The Camps Bay Retreat
Ideal for: Nature lovers who enjoy luxury
Camps Bay is known for its beaches, ocean and mountain views (and cocktails and models…), but yesterday a few of us from Rhino Africa found ourselves in a different part of this seaside suburb – on a swing bridge. Over a river. In a jungle.
Not quite the Amazon, but four acres of lush green nature reserve with thickets of trees, waterfalls and streams. It’s quite something, especially as you can look out at the bay in the near distance. The setting was Camps Bay Retreat, about 5 minutes from Cape Town city centre.
A fluffy golden retriever resembling Falkor the Luck Dragon in The Neverending Story led us through leafy walkways to an old mountain pool. He picked up a small log in his mouth and led us on to the Spa, where he traded wood for towel and walked out to the pool as if a hotel guest about to dive into the water.
Staying at the Camps Bay Retreat is an experience. It’s a child and dog-friendly sanctuary between the Atlantic Ocean and Twelve Apostles Mountain Range. Stay in Earl’s Dyke Manor, with dining room and library, for something more colonial and traditional; or the more modern Deck House or Villa. The estate has three pools, a tennis court, a spa and a fine dining restaurant – The Retreat Kitchen. The beach and its promenade of sidewalk cafés and exclusive restaurants are within easy walking distance. Contact us to find out more/book.
The Bay Hotel
Ideal for: Sun-worshippers, cocktail quaffers, beach bums, jet-setters, cityslickers.
After cappuccinos in the garden, we made like Falkor (our new pet), grabbed towels and headed for the beach. Well, that’s a lie, we had work to do. We had to pop into The Bay Hotel on the beachfront of Camps Bay. For lunch. And more cappuccinos.
It’s a beautiful venue, ideal this time of year as Spring becomes Summer, with blue skies stretching on over infinity pools. A few nights spent here, between beach sand and hotel pool lounger, I wouldn’t be able to imagine thinking about work again – only when to turn over and who to holler for pink drinks.
The Bay Hotel is a 5 star beach hotel on Camps Bay’s Platinum Mile on the slopes of Table Mountain, facing the most beautiful beaches and just minutes away from the city centre. You pay for location here and the several facilities on offer – such as the Tides Restaurant, the private Celebration Table for intimate events, Traders Cigar Bar & Lounge, Mint Wellness Spa, Gym, Hair Salon and Tennis and Squash Courts.
Contact us to find out more about The Bay Hotel and to book a stay.
For more great Cape Town inspiration, watch our video and contact us to start planning a tailor-made Cape Town itinerary. For other great restaurants to eat at while in Cape Town, read our favourites list for 2012.