Suburban bliss
Huis en Bos in the leafy, luxurious suburb of Constantia, is an elegant, contemporary villa that caters to large families, seeking tranquil getaways in Cape Town, at the foot of Table Mountain.
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.
What we love!
- Enjoying the afternoon sun, while sitting in the lounge, with the wood-burning fireplace crackling away – whatever the weather – but especially on a winter’s evening.Â
- Having a delicious morning coffee on the verandah, watching the sunbirds dip into the pool and sweep around the garden.
- There’s nothing like a sauna session to drain out those holiday toxins and revitalise every part of your vacation! Then a dip in the pool afterwards.Â
- Swimming in the pool then lounging on the lovely daybeds, reading and lapping up the energy of the mountain.
- Whilst some of you might be snoozing in your own suites in the afternoon, others will be in the kitchen, or in the pyjama lounge. Some might be in the gym, others playing games and keeping up the holiday competitions…there’s an abundance of space that either segregates or congregates, depending on what you and your clan fancy.Â
What you need to know…
- Huis en Bos sits within the leafy suburb of Constantia – a mere 15-minute drive from Cape Town’s city centre. The beaches are only a 20-minute drive away and all of the nature trails are within easy driving distance. It’s situated on Klein Constantia Road – a 2-minute drive from Buitenverwachting and Groot Constantia wine farms.Â
- There are optional extras available should you require additional assistance during your stay. The resident security guard is also a private driver, with the use of the villa’s vehicle – only the security guard can drive it. This can be arranged at an extra charge.
- Cape Town’s Constantia wine region – home to some of the country’s finest restaurants and wine estates – is on your doorstep. Take a short drive and explore all that the region has to offer including Buitenverwachting, Beau Constantia (spectacular views of the valley), Steenberg Vineyards – that’s home to Bistro Sixteen82 and Catharina’s – and of course Silvermist Wine Estate where La Colombe’s kitchen cooks up the most iconic and internationally acclaimed menus in South Africa.
- If Huis en Bos is not available on your dates, browse our full collection of exclusive-use holiday houses in Constantia.Â
Reviewed by Colleen Ogilvie