At the southernmost tip of Africa, 60 kilometers south east of the worlds most popular city, Cape Town, lies the Overberg region’s Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (the first declared UNESCO biosphere reserve in South Africa) and the location of the exclusive Maritime on Moonlight Bay residence.  It is a spectacularly scenic area, famous for its fynbos, crayfish, white sandy beaches, craggy mountains and some of the best land based whale watching in the world!!! Here the blue Atlantic Ocean meets the warm Indian ocean and harbors the highest diversity of marine mammals worldwide. Ancient mariners aptly described this area as the fairest Cape in the whole circumference of the earth.  Steeped in history, this is where Khoi San Strand Lopers (Beachcombers) fished along rocky shores, while Drosters (outlaws) took refuge in caves and holidaymakers from the nearby Dutch colony spent their vacations.  Maritime on Moonlight Bay is located in this unique wonderland!

If you have stood looking out to sea in the stillness of the Overberg night, you will know something of the beauty unique to this place, and will recognize the pull that will keep you enchanted for the rest of your life.

This unique incredibly beautiful estate, covered in flowering fynbos, stretches from the famous Hangklip Mountain to the Atlantic Ocean below.  The 454-metre Hangklip Mountain, at times covered in a tablecloth of cloud, stands sentinel between False Bay and Walker Bay. Hangklip (Hanging Rock) was and still is, a significant landmark for ancient mariners and seafarers today.  Black Eagles soar against the mountain skyline, while rare Cormorants, Black Oyster Catchers, Cape Rock Jumpers, and Sand Pipers hug the coastline below. Leopards, Mountain Rhebuck, Klipspringers, Rock Dassies, Baboons and Cape Clawless Otters also inhabit this reserve.

The spectacular private residence is set alone, high up on the foothills of Hangklip Mountain, with uninterrupted, breathtaking views stretching over a hundred kilometers to the horizon- from the peninsulas of Cape Point to Danger Point, with Cape Hangklip Peninsula below.  Designed to fit in with the natural environment and constructed to exacting eco-standards, it perfectly blends into the hillside. The rustic road leading up to the lodge meanders through the fynbos forest, with continuous breathtaking sea views.

• 5 Star Graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa;
• 6 uniquely designed suites, offering supreme comfort and privacy, and spacious en suite bathrooms, with open showers and soaker tubs;
• Every suite has a fireplace, super-king-sized bed, tea and coffee station, DSTV and mini bar fridge;
• Relax in the open plan entertainment area with dining room, custom built bar, expansive fireplace open to the sitting area, and lounge with stunning ocean views;
• Nestled between mountain and sea, all rooms have amazing sea-views of Moonlight Bay, the vast Atlantic Ocean and the imposing Hangklip Mountain;
• 15 kilometers of trails covering the 30 hectare estate;
• Access to a private beach & seaside cottage.

Activities On The Estate:

Wake up to the evocative call of seagulls and delight in unequalled ocean and mountain vistas.  Inhale the champagne maritime air and absorb the beauty of this paradise. Walk on the many nature trails and explore the montane forest at the base of Hangklip Mountain and 20,000 year old bushmen shelters. Discover some of  1600+ species of coastal and mountain fynbos – unparalleled biodiversity and beauty. Laze around the house’s many sitting areas, or on your own private beach with waves crashing against the nearby rocks. Try your hand at fishing or explore the many wonders of our tidal pool. Enjoy a picnic lunch while whales, seals and dolphins frolic in the surf and seabirds hover overhead. Sit around a beach fire, sipping a glass of fine Cape wine and watching wave created water displays. Savor a seafood barbeque as the golden sun sets over Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula, followed by the moon shimmering over Moonlight Bay. Admire the southern night sky with the splendor of the Milky Way and its famous Southern Cross constellation, enhanced by the twinkling lamps of the three famous light houses of Cape Hangklip, Cape Point and Danger Point. Fall asleep lulled by the sound of waves crashing, baboons barking and leopards coughing.

Other Activities & Day Trips:

Take one of the many tours or hire a car, and discover the wonders of the region. Maritime on Moonlight Bay is in close proximity to:

• Great pubs, coffee shops, seafood restaurants and quaint stores in the seaside towns of Pringle Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Rooi Els, Betty’s Bay and Kleinmond.
• One of only two locations , to view the endangered African Penguin, Betty’s Bay is only 12-15min away by car.
• The wine estates of Stellenbosch, Franschoek and the Hemel en Aarde Vallei (Valley of Heaven and Earth), which offer wine tastings and picnic lunches are an easy 45min drive. Rivendell and Benguela Cove vineyards, are even closer, at only 25min away by car.
• The picturesque seaside town of Hermanus (60min away) offers some of best land-based whale watching in the world. It is also home to the Old Harbour Museum and the Whale House Museum. For those who enjoy the tastes of the sea, you will find plenty of seafood restaurants hugging the coastline.
• For the more adventurous, Gaansbaai offers caged dives, for those wanting to get up close to the great white sharks.
• There are several hiking trails within the Kokelberg Nature Reserve, or even a hike up the Overberg, or more precisely, Hangklip.   The cable way to Table Mountain, giving a birds eye view of Cape Town.
• Cape Town offers something for everyone including famous Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, as well as the cable car up to Table Mountain for those panoramic city & ocean views, and more dining options than one can imagine. A visit to the V&A Waterfront is also a must.
• The peninsulas of Cape Point and Cape Agulhas, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans merge.
• Many world-class golf courses e.g. Arabella, Erinvale, etc.
• Harold Porter and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

“But if you are tired of the same sites one little-known hideaway can give you a rare treat.  You may well have headed over the great mountains to the east of the city and into the heart of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, a place where the nature is so rich you’ll feel you should probably whisper – lest you disturb any of it………….There you are, just an hour from the Cape Town city centre, in the heart of the world’s smallest, richest floral kingdom………….”

Access:

Take the N2 South from Cape Town International airport. Turn onto the scenic R44, known as Clarence Drive.

Clarence Drive leads you into the heart of the floral kingdom from Gordons Bay to Cape Hangklip – the towering eastern beacon at the entrance of False Bay. This must be one of the most beautiful marine drives in the world with the road hugging the mountains on one side and cliffs dropping to the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

The estate lies in the heart of the famous Whale Coast and Cape Floral Kingdom, and adjoins the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.  It is centrally situated between Cape Town, Hermanus and Stellenbosch.

Directions:

• Approximately 60 minutes drive from Cape Town International Airport and 80 minutes from the City Centre.

Distances:

• Nearest Restaurants – Pringle Bay – 6 Kilometres – (5 minutes drive)
• Nearest Local Shop – Pringle Bay – 6 Kilometres – (5 minutes drive)
• Nearest ATM – Pringle Bay – 6 Kilometres – (5 minutes drive)
• Nearest Bank – Kleinmond (ABSA) – 15 Kilometers (12 minutes drive)
• Nearest Hospital – Somerset West Medi-Clinic – 40.0 Kilometres (35 minutes drive)
• Nearest Mall – Somerset Mall – 40.0 Kilometres (35 minutes drive)
• Nearest Airport – Cape Town International – 60 Kilometres (approx 50 minutes drive)
• Cape Town – V & A Waterfront – 90 Kilometres – (approx 80 minutes)

Terms & Conditions: 

• Maritime on Moonlight Bay is the private residence of the owners of Ezulwini, and is available at certain times of the year for holiday rental.
• The  entire residence must be rented, for a minimum stay of one week.
• The rate includes all linen, and cleaning staff, but excludes food and beverage.  Catering staff can be arranged.
• Rates available upon enquiry.  Kindly email Reservations