The Fynbos Pod

The Fynbos Pod

This is a completely bespoke 8x3m wooden cabin perched on a hill of fynbos with 270 degree views the incredible Chapmans Peak mountains, Sandy Bay dunes and beach of Hout bay.

Finished during 2021, it was designed and thought out over a long time to be exactly what a magical adventure to a far-off place should be: a bit of glamourous rustic, a bit of luxury, a bit of originality, and lot of practical functionality, with incredible views.

Enter the pod up the stone stairs, across the wooden deck and up the wooden ramp. Leave your shoes in a nook by the entrance to keep a clean, shoe-free zone, and hang your coats and keys behind the front door.

Behind a solid wood, locally crafted barn door, is the beautifully designed bathroom with a uniquely-tiled shower, stone basin atop a purpose-build wooden pedestal and toilet. Hang up or fold away your clothes, lay out your shoes, and keep your suitcases out of the way at the top of the open twin cupboard spaces.

The kitchenette punches well above its weight for its size, and boasts beautiful, locally-crafted wooden counters and shelving, as well as a rustic concrete basin home-made from the sand outside. Crockery, cutlery and all the basics needed for self catering are found on the open shelves. A pantry cupboard hides away any clutter, groceries, cleaning items and internet access points. The red fridge in the corner makes a statement, while a mini dishwasher is a rare jewel for those who hate washing dishes on holiday.

The lounge area has a tiny wood-fired closed-combustion fireplace with a basket of wood, as well as a comfortable hand-crafted wooden couch with magnificent views. The couch has an additional feather mattress topper and can double up as a comfortable single bed for a third person if booked accordingly.

Step up to your sleeping platform, read a book or wake up to a magical sunrise, watching the panoramic sea and mountain views. The quality mattresses can be configured as a connected singular king bed for individuals or couples (default), or as twin beds for single travellers.

Drink your coffee in the morning, enjoy your meals or (try to) work on your laptop under a unique chandelier, at the versatile coffee bar with incredible views of the mountains and sea. The sliding windows all open in any direction, for the living outdoors feeling.

If this isn’t enough to entice you, enjoy an outdoor shower after a hot hike or long day at the beach, or pop a few logs into the wood-fired coil to warm up your own personal concrete hot bath (for one or two) while watching the fading sun paint the Chapmans Peak mountains pink and the bay a pale silver in the fading light.

If it’s not a windy day, enjoy a braai and al fresco dining on the wooden deck before retiring for the evening.

Please respect other residents/guests on the property and their privacy. Except for the pod and personal deck, the rest of the garden is not for guest use. However, please feel free to ask us if you would like to try anything out of our kitchen garden.

Key amenities

  • Wifi: 500MB download / 250MB upload) included
  • Bathroom essentials: included
  • Tea, coffee, sugar: included
  • Fireplace
  • Ceiling fan
  • Self check in
  • Off street parking: 1
  • Outdoor deck
  • Braai facility
  • Towel and linen change: Additional fee
  • Laundry service: Additional fee
  • Direct access to nature reserve

Exclusive Use Areas

  • Fynbos Pod
  • Deck
  • Wood fired/outdoor bath
  • 1 parking bay
  • Not included: other cabins, ecopool, fire pit area

Important information to note in relation to the cabins

By booking these cabins you acknowledge the following:

South Africa experiences load shedding from time to time, meaning the electricity is turned off in managed schedules to assist with maintenance on old infrastructure. We have back ups on the Sentinel fibre and internet lines, and all cabins have gas stoves and a back up light with phone charger. The gate has a basic battery up but remote access to open the gate is not possible. Please note that loadshedding, other electrical outages and water outages do happen from time to time, are beyond our control and we can’t take responsibility for any issues caused by this.

The Reservoir Pod is situated on top of the reservoir, behind a row of growing trees. The pod faces the sea and depending on where on the deck you are, may look up to the fynbos pod’s deck or the main house deck. Blinds keep the sun out and provide privacy while still being able to see the view.

The Fynbos Pod is situated at the top of the hill on the property, with magnificent views of the mountains and sea. While the deck, pool and outdoor areas are visible from the pod, guests are drawn to the views and can make use of their blinds. The trees around the deck will provide full privacy in time.

The Sentinel has a narrow staircase as well as a mezzanine and a patio with a high drop off. All areas have glass balustrading. The deck opens out directly into the ecopool.

The cabins all have blinds except for the Sentinel, which does not have any blinds or curtains due to the incredible views. Privacy in the bedrooms is managed by slatted shutters and bathroom windows are frosted. The shutters will not keep out the light at sun rise (5am in summer). Sleeping masks are available. The living areas are private to the north using shutters but are positioned along the pedestrian road of the nature reserve on the south. On sunny weekend days and during holidays, people tend to walk past and gape at the house. Trees and shrubs screen most of this but will take time to become fully established. The house is intended to create a feeling of living outdoors while being indoors. This isn’t for everyone so please rather do not rent this house if this isn’t your cup of tea.

Cape Town is known for being windy at times, in both summer and winter. It can be particularly windy up here on the mountain and the cabins are built of steel, glass and wood so it can be noisy during high winds and you can also expect movement of the cabins

The cabins have French press (plunger) coffee available only. No on site coffee machines because the value chain is environmentally unfriendly and also because it is an opportunity to buy local from the cafés down the road.

Regular or occasional servicing can be arranged, but is subject to availability. An additional fee of R200 for the pods and R300 for the Sentinel applies.

Due to Cape Town being a high risk water area, there are no regular baths on this property and guests are asked to use water sparingly at all times as only the garden, eco pool and outdoor wood fired bath are serviced from rain water

Hazards: The eco pool is a natural rock pool with no fencing and no cover. The cabin is up a short hill with uneven rock steps and the deck has unprotected sides with drop offs of around 1m on some sides. The is also a sharp drop off out of the sliding windows, which has a balustrade. The Reservoir Pod’s deck is open to nature and has a drop of about 1m into some very uncomfortable bushes and branches. The cabins are not suitable for children under 10 or anyone under the influence of alcohol or any other substances. Anyone using the property needs to exercise suitable caution and does so at their own risk. We will not be liable for any injuries.

No guests or visitors beyond the overnight booked guests are permitted without specific approval. Additional guests will be charged for.

House rules

Check-in: After 2:00 PM

Checkout: 10:00 AM

Self check-in with lockbox if personal check in is not available

Not suitable for children and infants

No smoking inside under any circumstances

No pets as we have pets on the property

No parties or events unless specifically by arrangement. Enquire here

Additional rules

Check in and check out times are to please be respected. We often have back to back guests.

Due to some issues we have had with check out times, we reserve the right to charge a late check out penalty of 25% of the daily rate for unauthorised late check outs of more than 30 minutes

You can enquire about early check ins or late check outs for your reservation, which is subject to our absolute discretion and strictly not available for 1 night bookings. We generally don’t do late check outs on Sundays

The space is expected to be left in a relatively neat and tidy state. It is not necessary to make the bed or to leave a few dishes on the last day but please do not leave a big mess as we may have guests checking in that afternoon.

Please check the number of guests before booking as our listings have different prices depending on the number of guests and we will charge for additional guests. We cannot accommodate more guests than listed, except for an infant, by arrangement.

No guests or visitors beyond the overnight booked guests permitted without specific approval. Additional guests may be charged for.

Infants and children under 12 are considered guests and allowed by prior arrangement only. We can provide a travel cot if arranged in advance. The property is not ideal for mobile children under 12 due to open pools, stone steps, deck drop offs etc and any children we agree to host remain the guests’ sole responsibility while on the property

Our cat resides in The Sentinel and we do not move her without prior agreement and discussion PRIOR to making your booking.

We will not accept liability for cancellations or implications of guests not reading the listing or the house rules before booking. Any costs associated with accommodating guests post booking IF we agree to any amendments (eg moving our animals offsite) will be for the guests account. We cannot cancel reservations from our side, therefore guests will be responsible to cancel a booking if they realise any house rules do not suit them after making the booking.

Absolutely no photoshoots, film shoots, whether formal or informal, or any commercial use of the property of any kind through Air BnB. You acknowledge by booking this property that if you use it for an unauthorised shoot or commercial use that you will be immediately liable for our commercial rates as well as any losses if you disturb other guests on site.

The main house/property is popular for local destinations getaways like birthday and anniversary celebrations. Think massages on the deck, private chefs and small, tasteful, personal gatherings (not loud, drunken parties). Additional rates may apply and subject to specific discussions and agreement

The fire for the outdoor bath (Fynbos Pod) can only be used when there is a light breeze otherwise it is a fire hazard. There is however piped hot water, so you can always enjoy a hot bath outside.

Fires inside or outside may never be left unattended.

 

Address

4 Cyphia Close, Hout Bay,
Cape Town, South Africa

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