When meandering the melodic suburban roads of Bishopscourt, and arriving at this sensationally lavish villa, it is indeed the mountain that commands your attention. With a wilful manner, it becomes the conversation, the entertainment and the spectator of your sojourn in Cape Town. Its presence being an ever-constant chaperone of calm, and its verdant attributes being a subtle source of inspiration. The indigenous landscape creeps her way through the gardens, around the living spaces, onto the tables and into the belly of your soul.
Botanical Villa lends itself as an ideal spot for multigenerational family holidays. Where you and your travelling clan of as many as sixteen, get to experience the blend of inimitable luxury, with the abounding nature of the Mother City. Built by the esteemed South African architect, Stefan Antoni, this hideaway harnesses its contemporary bones into the soil it shares with Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Surrounded by the revered Constantia Wine Route.
This incredibly generous suburban sanctuary features two levels of living, dining, reclining and entertaining spaces. Sprawling across the grounds that are ardently manicured and maintained to reflect the landscape it occupies. Nine ensuite bedrooms open out to all of that invigorating air. There’s ample space to be fully integrated with one another, gathering around the long tables, catching up on the couches, or watching sport in the TV lounges.
Yet for those that need the occasional moment of retreating, there are just as many spots to settle for some solitary time. Reading in the cosy nooks, meditating in the sauna, wading about in the hot tub, or tending to some exercise in the gym.
The expansiveness of the property continues outside. The terraces and verandah areas seamlessly merge with the swimming pool and the lush lawns. Then come the fynbos gardens, the trampoline, the tennis court, basketball hoop, and all of the trees that dance in the mountain’s breeze. There’s a pizza oven and braai area with enough dining space around it to fully embrace the culinary cultures of each.
A place where you’ll gather for long, lazy lunches and fancy al fresco dinners. The resident chef will be cooking up artisanal treats with all of his fresh ingredients sourced locally. An integral part of your experience, layered into the batter of your stay. Icing and cherry on the cake, in our opinion.
Lavish living with earthy greatness
There are so many unique attributes to Botanical Villa, that make for endless days of discovering new ways around the villa. Aside from the swimming, the family cricket on the lawn, the lifting of the tennis trophy, and the moments of deep slumbering in comfort, you’ll take to the roads now and again. Doing the mandatory Mother City exploring like venturing out to the neighbouring wine farms of the Constantia wine region.
Dining at the revered restaurants and sampling the finest vintages in the country. Some mornings are meant for beach missions with the clan. Or gallivanting the nature trails by foot or by bike. The city’s attractions are only a brief drive away. As are the golf courses, and the mesmerising southern peninsula.
Everything is at your fingertips, but it’s the life that ensues at Botanical Villa that you’ll find most intoxicating. The team of staff and the comfort of their familial service. The endless array of activities. The food and the finer details that come with this extraordinary place. The inspiration from its art and interior curation. The essence of a stoically African influence, floating around every space. Reminding you of where you are, when the mountain’s darkened by the night. The sun will reveal her form, in all her glory, in just a matter of hours.
Written by Colleen Ogilvie