Private beach homes with pools for a December holiday
Our Clifton hideaways and Camps Bay hideaways sit below Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles, some a few steps from the sand, others a short walk away. For December, stay on Clifton’s Fourth Beach or in Bakoven, the quiet cove just south of Camps Bay: both are close to Blue Flag beaches, and Clifton’s are protected from the summer south-easter.
The four homes in this guide sleep from three to eight, and three of them have a private pool. For a group of 10 or more, Camps Bay has larger houses, listed further down.
Hideaways in this guide
Clifton Bungalow 47
Bakoven Seahorse
Summer Rose
Ebb TideOur quick picks in Camps Bay and Clifton
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Where should you stay in Camps Bay or Clifton in December?
Stay on Clifton’s Fourth Beach or in Bakoven for the sand on your doorstep; stay in Camps Bay for its long beach and the cafés and restaurants along the beachfront. All three sit within a few minutes’ drive of each other below Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles.
Clifton’s four beaches are separated by granite boulders, reached by steep stairs from Victoria Road and protected from the south-easter (Cape Town Tourism). Bakoven is a small residential cove of boulders and beach bungalows, about 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from the Camps Bay beachfront. The Atlantic stays cold even in midsummer, so a private pool earns its place.
Blue Flag 2026/27
Camps Bay and Clifton 4th · BusinessTech
January and February
When the south-easter blows most · Cape Town Tourism
Sunset close to 8pm
Late December over the Atlantic · Sunrise Sunset
Which of our Camps Bay and Clifton hideaways suits you?
If you are travelling with children, start with Clifton Bungalow 47 or Bakoven Seahorse: both welcome families and sit right above the sand. Summer Rose is for adults and teenagers of 16 and over, and Ebb Tide suits a couple or parents with one child. Every one has been hand-picked and personally visited by our team.
Clifton Bungalow 47
Sleeps eight · four bedrooms · four bathrooms · pool · Clifton Fourth Beach, 42 steps from the sand
Best for: a family that wants to live on the beach · Signature: glass sliders in every room, open to the sea breeze
Wind down the narrow private steps to this clapboard bungalow and you are 42 steps from the white sand of Clifton Fourth, one of Cape Town’s Blue Flag beaches. Inside, the furniture is understated and in muted tones, so nothing competes with the view, and large glass sliders in every room open to the sea breeze, with aluminium shutters for privacy.
There is a pool for when the Atlantic feels too cold, an outside shower for rinsing off the sand and a Weber for a braai as the sun sets over the sea. The four bedrooms, a king, two queens and a twin, each have their own bathroom. Children are welcome, but the pool has no net and the stairs are steep, so keep little ones close.
Bakoven Seahorse
Sleeps eight · four bedrooms · three bathrooms · hot tub · on Beta Beach, Bakoven
Best for: a family that wants the beach as its garden · Signature: a beach bar that opens onto the deck
Bakoven Seahorse stands at the end of a winding pathway on Beta Beach, a small cove cradled by granite boulders just south of Camps Bay. Its decks open straight onto the sand: take your morning coffee on the front step, long lunches at the eight-seater table on the lower deck and sundowners at the beach bar.
Families are welcome; the top deck has a low balustrade, so young children need an adult close by there. There is no pool, but there is a hot tub (at an extra cost for stays of under seven days), and the Camps Bay beachfront is about 15 minutes’ walk away. From 15 December to 15 January the minimum stay is 10 nights.
Summer Rose
Sleeps six · three en-suite bedrooms · four bathrooms · courtyard pool · Bakoven, five minutes’ walk from the beach
Best for: three couples or a family with older teenagers · Signature: a Moroccan-inspired riad around the pool
Summer Rose is built around a riad, a Moroccan-inspired courtyard that is “sheltered and warm, tranquil and serene”, with the pool at its heart. It is the place to be when the south-easter blows or the beaches are busy. Tiles, textiles and furnishings gathered on the owner’s travels sit beside contemporary African and South American art.
The three en-suite bedrooms look out to the Twelve Apostles, Lion’s Head or the ocean. Bakoven Beach is no more than five minutes’ walk away and the Camps Bay beachfront about 10 minutes on foot. Summer Rose doesn’t accept children under 16. From 15 December to 15 January the minimum stay is seven nights.
Ebb Tide
Sleeps three · one bedroom plus a Murphy bed for a child · two bathrooms · pool · Camps Bay, above Bali Bay
Best for: a couple, or parents with one young child · Signature: Art Deco lines by Studio BHD
Ebb Tide is “cushioned into the cliffs of Camps Bay”, overlooking the rock pools of Bali Bay and no more than five minutes’ walk from Camps Bay beach. Designer Bryce Henderson of Studio BHD gave the apartment timber, shades of green, a Houtlander bench and frosted mirrors, and it faces east, so mornings begin with the sun on the mountain.
The terraces and pool deck are sheltered from the summer south-easter, and the pool can be heated at an extra cost if you arrange it in advance. There is a queen en-suite bedroom, a Murphy double for a child and a second bathroom, in a secure block with lift access from underground parking. From 15 December to 15 January the minimum stay is seven nights.
More for big groups
- The Aven: sleeps 16 in eight bedrooms in Camps Bay, with a plunge pool and breakfast included; children are welcome.
- My African Villa: sleeps 16 in eight bedrooms in Camps Bay, with a swimming pool.
- Lions Rock: sleeps 10 in five bedrooms in Camps Bay, with two pools; pets are welcome.
Which Camps Bay or Clifton home is right for your group?
When is the best time to visit Camps Bay and Clifton?
Visit in December for long, light evenings and Blue Flag beaches, and book early: from 15 December to 15 January the houses ask for their longest minimum stays. If you would rather avoid the strongest wind, come in December rather than January or February, when the south-easter blows most (Cape Town Tourism).
- Jan (Blue Flag season)
- Feb (Blue Flag season)
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec (Blue Flag season)
The Blue Flag season runs from 1 December to the end of February, when the accredited beaches fly the flag (City of Cape Town).
- Jan (strongest south-easter)
- Feb (strongest south-easter)
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
The south-easter is Cape Town’s prevailing summer wind and blows most in January and February. Clifton’s beaches, Summer Rose’s courtyard and Ebb Tide’s terraces are sheltered from it.
- Jan (book early)
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec (book early)
Book early for 15 December to 15 January, when minimum stays are longest: 10 nights at Bakoven Seahorse and seven at Ebb Tide.
How do you get to Camps Bay and Clifton, and what should you book ahead?
Clifton and Camps Bay are about 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from Cape Town International Airport outside peak traffic, and the city centre is 10 to 15 minutes away over Kloof Nek or along the coast.
- Minimum stays: from 15 December to 15 January, Bakoven Seahorse asks for 10 nights and Ebb Tide for seven. Our team confirms rates and minimum stays at Clifton Bungalow 47 and Summer Rose for your dates.
- Book early: the house first, then Christmas lunch and New Year’s Eve dinner. Our concierge team can arrange experiences and reservations for you.
- Getting to the beach: Clifton’s beaches are reached by steep stairs from Victoria Road, and Bakoven’s coves by narrow lanes and footpaths, so pack light beach bags.
- Beaches: Camps Bay and Clifton 4th are among eight Cape Town beaches with Blue Flag status for 2026/27 (BusinessTech).
Questions about December in Camps Bay and Clifton
Where can we rent a private home in Camps Bay or Clifton for a family over December?
Clifton Bungalow 47 sleeps eight, 42 steps from Clifton Fourth Beach, with a pool. Bakoven Seahorse sleeps eight on Beta Beach in Bakoven, beside Camps Bay. Both welcome children. For 10 or more, The Aven in Camps Bay sleeps 16.
Which Camps Bay and Clifton holiday homes have a private pool?
Clifton Bungalow 47, Summer Rose and Ebb Tide each have a pool. Summer Rose’s sits in a sheltered courtyard, and Ebb Tide’s can be heated at an extra cost. Bakoven Seahorse has a hot tub instead, right above the beach.
Is Camps Bay or Clifton better for a family in December?
Clifton’s beaches are protected from the south-easter but reached by steep stairs. Camps Bay has a long beach with cafés along the beachfront. Bakoven, just south of Camps Bay, is a quiet cove of boulders where Bakoven Seahorse opens straight onto the sand.
Are Camps Bay and Clifton beaches Blue Flag?
Yes. Camps Bay Beach and Clifton 4th Beach are among eight Cape Town beaches with Blue Flag status for 2026/27. In 2025/26 the Blue Flag season ran from 1 December to 28 February. Clifton Bungalow 47 is 42 steps from Clifton 4th.
How windy is it in Camps Bay and Clifton in December?
The south-easter is Cape Town’s prevailing summer wind and blows most in January and February. Clifton’s beaches are protected from it, and Summer Rose’s courtyard pool and Ebb Tide’s terraces are sheltered too.
What time is sunset in Cape Town in December?
The sun sets after 7.40pm throughout December and close to 8pm by New Year’s Eve. At Bakoven Seahorse and Clifton Bungalow 47, you watch it go down over the Atlantic from the deck.
How far are Camps Bay and Clifton from Cape Town airport?
Clifton and Camps Bay are about 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from Cape Town International Airport outside peak traffic. Allow longer at rush hour and on busy December days. The city centre is 10 to 15 minutes away.
How do we book a December stay with Perfect Hideaways?
Send your dates through our enquiry form or call +27 21 790 0972. Our team confirms availability, rates and minimum stays, and our concierge team can arrange experiences and reservations for your stay.
