Like a luxury yacht, super yacht at that, high above the revered seaside stretch of Camps Bay, where the Atlantic gathers its thoughts between the Twelve Apostles, Lions Rock beckons you in to her majestic, yet minimalist spaces. A muted approach to opulence, for the discerning traveller. A contemporary villa that reaffirms the sentiment that luxury does indeed seduce in ways of restraint. There’s something ethereal about its ambience, as if you’ve been summoned to your sanctuary beside the sea.
White walls, warm oak, aged brass and concrete set an earthy, elemental tone, with very little to distract from the sensational views of Cape Town’s landscape. Artworks hanging in solitude as companions to the light. All of the glass doors and windows fold away towards the greenery, allowing the garden to become an extension of the living spaces, letting nature’s narrative hold the conversation in every room.
How many guests can Lions Rock accommodate? The main house accommodates eight of your clan, across four bedrooms, and a fifth tucked away in Little Rock – an exceptionally beautiful addition at the top of the garden. Extending the travelling team to ten. Two kitchens and two living areas, each with a separate entrance, make it perfectly suited to a large family or two couples travelling together, with privacy being the bedrock to the arrangement. There are also four desks for those that feel inclined to work, should Cape Town become the office for a week or two. With the tranquillity of the grounds, and those sensational views, you might just succumb to the motivation and inspiration to tend to some work, regardless.
The rooftop is deemed the pièce de résistance to the property. A place where football world champions and Grammy award winners have savoured the sunset from. With a full 360-degree panorama, Table Mountain behind you, Lion’s Head to one side and the Atlantic stretching out to infinity, it takes you back to that super yacht. Albeit one with inimitable living and reclining spaces. This is the perfect spot for a morning yoga session, and evenings absorbing those signature Camps Bay sunsets. Rose, crimson, gold – it’s your canvas to take home as a souvenir for the soul, courtesy of the Mother City’s palette.
Family retreat with space for ten
Then there’s the garden. Ancient stone pines and enormous granite boulders have been occupying the land long before Lions Rock evolved. The architecture being empathetic to their rightful place of belonging, shaping her form around what inherently belongs. Frangipani trees bring the fragrance, with sculptural elements from the big strelitzias and monsteras. There’s plenty of shade beneath the trees when the February sun is at its most enthusiastic, and a lawn generous enough for children and your furry friends to make their own adventures.
Is it child and pet-friendly? Yes, Lions Rock caters to the whole clan. Two swimming pools to add to the outdoor entertainment and daily dipping rituals. One pool is tucked into the shade near the lawn, the other basking on the sunlit terrace. There are three terraces staggered across the property, providing ample space for congregating and segregating in accordance with the holiday moods. There are those holiday moments when it’s lovely to seclude oneself, away from the chats. When it’s just you, losing track of time, flipping through the pages of a juicy novel, following the African rays.
At the highest point of the garden sits Little Rock, built around a monumental granite boulder and ancient trees. It’s Lions Rock’s little sacred haven. The boulder passes through the glass into the room, with a single concrete roof floating above glass, weathered steel and oak. The bed faces an expansive window framing Lion’s Head, with a desk looking out towards the ocean. A discreet oak wardrobe, raw concrete and terrazzo in the bathroom, positioned towards the trees. It is said to be the first tiny house built in Camps Bay, though tiny feels an inadequate word for somewhere that draws in the views, the light and the sky.
The things that really stand out in the memory banks of your Cape Town experience will be the subtle gestures you receive from the hospitable staff. Lions Rock is discreetly serviced every weekday, delivering daily rituals that really reflect the level of luxury you’ll receive at this hideaway. Yes, the Cape itself, with its beaches, restaurants, galleries, mountain trails and the vineyards of Constantia await your exploration. All within easy reach, should you wish to venture out. But when you return, whatever the day has brought, there’s something unique about coming home to a space that’s invigorating, pacifying and familiar, as you continue to sail above Camps Bay, on your own luxury yacht, that’s entirely your own.
Written by Colleen Ogilvie
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