Escaping the city and heading south of Cape Town is an absolute must while visiting the region. Within minutes you’ll be surrounded by one of the most picturesque and stunning coastal drives you will ever experience.

Tintswalo Atlantic is a hidden paradise in the foothills of Chapman’s Peak in Table Mountain National Park. As the only luxury hotel within the park, a stay at Tinstswalo Atlantic is an exclusive experience everyone should have on their bucket list.

The drive is only 45 minutes from the centre of Cape Town to Hout Bay, and it takes you past the beautiful coastal suburbs of Sea Point, Clifton, and Camps Bay. The ‘Atlantic Seaboard Route’ is truly one of the most impressive coastal drives you will ever see. With mountains and rock cliffs to your left, and the crystal clear blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean along your right, the hardest part about the drive is limiting the photo stops so you can get to the lodge at a decent hour.

After a stop at Camps Bay for a fresh seafood lunch and a stroll along the beach, and an afternoon perusing the Bay Harbour Markets in Hout Bay, your stay at Tintswalo starts from the hotel entry and car park just off Chapman’s Peak drive.

The hotel is hidden amongst rolling hills and inlets along the bay and only becomes visible once the shuttle leads you down the winding track right to the beach-front property.

The lodge itself is made up of 11 individually themed rooms decorated to represent some of the most stunning islands of the world. Think the bright blues on Zanzibar, the classic Italian style of Sicily and, my favourite, the incredibly fresh colours and furnishings representing the Caribbean’s Antigua.

A stay in summer will have you relaxing on the balcony or lazing by the pool with uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean, while during winter you can watch the sunset through floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors while snuggled up on your cosy lounge in front of your own personal fireplace or enjoying a relaxing bubble bath as the sun sets.

From the moment you arrive, you will be filled with a sense of peace and relaxation, a world away from the bustling and busy city of Cape Town.

It was an online photo that made me originally fall in love with this property. It portrayed waves crashing along a pebble beach, an orange and pink sky as the sun set over The Sentinel and a relaxing pod chair hanging from the private balcony. I was incredibly surprised that as the sun set over The Sentinel, it was almost impossible to tell the difference between my photos and the one I had originally found online. It is as stunning and picturesque as photos make it appear. 

To keep the theme running of the amazing food so far in South Africa, Tinstswalo Atlantic was no exception. The culinary team focused on serving fresh, sustainable, locally sourced food at every meal. Although I skipped lunch at the hotel and opted for a cocktail and fresh fruit platter on my balcony, I experienced more than enough incredible food during my stay.

Dinner started with canapes on the balcony watching the sunset with a Gin and Tonic in hand, followed by an amazing five-course meal by candlelight that ended with a cocktail in the lounge.

It was hard to comprehend a four-course breakfast only nine hours later as platter after platter was laid on my table arranged with cold meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, muesli, and a hot menu which I couldn’t even fathom attempting. 

The location of the lodge means you’ll have various options to fill your days—that is if you can tear yourself away from the privacy of your room and the epic oceanfront views from the balcony. The roads are easy to navigate, and self-driving the Cape is quite laidback and gives you the flexibility to explore at your own leisure. Of course you can join a day trip, or the lodge can help organise a private guide for the day should you want to be able to gaze longingly out to the horizon where the blue skies meet the ocean.

A visit to Cape Town city makes for an invigorating day where you can experience authentic South African culture in the vibrant and energetic street bands and sample local delicacies of Biltong along with a Cape Town gin tasting at the V&A Food Market.

If the rolling mountains and the array of fauna and flora of Table Mountain National Park are more your style, you can head south along the breathtaking coastal cliffs on a day trip to the Cape of Good Hope. 

Only 15 minutes back up the eastern coast, Cape Peninsula is another highlight of a trip to the Cape. Simons Town is home to Boulders Beach, made famous by its colony of African penguins that have called the bay home since 1982. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with a penguin on a public beach, and if the weather is warm, you might even be lucky enough to swim alongside them!

Along with its penguins, Simons Town is the base of Tintswalo’s sister property in the region, Tintswalo at Boulders Beach. A luxurious seaside property with unobstructed views over the bay, you can penguin-watch from the comfort of your bed. This is on my list for my next visit to Cape Town, that’s for sure!

Returning to the lodge in time for a Gin and Tonic on the balcony to watch another sunset, it is easy to see why the staff love working here so much: the unobstructed ocean views, the fresh air, and the sound of waves crashing on the rocky beach. Tintswalo Atlantic is one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets that everyone needs to know about!