Camps Bay hideaways

Camps Bay is a seaside suburb on Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard, between Clifton and Bakoven, with the Twelve Apostles and Lion's Head rising behind it. The city centre lies about 9km away, over Kloof Nek Road, built in 1848 to link Camps Bay with the City Bowl. From Cape Town International Airport, follow the N2 for about 20km into the city, then wind over Kloof Nek down to the sea. Allow about 25–40 minutes from the airport outside peak traffic, as weekday rush hours add time.

Yes, you can swim at Camps Bay Beach, best where lifeguards are on duty in summer. The palm-fringed beach lies along Victoria Road and has held Blue Flag status, according to the City of Cape Town. Wade in and you'll feel how cold the Atlantic is here, often between about 10°C and 15°C. The sand is wide and flat, but the backwash is strong, so swim between the red and yellow flags and keep children close. For a gentler dip, slip into the tidal pool at the Bakoven end.

The Twelve Apostles are the chain of peaks that forms the back of Table Mountain, towering over Camps Bay within the Table Mountain National Park. Look inland from Camps Bay Beach and the range frames the whole bay. Drive Victoria Road, completed in 1887, as it follows the range south from Camps Bay towards Llandudno. For a closer look, walk the Pipe Track, which follows an old water pipeline along the slopes below the Twelve Apostles.

Lion's Head, the Pipe Track and Kasteelspoort, in the Table Mountain National Park, are the classic Camps Bay hikes. Lion's Head starts on Signal Hill Road: about 2km each way, one to one and a half hours up, with minor rock scrambling and chains before 360-degree views. The Pipe Track sets off where Kloof Nek meets Tafelberg Road and runs below the Twelve Apostles for about 6km to Corridor Ravine, at its best early on summer mornings. Kasteelspoort climbs the Twelve Apostles side of Table Mountain from above Camps Bay, a tough two to four hours to the top. Carry water, tell someone your route and never hike alone: SANParks says four is the ideal number.

Watch the sunset from Camps Bay Beach or from the terrace of one of the many restaurants along Victoria Road. Across the road from the sand, restaurants, cafés and cocktail bars line the beachfront, so you can linger over sundowners as the light fades over the Atlantic. Just south, Bakoven's little coves draw families, friends and couples to watch the sun go down from the sand. Book dinner ahead in December and January, the busiest months. Our concierge team can help with recommendations and reservations in Camps Bay.

Glen Beach and Bakoven are Camps Bay's smaller beaches, on either side of the main beach. Glen Beach, split off from Camps Bay's northern end by boulders, is reached by stairs from Victoria Road. Its narrow strip of sand shrinks at high tide, and when the surf's up, local surfers paddle out, though swimming isn't advised. To the south, Bakoven's small coves, including Beta Beach, sit among large boulders with views of Lion's Head. Parking near both is limited, so arrive early on summer days.

Yes, Camps Bay can be breezy in summer, when Cape Town's south-easter blows. Known as the Cape Doctor, this wind blows most in January and February and can gust at about 60km/h at its strongest, though it also takes the edge off hot days. When it picks up, Cape Town Tourism suggests the Clifton beaches, just north of Camps Bay along Victoria Road, or Hout Bay beach. Keep a light jacket handy, even on hot days.

Summer, from December to February, is the best time for Camps Bay's beaches, with dry, warm days and lifeguards on duty. December and January are the busiest months, so book your hideaway well ahead. Autumn, from March to May, is one of the Cape's most beautiful seasons, with the holiday crowds gone. Winter, from June to August, is cooler and wetter, with June the wettest month, yet you can still climb Table Mountain and watch small waterfalls splash down its slopes. Pack for changeable weather.

Yes. Camps Bay Beach is wide and flat, with lifeguards on duty during the summer months, and the tidal pool at its Bakoven end is one of the most popular on the Atlantic Seaboard. Let children splash in its family-friendly water and peer into the rocky pools for small marine life. The backwash on the main beach is strong, so swim between the flags and keep little ones close. Our reservations consultants can suggest family hideaways, such as Dolphin Cottage, a family bungalow on Glen Beach.

Staying safe in Camps Bay comes down to a few sensible habits in the sea and on the mountain. Swim only where lifeguards are on duty and between the red and yellow flags, and even when lifeguards are present, let children enjoy the sea with an adult always close by. The NSRI notes that rip currents occur all year round. On Lion's Head, the Pipe Track and Kasteelspoort, SANParks advises never hiking alone, telling someone your route and when you expect to be back, and saving its emergency number, 086 110 6417. For the police, dial 10111.

Settle into a home of your own in Camps Bay, between the Atlantic and the Twelve Apostles. Our Camps Bay collection includes more than 10 hideaways, sleeping from three to 16 guests. Dolphin Cottage, a family bungalow on Glen Beach, sleeps 10, while Bakoven Seahorse, which sleeps eight, overlooks Beta Beach in neighbouring Bakoven. Angels Place, in old Camps Bay, sits a few roads back from the buzzing strip, yet close enough for you to stroll to the beach and wander back down later for cocktails.

Send an enquiry or call the Perfect Hideaways team on +27 21 790 0972 (Monday–Thursday 8.30am–5pm, Friday 8.30am–4pm SAST). Book early for December and January, the busiest months in Camps Bay. Our reservations consultants can match you with the perfect hideaway. Through our bespoke travel service, we also craft custom itineraries for our guests, shaped around their own dreams and desires.