Travel Trips and Tours

Palm-fringed, with platinum blonde sands (and bathers to match), Camps Bay beach is where the well-to-do and the famous congregate to see, and be seen. This Cape Town beach is all about being gorgeous, from its manicured shoreline overlooked by millionaire’s mansions, to dazzling sunsets and minimalist swimwear.

Located between Bakoven and fashionable Clifton, Camps Bay Beach is the Blue Flag beauty among a string of trendy Atlantic seaboard beaches along this scenic stretch of coastline. Named after sailor, Frederick von Kamptz, Camps Bay was originally a farm set against the “the twelve great buttresses of the back of Table Mountain”, better known as the Twelve Apostles.

Today, the slopes overlooking this Cape Town beach are littered with expensive multi-story penthouses and designer apartments, only accessible via ultra-skinny roads, and all vying for the best sea views. During peak season, December - February, Victoria Road marine drive is jammed with holiday makers in search of some sun and a celebrity autograph or two. Parking is always at a premium, so come early or be prepared to walk. The scenery and constant parade of beautiful bodies heading for the beach or the many restaurants, cafés and bars nearby, are all part of the Camps Bay experience and make for an entertaining stroll. Local security guards will keep an eye on your vehicle for a small fee.   

On the beach, choose a grassy knoll - popular with families for picnicking - or head for the sand and watch skimpily clad beach babes of both sexes strut their stuff. Swimming here is for diehards only, with water temperatures a chilly 10 - 14 degrees C in summer, and there’s often a strong backwash. Lifeguards are on duty in season if you’re determined to take a dip.

If hours of sun and thong watching have raised your temperature, cool off in the natural tidal pool, or head for one of the stylish sundowner venues overlooking the bay. Heaven is a fresh seafood platter, an ice-cold beer or flute of champagne, and a Camps Bay sunset.

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The property forecast for the cosmopolitan suburb of Camps Bay in Cape Town is positive, despite the high asking prices of homes there. ROXZANNE VAN EYK investigates

 

POSITIONED between the mountain range of Lion’s Head, Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay sits comfortably in affluent status next to its exclusive neighbouring areas.

 

The outlook for the Camps Bay property market is positive. This market confidence comes at a time when property interest and sales activity in the area is traditionally slower. During the winter months, that is.

Ian Slot, MD of Seeff Atlantic Seaboard, City Bowl and CBD, says: “The residential market in Camps Bay at present is extremely bullish — we have sold seven properties so far this month, and this is supposed to be our quiet time.

 

“We are extremely short of stock, as generally sellers are waiting for spring/summer to market their properties. The demand for property in the area continues to outweigh the supply,” he says.

 

Most agents confirm that the entry-level price for a freestanding home in Camps Bay is around the R4,5m mark; however, such a place would require renovation. A mid-level home, on the other hand, would sell for about R6m whereas top-end homes sell from around the R20m mark.

 

Alan Meyer, area specialist at the local Chas Everitt International office, says that Camps Bay is characterised by full-title homes, with very little available in the sectional title sector. “Apartments and townhouses sell very fast when they come onto the market, especially if they are priced at around the R2m mark, which will typically buy a one-bedroom apartment with a view,” he says.

 

Laurie Wener, Pam Golding Properties director and area manager for the Atlantic seaboard, says that there are also a few new developments on the market, consisting of two to four houses or townhouses, which are priced from R9m to R12m.

 

Knowledge Factory’s SAPTG website indicates that full title homes in Camps Bay have shown a one-year growth trend of 11,11%, a three-year trend of 18,24% and a five-year trend of 25,95%. SAPTG also says that there were increases of full-title transfers as well as average selling prices from the period 2005-06 to 2006-07, with 89 transfers at just more than R4,5m to 105 transfers at just more than R5,3m.

 

Sectional title homes in Camps Bay, however, recorded a decline of 5,75% over the one-year growth trend, according to SAPTG. However, the three-year and five-year trends were both buoyant at 23,44% and 26,13% respectively. SAPTG records that the average selling price of sectional title units dropped from R2538049 to R2379317 over the last year.

 

As vacant land is in short supply, a prevalent trend in the area is for buyers to purchase homes with the intention of either renovating or demolishing the home to some extent, or entirely. Steven De Lit of ReMax Living says that 25% of the houses in Camps Bay are in excellent condition, while the rest are “either partly demolished upon purchase or totally demolished”.

 

Wener said that while there have been a few cases where older homes have been demolished and rebuilt entirely, buyers are tending to rather carry out extensive renovations.

 

Another more recent trend is to subdivide existing properties and develop two homes on the stand. Meyer says that these types of units usually sell for about R7m and are typically three or four-bedroom homes with double parking. He also says they are often built as multistoreys to make optimum use of space.

 

Slot says that subdividing a property is a lengthy process in that the single-title deed restrictions have to be lifted.

 

“However, as there is such a shortage of vacant land in Camps Bay, developers are prepared to go through the process.

 

“Alternatively, homeowners who have substantial properties are initiating the process in order to add value to their property when they eventually become sellers,” Slot says.

 

It appears as though Camps Bay appeals to a wide range of buyers. Meyer says that an increasing number of expats are now investing in the Camps Bay property market, and they are joining the ranks of traditional investors from Germany and the UK. “There is also a new breed of investors from other parts of Europe, such as Russia, France and Italy. On the local front, the area is still attracting buyers from Gauteng, but increasing numbers of buyers from other parts of the country, notably KwaZulu-Natal, are also making an appearance,” Meyer says.

 

Wener says the demand is coming from residential buyers intending to live in the suburb, as opposed to investors.

Agents disagree on the likely future trends in the Camps Bay property market.

 

De Lit says that the market will slow down due to high prices, but there will always be demand due to the “vibe in the area”.

Seeff is confident that the growth potential will continue — definitely for the year ahead.

 

Pam Golding Properties is anticipating a bullish market, with demand continuing to outstrip supply.

 

“As a result, we expect that prices will at the very least remain steady, with an increase in the spring,” says Wener.

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Fullham Lodge - Camps Bay Accommodation

Another famous landmark of Cape Town is Robben Island, an island in Table Bay, some 13km from the mainland, which became a prison in 1807. This was the place where sick people - generally suffering from leprosy -, people thought to be mad and criminals were sent; to the island, where they were ‘out of sight out of mind’. In 1960 a new maximum-security was erected and in 1962 Robben Island started to receive political prisoners, who were generally people of some stature and education, the most famous of which was Nelson Mandela. Robben Island was declared a national monument in 1996 and the prisoners were gradually all removed. 1997 saw the first tourists visit the island, and then in 1999 Robben Island was declared a World Heritage Site. Tours of the island are available daily from the V & A Waterfront, where after a 30 minute boat trip you will be shown around the island by bus and be able to enter the prison for a guided tour, the tour guides on the island are former prisoners who have experienced the island first hand, they provide an interesting and informative perspective on the island. It is also advisable to book your tickets in advance at the Waterfront as the trip is always very busy. Bad weather may affect service.

Source: Explore South Africa
Guest House Camps Bay

South Africa Attractions
Kruger National Park
City/Region: Johannesburg
The Kruger National Park is South Africa’s oldest, largest and best-known wildlife conservation area, home to a huge variety of wildlife and most famous for its ‘Big Five’ viewing opportunities. Visitors have an excellent chance of seeing lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino among the enormous variety of wildlife, including over 140 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Situated on South Africa’s north eastern border, Kruger is a primary destination
for international tourists, and is visited by more than half a million local and international people every year who are attracted by the different safari options as well as the park’s excellent range of visitor facilities and choice of accommodation, from luxurious game lodges to cottages and camping.
Phone Number: 013 735 4000
Website: www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger
Hours: Park gates: daily 5.30am to 6.30pm (January, February, November and December), 6am to 5.30/6pm (March to October). Camp gates open 4.30am (January), 5.30am (February, March and October to December), 6am (April to September); closing times same as park gates
Admission: R132 (foreign adult), R66 (foreign child under 12) per day; R33 per day for South African residents

Table Mountain
City/Region: Cape Town
Cape Town’s most popular tourist attraction is also its most famous physical feature, the flat-topped mountain that stands sentinel over the city. Table Mountain has been proclaimed a nature reserve, protecting its diverse floral species, some unique to its slopes. The views from the top of the mountain are quite spectacular. A Swiss-built rotating cable car carries visitors smoothly up the mountain and back. The mountain-top is equipped with a restaurant and small gift shop, as well as numerous pathways and vantage points. It is possible to climb the mountain via different routes, but inexperienced hikers should take care because Cape Town is prone to sudden weather changes. The walk up can take anything between one and four hours depending on the route and level of fitness. Route maps can be bought at the cable-car station. It is always best to check the website or call the weatherline to see if the cable car is in operation.
Address: Tafelberg Road
Phone Number: 021 424 8181 (weatherline) or 021 424 0015
Website: www.tablemountain.net
Transport: Bus to Kloof Nek from Adderley Street and a 1.5km walk up the hill; minibus taxi from the Parade; Riki taxi; or as part of the Cape Explorer Topless bus tour
Hours: Cable car operates daily (weather permitting) every 10-15 minutes from 8am to 8pm (November); 8am to 10pm (December to January); 8am to 8.30pm (February); 8am to 7.30pm (March); 8am to 6.30pm (April); 8.30am to 6pm (May to mid-September); 8.30am to 7pm (16 September to October). Closed for annual maintenance in July and August.
Admission: Cable car: R130 return, R65 one way (adults); R68 return, R36 one way (children under 18). Other concessions available. Bookings are not available due to changeable weather conditions

Castle of Good Hope
City/Region: Cape Town
South Africa’s oldest building, the Castle was completed in 1679 (replacing an earlier mud and timber fort built by the first Dutch Governor, Jan van Riebeeck). Situated adjacent to a parking lot and bus station in Buitenkant Street, its walls mark the original boundary of the seashore where the waves washed up against the fortifications. Its outside aspect is somewhat foreboding, but inside are some interesting features and collections that have been restored, offering a good insight into the early days of the Cape when it was the center of social and economic life. The castle is a pentagonal fortification with a moat and five bastions, each named for one of the titles of the Prince of Orange. The entrance is a good example of 17th century Dutch Classicism, and a bell, cast in 1679 by Claude Fremy in Amsterdam, still hangs from the original wood beams in the tower above the entrance. The castle contains a Military Museum depicting the conflicts that arose during the Cape’s early settlement, and also houses the William Fehr Collection of decorative arts, including paintings, furniture and porcelain. Of interest are the dungeons, which bear the graffiti carved by prisoners incarcerated here centuries ago.
Address: Buitenkant Street, opposite the Grand Parade
Phone Number: 021 787 1249
Website: www.castleofgoodhope.co.za
Hours: Daily 9am to 4pm, with tours at 11am, 12pm and 2pm from Monday to Saturday. Self guided tours are possible with the aid of a map, provided by the Castle
Admission: R20 (adults), R10 (children); half-price on Sundays. Concessions available

Houses of Parliament
City/Region: Cape Town
East of the tree-lined pedestrian Government Avenue, which runs through the Company Gardens at the top of Adderley Street, lies the complex of Parliamentary buildings, containing numerous chambers, offices and corridors. It was here that the racial segregation policy of Apartheid rose and fell along with the ascendancy of the National Party which made South Africa the political pariah of the world. Visitors can now book a tour of the legislative complex, the original section of which dates back to 1885, a magnificent Victorian Neoclassical building. Worth exploring, too, are the neighboring Company Gardens that house a range of plants and trees from around the world.
Address: 90 Plein Street, city center (Visitor’s entrance)
Phone Number: 021 403 2201 or 021 403 2266 (tours), 021 403 2460 (debates)
Email Address: info@parliament.gov.za
Website: www.parliament.gov.za
Hours: Tours Monday to Friday 9am to 12pm
Admission: Tours are free, but advance booking is essential. Day tickets can also be bought to watch a parliamentary debating session

South African Museum and Planetarium
City/Region: Cape Town
The imposing South African Museum, dedicated to natural history and the human sciences, contains a huge variety of fascinating exhibits from entire chunks of caves bearing rock art, to traditional arts and crafts from several African tribes. The natural history galleries are full of mounted mammals, dioramas of prehistoric reptiles and a collection of whale skeletons, which can be viewed with the eerie sound of whale song echoing in the background. Alongside the museum is the Planetarium, which has a changing program of thematic shows involving the southern constellations.
Address: 25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens
Phone Number: 021 481 3800 (museum), 021 481 3900 (planetarium)
Email Address: info@iziko.org.za
Website: www.iziko.org.za
Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm. Planetarium shows Monday to Friday at 2pm and Tuesday evening show at 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 12pm, 1pm and 2.30pm
Admission: Museum: R10 (adults), R5 (children), free on Saturdays; Planetarium: R20 (adults), R6 (children)

Greenmarket Square
City/Region: Cape Town
Situated in the Central Business District, near the main station, is Greenmarket Square, the perfect spot to observe South Africa’s ‘rainbow nation’ in all its hues. Once the scene of slave markets, this is the site of one of the city’s most vibrant flea markets, where clothing, jewelry, knick-knacks and souvenirs are on sale every day, and tourists and business people rub shoulders in the many sidewalk cafes that surround this busy cobbled square. Be prepared to haggle at the market to get the best prices and be warned, touts are prevalent. On the west side of the square is the Old Town House, dating from the mid-18th century, which is a wonderful example of Cape Dutch architecture and houses the Michaelis collection of Dutch and Flemish landscape paintings.
Hours: Greenmarket Square open daily till 3pm, closed Sundays. Old Town House open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm

St George’s Cathedral
City/Region: Cape Town
Cape Town’s Victorian Gothic style Anglican Cathedral, founded in 1901, is situated in Wale Street and is historically significant for it is where the enthronement of South Africa’s first black archbishop, Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu, took place. The Cathedral is unique in that it became a political powerhouse in the struggle against Apartheid, known as ‘the people’s cathedral’, stating openly from the 1950s onwards that it was open to all people of all races at all times. This was a brave stand in the racially segregated society of the time. In subsequent years the cathedral became the venue for many protest gatherings and vigils and on occasions the building was surrounded by police, water cannons and barbed wire. Victims of forced removals were even accommodated in the cathedral at times. As far as architectural merit goes, the cathedral does feature some fine Gabriel Loire windows, including a magnificent Rose Window above the south transept.
Address: Wale Street
Phone Number: 021 424 7360 (Cathedral office)
Email Address: info@sgcathedral.co.za
Website: www.stgeorgescathedral.com

Read More: iExplore
Fullham Lodge