About us
Since 2005, co-founders Helen and David Untiedt have made it their mission to find the most beautiful hideaways imaginable to share with guests who want to ‘escape the ordinary’. The Perfect Hideaways journey has been about identifying precisely what it is that makes a holiday home ‘perfect’.
From quaint lagoonside cottages in the tucked-away village of Churchhaven to rambling stone farmhouses with deep stoeps in the vast landscapes of the Great Karoo, or architecturally striking cliffside villas where you watch whales from your bed… or heritage seaside homes with penguins waddling on the beach below.
Today, with more than 600 extraordinary hideaways to choose from, the Perfect Hideaways team spends a large part of the year personally scouting new locations and out-of-the-box havens they know their guests – all like-minded adventurers – will love.
Places where lying in a hammock all day is encouraged, where the kids can run barefoot and free from early till sunset, where nights are about stargazing and the days for doing as little or as much as you like. All in achingly beautiful surroundings.
“The places we love make life feel better because they have been created with love, curated for comfort and designed as a canvas upon which to create rituals, make memories and find much-needed quiet time in the most sublime settings”
Most importantly, our mission is to uncover spaces created with a deep sense of soul – that special something that ensures guests will want to come back again and again. We pride ourselves on originality and authenticity, striving to be trailblazers – starting with the most beautiful beach houses near Cape Town, but soon pioneering the off-grid lifestyle for rented hideaways and heading out on endless road trips to uncover unheard-of spots in the wild landscapes of the Karoo or untamed bushveld of southern Africa.
As trendsetters in the industry, we aspire to be the iconic choice for those seeking unique experiences that are proudly aligned with the finest offerings in Africa and abroad, particularly in Europe where our portfolio is expanding organically with annual road trips by our intrepid team who are constantly discovering delightful hideaways that resonate with the Perfect Hideaways ethos.
Stone cabins halfway up mountains, historic city apartments, secluded clapboard beach shacks next to a wild ocean, architectural beauties, a tented camp in the desert… wherever it is, what we have in mind is finding our own perfect hideaway.
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So how did it all begin?
In the style of a classic Cary Grant and Grace Kelly movie, co-founders Helen and David Untiedt met and fell in love in Monte Carlo… she a travelling English rose and he was a young man from Johannesburg, hell-bent on leaving the big city behind and sailing off in search of adventure. And what a place to begin a life together among the glitz and glamour of the yachting fraternity, the gamblers and the glitterati.
After years spent exploring, and with a handful of stamped passports from their travels around the world, they settled back in Cape Town in 1997 and stayed to raise their four children. They chose South Africa largely for its extraordinary beauty and because it’s one of those unique places on the planet that encompasses fascinating diversity in culture, language, food and style.
‘By 2005, the idea of Perfect Hideaways was planted when we were looking for a weekend house for our then young family,’ explains Helen. ‘The more we looked, the more we realised that the idea of a holiday home means different things to different people, and that every space has its own story to tell.’ This is when their love affair with Churchhaven began. Remote and off-the-grid, yet only an hour out of Cape Town, this tiny hamlet inside the West Coast National Park, captured their hearts. It was the essence of what they had longed for in their travels, and it became their ‘go-to’ holiday home as a family.
Soon they became obsessed with finding more examples of hideaways where the marriage of good design, personal interiors, a curated experience and an incredible location transformed the ordinary into something extraordinary. Before they knew it, their curiosity for homes that offer remarkable experiences became a business.
‘We didn’t set out to do this, but our wanderlust and joy in finding places that hold a palpable magic is what drives us,’ says Helen. ‘We love what we do and we do what we love – the Japanese call it ikigai, a passion that brings you purpose. It gets us up in the morning!’
Today Perfect Hideaways celebrates the beauty of being original, inspiring and perfectly imperfect. The deeper level of intimacy – real or imagined – that these homes represent, and the window they open into another way of being in and seeing the world, became a passion for Helen and David Untiedt when they first founded Perfect Hideaways.
What makes a hideaway perfect?
Helen Untiedt’s genius at finding these dream homes year in and year out for over 20 years has put Perfect Hideaways ahead of the game. ‘The places we love (and list) make life feel better because they’ve been created with love, curated for comfort and designed as a canvas upon which to create rituals, make memories and find much-needed quiet time in the most sublime settings.’ When homes resonate on this level, they become hideaways.
The houses featured in our three beautiful books were included because their vicarious pleasures are plentiful and they come in many guises. They’re places where body and soul can experience something new – or simply take a rest.
Where we are today?
Helen, of course, has never stopped: she and her passionate team have now listed over 600 properties in more than 17 countries! The portfolio has diversified to include safaris, celebration venues and shoot locations. But unlike many companies, each hideaway or lodge is still visited personally.
The Perfect Hideaways team has expanded their repertoire to include getaways in Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Italy and France – and there are still more to come, ensuring that their clients are spoiled for choice with a delicious smörgasbord of superb holiday offerings. Island hideaways are found in Mauritius, Maldives, Sardinia, Mallorca and even the Caribbean.
Perfect Hideaways Real Estate, a sister company with a bespoke portfolio of properties, was founded in 2017 for discerning buyers looking to create their own dream and buy their own hideaway, many of which come from the hand-picked Perfect Hideaways rentals portfolio… the perfect synergy!
Traditionally, these extraordinary homes, lodges and farms are hard to come by unless you have access to this discreet word-of-mouth network, each one already vetted for the signature ‘PH’ style and taste that resonates so warmly with buyers and sellers. Many new owners continue to rent via the Perfect Hideaways rental portfolio for excellent return on investment.
New ventures…
We are so proud to have published three beautiful coffee-table books that can now be purchased from our newest venture, the Perfect Hideaways Shop. Inspired by the creative interiors we see every day, it is a celebration of artisanal craftsmanship in southern Africa and of the luxurious barefoot lifestyle reflected in our beautiful hideaways. It is, if you like, our sensorial postcard to you, with love from South Africa!
TAILOR MADE
Bespoke planning
Our knowledgeable hideaway consultants will listen to your wish list, understand the dynamics of your group, and matchmake hideaways to satisfy your every holiday whim!
PERSONALLY CURATED
We review
Every single hideaway is reviewed in person before deciding whether it’s a fit for our portfolio. We have no formula or tick-list; a home simply needs ‘soul’ to crack the nod!
BEING HUMAN
We are real people
Team Perfect cares passionately about providing superb customer service. Call and you will always reach a real human being who wants to help you!
TAILOR MADE
Bespoke planning
Our knowledgeable hideaway consultants will listen to your wish list, understand the dynamics of your group, and matchmake hideaways to satisfy your every holiday whim!
PERSONALLY CURATED
We review
Every single hideaway is reviewed in person before deciding whether it’s a fit for our portfolio. We have no formula or tick-list; a home simply needs ‘soul’ to crack the nod!
BEING HUMAN
We are real people
Team Perfect cares passionately about providing superb customer service. Call and you will always reach a real human being who wants to help you!
We love to matchmake!
First, we’ll need the low-down on your ideal stay; are you seeking the ultimate beach house, a rambling Karoo farmstead, a sumptuous safari or a remote mountain cottage? Or, are you wide open to suggestions, just so long as it’s eccentrically gorgeous?! Your party – is it a crowd of old friends, a multi-generational family affair or just you and your one true love? Our knowledgeable hideaway consultants are passionate about ensuring they find you the perfect spot!
Celebrating our awards
We are proud of the numerous awards Perfect Hideaways has won, especially the Condé Nast Traveller Specialist Award, an annual accolade received since 2019.
The perfect sale
Selling your property?
Selling your property? Our boutique portfolio allows your property to stand head and shoulders above the rest. We’ll connect you with discerning clients who trust us to find them their dream home. And our exceptional property consultants will walk alongside you every step of the way.
Our team
As a family-owned company, we prioritise family life and a balanced work environment, treating our team like our own. Located at The Barn, on an olive farm in Bergvliet near Cape Town, we are surrounded by the beauty of the Cape Winelands. We believe that a flexible and experienced team, many of whom have been with us since the early days of Perfect Hideaways, is essential for promoting diversity and inclusivity.
