Camps Bay Accommodation & Lifestyle

While most people remember Opium as a pulsing nightclub near De Waterkant, the beach bar they have opened in Camps Bay is a great addition to the Camps Bay strip. Right next to Caprice, it's situated just accross the road from the beach, and they have ample space and some elevation, which doesn't make you feel like you're sitting in the road (you do of course have the option of sitting on the sidewalk if that's your thing).

The cocktails are great, have some Mojitos on a hot summer day! Service was a bit slow since the place was packed, but the staff was always friendly and helpful. Inside is a lounge type area which I assume would turn into a dancefloor once the night falls and there's also an upstairs which I'm sure can be booked out for private events.

Check out opium.co.za for more. 

Ignite is a great summer sundowns spot and hangout for the who's who in Camps Bay. It's divided into separate sections, one VIP and one for normal earthlings looking to get a take on the Camps Bay cocktail bar scene. Just across the road is Camps Bay beach and this is probably one of the best spots since it's shielded by the wind (Ignite that is). In summer Camps Bay tends to get the South Easterly trade winds, so if you get a wind still day, count yourself lucky! Also keep a lookout for celebs from around the world, they tend to keep a low profile, but they are often spotted...

More info at www.ignitebar.co.za.

It's coming to my 3 year anniversary of this blog and I think I'll treat myself to some fun in Camps Bay while there's still some remnants of summer in the air. Doesn't look good though. The weather is getting chillier every day it seems, but lets hope there are still a few sunny days left in Autumn to allow us sun children to lap it up.

The time has finally come for pulling the cabrio under a cover and bringing out the red wine and 'kaggel' evenings. Is there no better word than fireplace? My brain has left me this moment.  Dizzy's is still a favorite with their relaxed, warm atmosphere. Their lounge is calling me...

Surf to http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

After having a few fun nights at Dizzy's it's time to post a review of the popular Camps Bay restaurant. Located just one street above the beach, behind the Pick 'n Pay centre it's very close to the beach, allthough there's no real view of the beach which is probably it's only disadvantage. Dizzy's makes up for it though in the 'fun factor'. With regular live shows and karaoke evenings you're sure to love the vibe.

Dizzy's has a regular non-smoking restaurant area as well as a bar and a lounge section. The food it great, especially their pizza and pricing is reasonable. There's enough space, but the bar area can get crowded on a busy night.

All in all a good experience.

Find more info on their website at www.dizzys.co.za. 

Following the tragic drowning of two parents of a now orphaned 8 year old girl, authorities are warning the public to not stand too close to the water when walking on the rocks. A freak wave swept them from the rocks and rescuers couldn't get to them quick enough.

Tips when swimming at Camps Bay:

• First of all, it's very cold, so you wouldn't want to wade too deep anyway!
• Watch for troughs when walking into the water - often it becomes deep quite quickly and kids could easily be dragged in if they're deeper than knee high.
• Keep an eye on your kids.
• Beware the dumpers - the waves tend to dump, so if you're bodysurfing, don't break your bones :-)
  
• Beware the sand banks - recently a student got paralysed because he dove into a sand bank, just like it might get deep quickly it can be shallow, whilst looking deep.
  

Isaac and Sarah Jacobs wake up to postcard Camps Bay views every morning before playing cards on sandy white beaches - without the hassle of paying bills.

The couple are part of a group of about 30 squatters who have lived on the beach for up to 12 years, and have never budged from the scenic location.

Isaac Jacobs said they had been arrested "too many times to keep count".

The couple had been released every time, not long after they were detained.

The group spent the entire day on the beach and either spoke to each other to pass the time or played cards and dominoes, said Isaac Jacobs.

"Not the whole group is here all day, because some of them have jobs," he said.

Sarah Jacobs, who worked in Camps Bay before she was dismissed eight years ago, said they slept "wherever there is a spot" on the beach, especially near the rocks.

She said residents were unhappy that the group was living on the beach, but said they would not move until they had saved enough money to travel home.

"We were saving our money to go back to Beaufort West," she said. "Before, we didn't have money, but we have a bit now."

But the couple said they had decided to stay until they had settled a legal battle with the municipality.

They claim Metro Police officers took their clothes and other possessions when they were arrested two months ago, and did not return them.

"They can see we are struggling, but they still arrest us," said Isaac Jacobs, who is recovering from TB and a leg injury.

"All we have now is the clothes on our back.We just sit here peacefully. We don't take anything or steal, even though I am sick and can't work."

The Legal Resource Centre's Vincent Saldanha has represented the group and said the squatters had opened a case and were waiting for a reply from the City of Cape Town.

"We initially wrote a letter to the council, giving them a period of time to return the items, but they failed to do so," said Saldanha.

Marcia Schlesinger, a Camps Bay resident for 21 years, said Metro Police officers "abused" their powers by allegedly assaulting the squatters and people walking their dogs without leashes.

Src: Leila Samodien
This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Argus on December 21, 2006

Classic Business Day gets Mick Joyce on the line from Pam Golding Properties in the Western Cape about the exorbitant rates being paid for Cape Town rentals this festive season

LINDSAY WILLIAMS: If you haven’t rented your holiday home it may already be too late. Mick, is the rental market buoyant at the moment? A few weeks ago on Summit TV we looked at holiday homes - are people actually paying the absurd rentals I’ve seen in some of the magazines?

MICK JOYCE: I think there’s always the exception - the tendency to focus on one or two examples, where people achieve really exceptional rentals for their properties over holiday season - but while the rental market has been sound and we’ve been seeing good rentals achieved, there certainly hasn’t been as many instances of extreme rentals from a few years ago. That’s probably because a lot of international visitors are returning, and are more circumspect about jumping in and renting at any price.

LINDSAY WILLIAMS: What about the local tourist? Low cost airlines are bringing down the cost of travel so there must be a lot more people from places like Johannesburg flying to Cape Town pushing up the rental market - have you found that to be the case?

MICK JOYCE: There’s always been very healthy interest in Cape Town rental properties in the season both from South African and international tourists. The suburbs along the Atlantic seaboard have always been the cream of the crop, and are probably closest to the most desirable destinations in terms of the Camps Bay beaches and Cape Town’s nightlife, and the Camps Bay strip itself. The Blaauwberg area has always been particularly popular with the Gauteng visitors, and to a certain extent while that rental market has caught up in terms of the quality of apartments available out there we tend to see that affordability often does play a role in where people target their search. The cheaper airfares have certainly seen an influx of holidaymakers, and that’s most certainly supported the rental market.

LINDSAY WILLIAMS: Our guest stockbroker earns a decent wage - he is single and wants to visit Cape Town from 21 December to 6 January, somewhere like Clifton or Camps Bay. He will crawl out of bed for bacon and eggs, then go out to lunch - after a sleep in the afternoon he will get a cab into town for some clubbing - what sort of price are we talking about for a place like I’ve just described, a two bedroom place with a sea view in Camps Bay or Clifton? Are they available and for how much?

MICK JOYCE: At this late point you will find something, but certainly in that desirable area you can pay anything from R4,000 a day upwards for a luxury property. It really does depend on which suburb and exactly the size and nature of the accessories, and the additional luxury lifestyle elements in the particular apartment.

LINDSAY WILLIAMS: If you were looking to buy a holiday home would you consider Cape Town because for a certain amount of the year when you aren’t using it yourself you can rent it out?

MICK JOYCE: The Cape Town market is still in very good condition - we’ve seen appreciation taper off to a certain extent, however we’ve had fantastic sales through the early part of the summer season and that’s definitely an indicator that people are still looking for second homes. On a cautious note we have seen places further out of town - buying holiday homes up the coast - has certainly tapered off. We will probably only be able to call that trend more accurately once the whole of the summer and holiday season is over. In the Western Cape we certainly are still seeing definite interest in holiday homes from both local as well as some international buyers.

Src: Business Day (Presenter: Lindsay Williams, Guest: Mick Joyce)

RUBBISH that filled three trucks, totalling 16 tonnes, was cleared out of Camps Bay by local organisations on Monday, 4 December. The Camps Bay Community Police Forum, which organised the clean-up, says that most of the rubbish was collected on council property.

"The question it raises is why these areas are not being cleaned regularly - is it merely out of sight, out of mind, or is it just that services are slipping in general?" asks Bernard Schäfer, chairperson of the Camps Bay CPF.

The operation also saw 12 vagrants being moved to various shelters. These 12 were vagrants who agreed to being relocated, while a number refused to leave.

In addition to the CPF, organisations involved in the operation were Bay Response, ADT, the SA Police Service, Law Enforcement, Metro Police, City of Cape Town Solid Waste Department, as well as the Cape Town Central City Improvement District. Three trucks - a 10 tonne, five tonne and a one tonner - were filled with rubbish.

Almost two-thirds of the Camps Bay precinct was covered, from the Camps Bay Police Station to Clifton Third Beach, as well as the area around Kloof Street, Camps Bay High, Central Drive and the preparatory school and crèche.

"The operation was organised in an attempt to kick-start the Camps Bay SAPS, other law enforcement bodies and the council into regularly undertaking exercises of this nature.

"It is necessary to properly cleanse what is fast becoming a dirty embarrassment to one of the best tourist attractions in the world," Schäfer says.

Derek Bock, chief operations officer of the Cape Town Central CID, says they were happy to help out as it shows the value of a CID.

"We will support anyone, from Camps Bay to Woodstock, who is battling with crime-related issues because we are closely affiliated with the Cape Town CPF, so we understand the situation."

Atlantic Seaboard Councillor JP Smith concedes that council's cleansing resources have not been sufficient, with an "inadequate" budget this year.

However, he hopes that next year?s budget will be more promising.

Smith says, though, that the beach is cleaned mechanically quite frequently during the peak season, and areas surrounding the beach are cleaned as complaints are received.

"The problem is that, after such a clean-up, only days later it looks the way it used to and people then assume the job is not being done," he says.

Smith says that since Camps Bay does not have a city improvement district of its own, criminals and vagrants come from other areas to make themselves at home locally.

There is no regular, proactive action to prevent this. Schäfer says that vagrants and even workers on building sites are regularly using bushes near the beach for their ablutions. Certain building sites do not provide their workers with the necessary ablution facilities.

"No wonder Bakoven, Camps Bay and Clifton beaches made headline news recently because of unacceptable e-coli levels being recorded consistently during routine council water testing."

The City of Cape Town stated in November that it would be erecting signs at local beaches to warn water-users of the abnormally high e-coli levels in the water.

Schäfer fears that the erection of such signs could cost beaches such as Clifton Fourth their Blue Flag status.

Abdulla Parker, head of the city catchment planning department with jurisdiction over the Atlantic Seaboard, says that 15 signs will be erected in the area by the end of the week.

Chris Willemse, chairperson of the Camps Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association, says residents of Camps Bay should be thankful to the CPF, as the clean-up project they held was "an incredibly worthwhile" operation. Willemse says the matter of not supplying ablution facilities at building sites will be taken up with building contractors.

Schäfer says another operation is planned in due course for the higher-lying areas, including the small and big Glens.

Src: Toyah Lord, People's Post (News24.com)

Foreigners are once again expressing keen interest in renting property in the Western Cape and particularly the Atlantic Seaboard this festive season, and are prepared to pay as much as R21 000 a day for exceptional properties.

As the festive season approaches, many homeowners in popular areas may be contemplating whether a small fortune can be made by renting out their homes for the peak holiday season.

Pam Golding Properties' rentals director for the Western Cape Metro region, Dexter Leite, says the holiday rental market tends to be heavily focused on the Atlantic Seaboard. He says he has noted interest from foreigners seeking rental terms of a month or two, for example in Hout Bay, where rentals vary from R1800 to R3000 per day in high season, and Llandudno where the figure can rise as high as R10 000 rand per day.

Leite adds that there has been an increase in foreign interest for the months of January, February and March, at rates of around R20 000 per month.

However, he says the chief holiday rental demand is seen in Clifton, Bakoven, Bantry Bay and Camps Bay, where owners often vacate their homes for the high season so as to maximise rental returns.

"The most popular period for these rentals is from 20 December through to 6 January, when rentals of up to R4000 per day can be achieved — although a few exceptional properties can demand as high as R21 000 per day," says Leite.

Still a market for buyers too

PGP says there is still a market for both buyers and renters of holiday homes.

PGP's MD for the Western Cape Metro region, Mick Joyce, says Cape Town's Western Seaboard remains one of the most popular areas for buyers of holiday homes, particularly along the long stretches of beachfront from the Lagoon Beach through Dolphin Beach and Bloubergstrand up to Melkbosstrand.

PGP's Blouberg area manager Madelon Venter reports that there is also considerable interest from overseas buyers, including Germans and UK residents who have purchased holiday homes in this area.

PGP adds that further up the West Coast, the town of Langebaan remains popular for holiday homes, particularly those along the beachfront, with access to the lagoon.

Area manager Stephanie Wynne Cole says there is a good mix of buyers who utilise these homes for their own family holidays, and those who capitalise on the buy-to-let market, where rentals of around R1600 to R2500 per day.

Along the South Peninsula, the market for holiday homes has quietened somewhat, according to the agents. However, area manager Colleen Curtis reports that towns such as Fish Hoek, Kommetjie and Scarborough remain popular for their beaches and sea views, as well as their laid-back atmosphere. Prices here are reported to range from around R700 000 for apartments up to around R3-million for larger homes.

Src: Iafrica.com (Evan Pickworth)
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A trip to the beach could cost dog walkers dearly if they do not keep their pets on leashes this summer - the penalty is a R200 fine.

The City of Cape Town has jacked up its beach regulation enforcement for the holiday season, with an extra 100 law enforcement officials on beach patrol.

Some dog owners are unhappy about the city's sudden interest in law enforcement on the beach. More than five people were handed fines or let off with warnings for allowing their dogs to run free at Camps Bay beach on Tuesday morning.

Beach patrol officials warned Camps Bay housewife Judy Kaplan to put a leash on her dog. But Kaplan feels her pet cannot enjoy his playtime on a leash. She said she had walked her dogs on that beach almost every day for 43 years.

"During the winter, you never see the patrol here. They only decide to take action this time of year when the beach is busy," she said.

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Dog walkers are now also limited to a 9am cut-off time, when all dogs have to be off the beach.

Dog owner Dorly Viollier said she had been fined R200 after losing track of time while walking her dog on Camps Bay beach.

"We agree with the time period because children play on the beach during the day, but there should be facilities for residents to walk their dogs freely," said Viollier.

City spokesperson Charles Cooper said that, legally, dogs had to be on leashes in public areas. He said the city would be particularly vigilant during the summer season.

"We are definitely toughening up and on high alert for this period. Additional staff are also always on the cards at this time of year," said Cooper.

He said the beach patrols would also focus on consumption of alcohol in public and crimes such as muggings.

Src: Leila Samodien (IOL)

This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Argus on November 29, 2006

I had the previledge to watch Pieter Toerien's Going to St Ives this week at Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay. I must say, as a man I didn't expect much from an all women cast (maybe I'm too ignorant for my own good), but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of character these two cast members displayed.

Comic touches brought the dramatic script in perfect balance, taking the audience on a roller coaster ride from light hearted chuckles to tear induced silence.

Fiona Ramsay (from SABC's Hard Copy and Justice for All) and Pamela Nomvete (Generations, Hillside, Muvhango and Hard Copy) were able to bounce well off each other, creating a doorway for the audience to enter their story. Too many times have I sat through comedies or Shakespear and not become part of the show, not being able to identify enough and 'make it mine'.

The script was written by Lee Blessing, the author of the 1988 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-nominated A Walk in the Woods. It brings two women together out of very different backgrounds. The one from an African dictatorship (or 'empire') and the other, a surgeon from St Ives in England. Each had hidden agendas for seeing each other, and in the end they have found what they had been missing in life, in each other. I'm not going to lay out the storyline for you in detail, go and watch!!

Tuesday May 30 to Saturday June 10

Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm
Saturday 10 June at 5:30pm and 8:30pm
Wednesday 7 June at 2:30pm

www.theatreonthebay.co.za

When looking for accommodation in Camps Bay (Cape Town), it's important to know what price class you're looking in. Camps Bay villas are usually luxury rental homes ranging from R800 - R6,000+ a night. There are hundreds to choose from, whether it's a villa on the rocks or a villa against the slopes of the majestic twelve apostles mountain range (the back of Table Mountain).

No matter where in Camps Bay you're staying, the bustling promenade is never more than 5 minutes drive away and with winter setting in, you can expect great specials on breakfast, lunch and dinner. Camps Bay is especially popular with the executive national and international business travellers wanting to be out of the buzz of the city, yet still 10 minutes away.

Most villas in Camps Bay have spectacular west facing vistas, giving you a glimps of the African sunset. The cosmopolitan city of Cape Town will dazzle you with its large selection of world class attractions (Table Mountain, Robben Island, beautiful beaches) and it's all within easy reach from any Camps Bay villa.

Due to the large selection of villas, you should take the extras into account when making your selection. Browse each accommodation's website, enquire about airport transfers and all the other added services that make your stay in Camps Bay worth while.

Don't forget however that there is also a great selection of Bed & Breakfast establishments in Camps Bay as well as other self catering accommodation. If you have absolutely any questions about visiting Camps Bay or Cape Town, give me a mail on dtolken@gmail.com and I will help you find your dream villa to rent in Camps Bay. 

567mw CAPETALK INVITES YOU TO A PEACE MARCH

You are hereby invited to join a silent peace march through Cape Town
just before 12 noon on May 4.

The "Silence the Violence" march is in response to the wave of crime
and violence currently sweeping Cape Town.
We are seeking your support.

Please join us in numbers at the Good Hope Centre at 11am
on Thursday May 4. The march will start at noon.
And send a message of support to shelley@capetalk.co.za.

Bring along banners or placards and let's help turn the tide against crime.

MEDIA RELEASE FROM 567 mw CAPETALK: CAPE TOWN RESIDENTS
IN PEACE MARCH TO SHOW THEIR COLLECTIVE OPPOSITION TO CRIME

CAPETONIANS, concerned by the levels of crime and violence across
the city, are being offered an opportunity to make a symbolic statement against the
carnage by participating in a silent peace march on May 4.

Organised by CapeTalk, the "Silence the Violence" initiative follows a dramatic increase
in gang violence, a host of gruesome murders and ongoing general crime in Cape
Town and its surrounds over recent weeks.

CapeTalk station manger Colleen Louw said hundreds of callers to the station
recently had expressed anger and deep concern at crime levels
in the city and had expressed a desire to do something about the situation.

"They are telling us that crime levels are unacceptable and they want to
do something about it. We are providing a platform for them to do so."

"This is not a protest, but through this symbolic and silent walk for peace we are
encouraging ordinary Capetonians to play a part in the resolution of this dire situation
and to collectively take action and show their solidarity with all efforts aimed at
normalising the situation."

"We are urging ordinary citizens and organised groups to come out of their homes
and their offices en masse on May 4 and to make a stand," said Louw.

"Let this be the first step towards a crime-free Mother City," she added.

Participants will gather at the Good Hope Centre from 11 am
on Thursday, May 4. The sounding of the Noon Day Gun will mark the start
of the one kilometre march which will move along Strand Street, into Adderley
Street and end in Darling Street outside the Cape Town City Hall.

For more information, call Shelley Doyle on (021) 446-4771 or visit the Cape Talk website below:

Cape Talk March for Peace Event Details

Camps Bay residents are going to feel some discomfort with 35000 cyclists passing through during the day of Sunday the 12th of March 2006. The Pick 'n Pay Argus cycle tour will be held over some 109km around the Cape Peninsula. Spectators are sure to turn out in their thousands to support the by then exhausted cyclists that pass through Camps Bay. There will be road closures during the day, so please plan your driving schedules around it!!

To all spectators, please try and clean up after yourself. We just need everyone to take into consideration that if you don't, someone else will have to and this is not called 'job creation', it's littering...

Theatre on the Bay is currently showing Titanic on Ice, where they transform the stage into an ice rink for a spectacular extravaganza of the original story. The Titanic on Ice will be showing until the 11th of March 2006. On the 14th, the critically acclaimed 'Defending the Caveman' will return to the theatre for just over a month, so make your bookings at Computicket now!! It will go quickly as it has in the past. For more information, please visit http://www.theatreonthebay.co.za" title="http://www.theatreonthebay.co.za" target="_blank"http://www.theatreonthebay.co....

Club Ignite in Camps Bay is attracting lots of attention (no it wasn't burning  half-brain!) and it's a great venue with beautiful atmosphere. It gets quite packed at times, but luckily one can move out on the terrace and admire the views over Camps Bay beach and enjoy the summer night breeze (gales at times...).

There's also a VIP section (which can probably also be used for private functions). The music is great, a lekka mix of commercial house, sometimes pop and general lounge/bar music.

We highly recommend going there when you get a chance. The average age is probably around 23 years old, depending on which night you go, but it's the place to be seen in Camps Bay at the moment.