







OUR STORY
A DESIRE FOR MAGIC
Set on an idyllic West Coast beach you’ll find Paternoster’s first sustainable guesthouse overlooking a setting of unbroken sunsets, dreamy corners and flourishing nature. This is a place where warm-hearted people, unspoiled white sandy beaches and enchanting restaurants welcome you to a beach holiday just two hours from Cape Town.
Opening a guesthouse and self-catering houses in Paternoster was a natural next step for Swedish owner and entrepreneur, Jonas Sandström. Inspired by the landscape, the people, and the light, Jonas has created a sustainable Afro-Scandi space where we can reconnect to ourselves, to each other, and to the planet.
ACCOMMODATION
GUESTHOUSE


Live slowly and tread lightly in Paternoster’s first-ever sustainable guesthouse located directly on the beach. Fresh breakfast with local organic produce is how we serve the start of each and every day during your stay.
HOUSES


Two beach-style houses set 150m from Paternoster’s Bekbaai, experience our latest sustainable self-catering accommodation that is off the grid, allowing you to enjoy your West Coast holiday without any interruptions.


PATERNOSTER
OF LOBSTER AND LIGHT
Paternoster is one of the oldest fishing villages on South Africa’s West Coast. Many people believe that the name, which means ‘Our Father’ in Latin, refers to prayers said by Catholic Portuguese seamen when they became shipwrecked. Others believe it refers to the beads that the Khoi tribe wore, known as ‘Paternosters.’
To us, Paternoster is synonymous with white-washed, beachfront fisherman’s cottages, fresh lobster and laidback living. This remarkable coastline of jagged cliffs and white boulders makes this village one of the most beautiful beach holiday stops near to Cape Town.


EMBRACING LOCAL
SUPPORTING LOCAL PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE
Giving back and inclusivity are values that Jonas takes seriously. Having lived in South Africa for over 15 years, he is acutely aware of the need to support and promote local products, companies and people.
Gonana Guesthouse and self-catering houses have both been renovated with the help of local builders and contractors. The interiors and bathroom supplies are locally produced and all the guesthouse staff reside in the Paternoster area. For Jonas, keeping it local is a lifestyle and the best way to give back in a meaningful way.


IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
ECO-CONSCIOUS AND KIND TO THE ENVIRONMENT
We are proud of our space which is as friendly to its environment as it is to its guests. In restoring, renovating and transforming seaside houses into the ideal beachfront accommodation in Paternoster, every effort has been made to be deliberate in addressing our impact on the environment and its surroundings.
Hot water from solar power, grey water reticulation systems, rainwater collection tanks, water-saving showers, as well as a robust recycling ethos makes Gonana Paternoster’s first eco-friendly and almost self-sufficient guesthouse aligned with modern sustainability practices.
GONANA COLLECTIVE
KINDNESS INITIATIVE
We are creating sustainable change in the Paternoster community through the Gonana Collective Kindness initiative, whereby we support Hoopsig a local NPC making huge differences in the lives of local children.
This NPC is staffed by German and local volunteers who provide an afternoon programme for primary school students, giving each child academic and psycho-social support.
To donate directly, click here.

