The Sentinel
The Sentinel
This is a completely unique, architect-designed 2 bedroomed wooden cabin with magnificent outdoor spaces in Hout Bay, finished during the lockdown. It is intended to carry a small footprint and be experienced as cabin perched in the natural surroundings of mountains and fynbos.
You will not find a property like this anywhere in Cape Town. It is a loft build with steel, glass and wood, and has a sea and mountain views from every room including the scullery!
The house comprises a bedroom and en suite bathroom, along with a kitchen, scullery, dining room, lounge and large outdoor deck. Upstairs is the main bedroom en suite and an open mezzanine chill area with work-from-home office and 2 additional beds organised in a bunk bed style.
The property boasts external cameras, linked alarm system and electric fencing all around as well as remote-controlled smart access. The house itself is very secure, with a solid wooden front door, steel sliding doors and shatterproof extra thick glass. Solid wooden bedroom doors have been reinforced internally with steel and wooden shutters in the bedroom are lockable so you can sleep with the doors open.
Sentinel guests have access to the entire cabin, the deck, the ecopool and the garden seating area, as well as to a parking bay.
The Sentinel is our home, which we do rent out from time to time, especially during year-end holidays and long weekends. The Sentinel is also available to rent mid week and from time to time, on weekends, either when we are away or when we stay on the property in one of the other cabins. We prefer to take Sentinel bookings via Air BnB from verified guests with positive reviews or from past guests we have engaged with.
For guests wishing to have the exclusive use of the entire property (either to book all 3 accommodations, or just the Sentinel but have no one else on site) please send us an enquiry on availability and pricing.
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
- Ecopool
- Towel and linen change: Additional fee
- Laundry service: Additional fee
Exclusive Use Areas
- Main house
- Main deck, ecopool and outdoor sitting area
- Carport or 2 parking bays
- Not included: other cabins, other decks and 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.
