Feature: Hiking

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.