Feature: Non Malarial

Bushmanskloof

Bushmanskloof, Clanwilliam, Western Cape

Superlatives just don’t do justice to Bushmanskloof and its location. 

It is almost difficult to describe the quality of Bushmanskloof’s accommodation, the complete tranquility and natural beauty of the surroundings. The location is remote, approximately a 3 hour drive from Cape Town. Your every need will be catered for. The lodge has 16 luxurious rooms and stunning suites which are among the most comfortable we have encountered.  There are two ‘infinity’ swimming pools overlooking the surrounding wilderness for you to relax around. The restaurant provides exquisite cuisine and all meals are included. There is a very well stocked wine cellar and to burn off those calories, there is a well equipped wellness centre. The evening game drive will show you some of the indigenous species that have been reintroduced over the last few years. The morning nature walk will fascinate you.  You will be introduced to the fascinating plant life. These will include the amazing and surreal kokerboom (quiver tree) to the tiny stone plants occupying seemingly inhospitable rock faces. There is also an extraordinary range of bird life and the experienced rangers will provide you with detailed information. Access from Clanwilliam is an hours’ drive along a gravel road that can be variable in condition.

About Bushmanskloof’s Location

Clanwilliam is an attractive historically significant village. A look at the cemetery will tell you of the important role the village played in the closing stages of the Boer War. This  is the heart of the Rooibos (Redbush) tea industry which is unique to a small region based on Clanwilliam. guided tours to the tea plantations can be arranged. Guided hikes can be arranged in the rugged Cedarberg to see some of the extraordinary geological shapes in these stunning mountains. In late August and early September  you will experience this semi arid location burst into colourful bloom.


Ocean View House

Ocean View House, Camps Bay

Ocean View is in a great location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the edge of stylish Camps Bay

Ocean View is a classy boutique hotel which has 30 rooms extending from standard to top of the range Panorama Suite. Each has clean cut modern decor with many offering exceptional views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in one direction and the imposing Twelve Apostles mountain range in the other.  Sunsets over the ocean are among the best you will encounter.

About Ocean View’s Location

Camps Bay is a lively community with restaurants, bars and nightlife right next to one of the most popular beaches in South Africa. This does mean that in peak season (December / January) the area can get very busy. This is a convenient location from which to explore Cape Town. The Table Mountain Cableway is just 15 minutes’ drive away and the Waterfront is a 15-minute drive. The pretty area around Hout Bay is 10 minutes’ drive and Cape Point will take around 40 minutes to drive. Whatever your requirements in the Cape Town area, Ocean View makes a very relaxing alternative to the very busy city centre hotels.

Houtkapperspoort Manor & Cottages, Constantia Nek

A excellent option for families set in a scenic location yet close to amenities

These are 26 cottages and suites set in beautiful surroundings in the heart of the Cape Peninsula. The accommodation, which is ideal for families, is prettily furnished in stone cottages with traditional green painted iron roofs. The cottages and suites vary from one bedroom to four bedrooms and are fully equipped with TV, and barbecue facilities.

About the location

The location is ideal for walking up onto the Table Mountain range and there is a jogging trail to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Hout Bay (with excellent seafood restaurants) is just seven minutes away, the centre of Cape Town is an 18-minute drive and Cape Point and the False Bay beaches are 30 minutes away. There are a good choice of restaurants in Hout Bay and in the Constantia region.


Hout Bay Manor, Hout Bay

Convenient location and pleasant accommodation in an historic manor house

Four-star accommodation in the bustling beautifully situated Hout Bay with its great restaurants (noted for the excellent local seafood) and picturesque fishing harbours. The hotel is a national monument and was built over 130 years ago. It is in a quiet location a short walk from the village centre and beach and it has the air of an English Manor House rich with beams and history. The 16,  bedrooms are very comfortably appointed and decorated in classic, cottage style although they tend to be a little smaller than many of the properties we feature. Breakfast, lunch and tea are served either in the dining room or beneath the magnificent oaks on the terrace.

About the location

Relax and enjoy a drink in the lounge which is richly decorated with antiques and still has its original paved floors and window frames. In the evening the owners have created a bistro and this is beginning to gain critical acclaim in the Hout Bay area. This is a convenient location from which to explore nearby Chapman’s Peak Drive with its spectacular views as you drive to Noordhoek and Fish Hoek with their renowned beaches. Constantia with its wineries and the Kirstenbosch Gardens is a short 20 minutes drive and the centre of Cape Town is just 20 minutes away along the beautiful coastal drive via Camps Bay.


Boulders Beach Lodge, Simon’s Town, Cape Peninsula

At Boulders Beach Lodge, you can sleep and swim alongside penguins

Boulders Beach Lodge is a small country hotel exquisitely positioned next to Boulders Beach, close to Simons Town. Boulders Beach is also home to the largest colony of Jackass Penguins in Africa. The rooms, which are all en suite and have outside access. The rooms do, however,  tend to be small. The furnishings fairly basic but are reasonably comfortably  with simple, clean cut decor. Some rooms have good  views across False Bay. You should, however, note that these rooms are at the top of fairly steep stairs. Please specify your requirements on booking. There are also self-catering units available but these can be arranged on a bed and breakfast basis. Note that this is not 5 star accommodation.  Expect to see penguins visiting to see who is around but also be prepared for the sound of the penguins (rather like a donkey) which is quite noticeable especially at night. The restaurant is difficult to recommend but there are plenty of excellent places to eat in nearby Simon’s Town. The gift shop is well worth a visit with its unique penguin theme.

About Boulders Beach Lodge’s Location

The beach is just across the car park and has a small  fee during the day and it is obvious that you share it with the penguins. You will soon begin to wonder who is being watched! The beach for the breeding colony is a 10 minute walk along the attractive boardwalk and here you will find a visitor centre with everything you need to know about these fascinating birds.The interestingly renovated naval town of Simon’s Town with its restored Victorian buildings is close by and Cape Point is a 15-minute drive. Cape Town is 40 minutes away. There are some good restaurants in Simons Town and also in Kalk Bay which is a small fishing village 20 minutes away.

The Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town

Slightly impersonal but a very convenient and comfortable hotel

The Vineyard is a large family owned and run hotel set in beautiful garden in the leafy Cape Town suburb of Newlands. It is very convenient for the cricket and rugby grounds and Cavendish Square Mall that is within walking distance. The reasonably sized rooms are comfortably furnished and decorated and either have a courtyard view or a mountain view. There are two excellent restaurants that offer a wide choice of cuisine. The pool and wellness centre must be seen to be believed with state of the art design and facilities. Guests will also find the ancient giant tortoises a delightful encounter as they wander around the luxuriant gardens.

About the Location

The hotel is one of the closest to the airport (approximately 20 minutes) and only 15 minutes from the city centre yet with a country ambiance. This is a very convenient location for the Kirstenbosch Gardens which are a 10 minute drive. Cape Point is approximately a 40 minute drive while the Cape Winlands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are just a 30 minute drive.


Kensington Place

Kensington Place, Higgovale, Cape Town

A great location for this sophisticated boutique hotel just ‘beneath’ Table Mountain

This is a beautiful, small boutique hotel situated close to the city centre yet in a refreshingly leafy residential area. The property has 10 bedrooms that are a reasonable size and decorated in clean cut, modern style. There is a small dining room for breakfast and the garden is cool and shady with trees and bushes. There is a small deck and pool to relax by in the heat of the day and at night the garden area is ‘alive’ with candle light.

About the Location

Higgovale is just below the Table Mountain Cableway and so is very convenient for visiting the mountain. Camps Bay is a 10-minute drive and the city centre and The Waterfront is a 5-minute drive. For people who like walking to restaurants, the Kloof Road area is alive at night with numerous restaurants, cafes and bars. This is a 5-minute walk away, but the return is up quite a steep hill! For people who want to be in the centre of Cape Town but in a quiet, almost country style location, Kensington Place is an excellent choice.


The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay

If you are looking for a stylish beach-side luxurious hotel – The Bay Hotel is for you

This is a well-known hotel with one of the best beach-side locations in the Cape Town area. Just 10 minutes drive from the Table Mountain Cableway and the bustling city centre; you will be a short walk across the road to one of the most popular beaches in The Cape. The accommodation and public areas has been the subject of an extensive refurbishment and in our view offers excellent accommodation at a reasonable price. The hotel has good facilities including restaurants, a wellness centre and two pools but its location means that you will be within easy walking distance of some well-rated restaurants in the busy centre of Camps Bay.

About the Location

This is a good base for touring around the scenic Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain beckons from most windows. You should note that during the main South African school holidays, especially over Christmas and New Year, the Camps Bay area becomes very busy.


O on Kloof

O on Kloof, Bantry Bay

The Perfect Boutique Hotel  set in a convenient location

In this eclectic hotel the owner, Olaf, has combined modern, almost minimalist decorations with the ultimate in luxury. The rooms are large with exceptionally spacious and well-fitted bathrooms. The honeymoon suite is on the top level with views across to the ocean. This also has the benefit of its own very private patio complete with Jacuzzi. The pool is an extraordinary feature. It is indoors on the lowest level of the building, large and heated. The roof partially retracts. The pool area has been developed into a gym and wellness centre. The bar and restaurant are well regarded and to complete the service, internet is available.

About the Location

The small beach at Bantry Bay is a 5-minute walk from the hotel and popular Clifton Beach is a 5-minute drive. Camp’s Bay is just 10 minutes’ distant and the City centre takes 10 minutes whilst there is a frequent shuttle bus nearby to The Waterfront. The Table Mountain Cableway is a 15 minute drive. You are also 40 minutes to the Cape Winelands and an hour to the Cape Point National Park.


Steenberg, Tokai

Luxury in one of the oldest wineries in South Africa on a farm dating back to 1682

This is a grand hotel boasting the best of South African tradition, a little formal for some but excellent and luxurious accommodation. The manor house dates back 300 years and the views over the Peninsula Mountain Range are breath taking. There is a variety of accommodation set in individual buildings all thatched and dating back to the late 1600s. This is also a renowned winery and one of the key estates on the Constantia Wine Route. There are two reasonably sized pools and the property boasts one of the most popular weekend restaurants in the Cape – Caterina’s.

About the Location

Steenberg  has a highly rated 18 hole golf course. Cape Town city centre is an easy 20-minute drive, the penguins at Boulders Beach just 15 minutes’ away and Cape Point is a 25-minute drive. Stellenbosch in the centre of the Cape Winelands  is just 35 minutes away.