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The Camps Bay Retreat

Settling into the Cape Town winter means stockpiling red wine, dusting off the umbrella and planning weekend retreats to cosy hideaways with fireplaces and things. So, for Sergio’s birthday I planned a surprise night away at the Camps Bay Retreat, a new discovery in my endeavor to explore Cape Town and the surrounds. This 5 Star boutique hotel and manor house has always been steeped in charm, and I just love this write up in the Argus in 1929, describing the estate upon which the retreat is built.

“The site itself is one to be envied, for the house is built on a spur of the mountain that juts out between two ravines. Each of these ravines has been treated in a natural manner, with paths falling through flowering shrubs and indigenous trees to streams. In one of these is a waterfall, below which has been built an open-air swimming pool, entirely shaded by the tall side of the ravine. It is nature aided by subtleties that pass as Nature’s handiwork.” – Cape Argus December 1929

The manor house is warm and welcoming with a fireplace at its core. The owner’s dogs have free reign, adding to the homely feel of the place. The terrace at the back overlooks a perfectly manicured garden and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the kind of place you want to go to to think, meditate and truly unwind. Or, you could do what we did and eat, sleep and drink red wine. There’s a spa too if you’re that way inclined, and a restaurant available for breakfast, lunch and supper bookings. Our bedroom within the manor house was breathtaking, complete with two private balconies, two lounges and the bathroom of my dreams.

Here’s our stay in photographs…