A West Coast retreat for all seasons
Fynbos beach house is another one of our perfect West Coast hideaways, hidden in Churchhaven, one of the Cape’s best-kept secrets.
The house earns its name from the expanse of surrounding fynbos between the house and the lagoon. Just a short amble from the water’s edge and with beautiful views over the water, Fynbos is a popular summer and winter retreat in this tiny hamlet called Churchhaven. Equally inspired by the original fisherman’s cottages along this shoreline, the layout is simple, uncluttered and architecturally sensitive to the traditional Cape vernacular along the West Coast. Exposed ceilings, verandahs shaded with latte, and with doors and windows opening to the views, the lifestyle at Fynbos is relaxed and easy.
Rise with the sun and gather around the large dining table for breakfast before heading down to the beach with a book or out on the reserve’s paths with your bike. Take your canoe along for a paddle in the blue lagoon and swim in the morning or afternoon in the warm pristine water.
Off-grid living, the best detox!
As well as being breathtakingly beautiful, the house is also low on environmental impact. Like the surrounding homes, Fynbos has an entirely green footprint of reclaimed materials, solar panels, locally sourced finishes and rainwater harvesting.
Before long, the art of slow living and reconnecting with nature becomes a way of life here at Fynbos. For many, living simply again on the shores of this serene lagoon – away from the hustle and bustle of urban living – is what makes an escape here so invigorating. Nature’s gentle rhythms heal, sleep is restored and precious memories are made with family and friends.
What we love!
- The wonderfully warm lagoon waters with the softest white-sand beaches and very safe swimming for the kids.
- The utterly unspoilt, pristine surroundings deep in a protected National Parks Board Nature Reserve on the Cape’s West Coast.
- The back-to-basics lifestyle in a charming hamlet on the water’s edge.
- That there’s an incredible range of things to do and see, from the spring flowers in Postberg Flower Reserve, idyllic beach picnics at nearby Kraalbaai (close to the famous Preekstoel rock formation) and kitesurfing at Shark Bay just outside Langebaan (an excellent place for beginners and to hone your skills). Keen birders are also in for a treat: flamingoes, oystercatchers and more…!
What you need to know…
- Fynbos is only one hour’s drive from Cape Town.
- Fynbos (in keeping with the village) is completely off-the-grid and you must take your own drinking water and please use power sparingly.
- This is blissful off-the-grid living, so there is no WiFi, limited mobile phone accessibility and solar power rules supreme. Most houses rely on rainwater catchment or borehole water driven by solar pumps, and gas hobs and gas ovens are used for cooking. In winter, fireplaces and ever-faithful wood-burning stoves keep things cosy.
- Only mobile phones, laptops, music players and the like can be used in the plugs. No hairdryers, hair straighteners or curling irons or any other appliances are to be plugged in as this could cause permanent damage to the electrical system.
- We are unable to offer a cleaning service at Churchhaven. The ONLY cleaning service available at any of our Churchhaven properties is a mid-week linen change if you are staying for 6 nights or longer. Due to being off-grid, Churchhaven houses do not have dishwashers. If this is a problem for you please consider our other West Coast options.
- Please take note of the following gate times for entering and leaving the West Coast National Park:
1 April to 31 August 07:00 to 17:30;
1 September to 31 March 07:00 to 18:30.
No entrance into the park is possible after the gates close in the evenings.
- There is a per person, per day entrance fee due to enter the park. Please check the SANPARKS website for the latest fee tariffs. It may be worth investing in a Wild Card membership.
- There is plenty to do in the area: if you’re making a day trip of the journey up, why not stop along the way at !Kwa ttu, the San cultural centre, to learn more about the heritage of the San or Bushmen. Or, if you’re staying a week, take a trip to the recently refurbished fossil museum at the West Coast Fossil Park, an absolute gem for families and not far from Langebaan.
- Once inside the National Park, you can do Eve’s Footprints trail, to the site where important fossilised footprints were found in 1995 along the shoreline of Langebaan Lagoon.
- If Fynbos isn’t available over your dates, browse our signature collection of Churchhaven and Schrywershoek accommodation options or other West Coast hideaways.
Edited by Michelle Snaddon