way he preferred (delays of VAT! > you can´t do this in a high interest environment). I let him manage - did more gardening at home - until unfortunately it failed at the lodge and with the help of MPC Attorneys he had to leave.
Renata suddenly came back to an ever more beautiful property - La Vista Lodge.
Load Shedding disrupting all efforts to sustain a profitable business seemed like a never ending issue. But with focusing on my own health first approach I felt strong enough to even sort out load shedding one day in future.
And in the meantime - improve the garden at home and at La Vista Lodge. Amos and me recorded the transition that was ongoing every month we took photos of all edible vegetation and categorised whatever was growing or failing.
2024: Good Bye Load Shedding through the installation of a solar and battery system at La Vista Lodge.
Renata had a love hate relationship with the lodge and unfortunately decided to not run it as a manager but to assist our team still.
This opened the opportunity for Shanté Langdown. She is managing La Vista Lodge since April 2024 until today! She is doing great!
Since my studies I was interested in "What´s growing"! Either Businesses, Customers, Plett, Plants, Ethereum Network, Shopify, Tesla, Nio Battery Swap Network, my grey hair and my own CO2-Max and so on...
With giving Shanté more time to settle well into Management at the Lodge, Renata´s assistance in the background she gained confidence. I had time to cycle in Germany too, go swimming and show our kids the ocean in Europe without strong waves first. I was still focusing on my own health and recovery from the Trauma of Loss of my Dad and the broken shoulder.
Today we have many plants in our own garden, an Apple-Tree right in front of our Main Entrance strong enough to climb onto. Whenever I exited the house in 2024 I was hanging from the Tree. I did not go to the gym, but to hang for 1 Minute from a tree seemed like a workout I could afford to do. My grip strength got better and my shoulder got stronger until today.
In August 2025 I found out about the fastest growing (!) - back to the growth story - sport on the planet. Padel! The moment I went onto the court I knew this is my new addiction! It only got better. My weight dropped further and stabilised - A strong believe in movement is medicine grew in me! I did not stop playing Padel.
The change of lifestyle felt complete!
Growing food, cycling to browse the surroundings, occasional swimming and socialising with Padel enthusiasts. Since August 2024 I continued playing padel (from times with a titan hook plate in my shoulder back to the "titan" level in Padel in our local Playing Group.
I felt the tennis boom from the 90ies all came back - just better. This time within a glass-cage that makes the physical game more interesting where you can win points with your brain through risk-management depending on where you place the balls at which speed and where you are positioned on the court! What a fantastic sport!
It kept getting better: Plettenberg Bay as one of the fastest growing towns in South Africa and a tourism magnet not only has a new Padel Court in between two bars in centre of town with Sea-View but also another 3 outdoor locations to play Padel.
The proof that La Vista Lodge´s Location Location Location is what matters in the long run - and for the building I will try my best to keep it growing for all of you visitors!
After another successful year at our seasonal Christmas Bakery in 2024 I am writing this story in February 2025 in the 15th year of ownership. Not sure about the future but if people ask how`s business I can always tell them:
"It´s growing"
2025: Our 7 year food forest project is starting to show the biggest harvests yet and it‘s only February.
Amos in February 2025 harvesting from one of our own pawpaw trees
The best part is: You can now play padel within a few minutes and warm up for the game by riding the bicycle from the lodge. So we are back to the tennis court all over again but just way cooler.
You know: „when you play padel“ - everything becomes easier!
I might be shy so good bye for now
Axel
I am available for a match of padel or some precious time at the beach. Riding the bicycle just to browse through town waving back - any time.