There’s very little that is left to the imagination when arriving at Huis en Bos, in Cape Town’s affluent suburb of Constantia. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Lavish living, dining and entertaining spaces all merging into one grand open space on the ground floor.
Contemporary comforts and refined finishes at every turn. African art holding hands with the landscape that’s lush and green. A garden that’s perfectly manicured, cradled in the bosom of the mountain and her verdant vegetation. Light, air and space. Sophistication and sincerity in perfect symbiosis with one another.
If the imagination were to run wild a bit, you’d add a white pony perhaps, or a couple of swans to the beautiful grounds of this hideaway. To simply embellish the extravagance that already exists at Huis en Bos.
That being: five spacious bedrooms staggered over two levels, accommodating as many as ten of your favourite people. Gorgeous bathrooms that accompany each suite. Ideal for multigenerational family holidays.
A tranquil courtyard that greets you upon arrival and surreptitiously sets the tone of the escape. A sauna, a gym and a games room. A pyjama lounge for those lazy holiday gathering moments. Wood-burning stoves aplenty. A lovely long verandah with a swimming pool and ample reclining space to take in the magic of the outdoors.
A braai area to do what we all do best when on vacation; feast, feast, feast! And there’s all of that lovely lawn to roll around on. Dance beneath the stars, snooze beneath the rays and admire the resident birdlife from.
Pool days and still nights
So whilst the luxury villa is tending to all of the holiday essentials, your itinerary takes its own course around the Cape. Afternoon visits to some of the neighbouring wine farms, where you’ll dine in their esteemed restaurants and sample some of the finest grapes in the country.
Perhaps a spa treatment or art gallery meander. Early morning mountain hikes followed by the mandatory holiday beach mission. Nine or eighteen holes at the nearby Steenberg golf course, or a zipline through the canopy of the forests.
With the city centre being a swift drive away, you can dip in and out of town with ease, always returning to this sublime spot that has the doors open, the fires going, the energy flowing and your holiday cheeks glowing. Ensuring you have everything you envisaged and more. Leaving little room on the tin’s agenda.
Reviewed by Colleen Ogilvie