The Old Manor House unbranded

THE OLD MANOR HOUSE C ONSTA N T I A , C A PE TOW N

Luxury hideaway!

Many, many ago, when horses pulled carriages down the dirt tracks and farm animals grazed the meadows of Brommersvlei, the original farmhouse of Klaasenbosch Estate stood, occupying acres of land around the verdant slopes of Table Mountain.

Having traversed the centuries with an enduring grace, The Old Manor House of Constantia still stands, amidst its four acres of suburban wilderness. Retaining her classical, Cape Dutch features under a chapeau of thatch, revealing her refined contemporary attire with elegance, this hideaway is an explorer’s utopia and an escapist’s sanctuary. Where the opulence of the estate is encased by nature and her residing companions. As if Doctor Dolittle once lay his roots on this very estate, The Old Manor House is home to an abundance of birdlife and wildlife, too. Tortoises casually cruise around the gardens, snacking on the leafy vegetable patches, through the rows of indigenous flower beds, along the lush green lawns and wooded forest areas.

Beside the water is where you and your lovely clan will spend a lot of your time. If not on the long verandah, cocooned by the comfy seating and shaded by creeping wisteria, you’ll be gathered around the table on the dock adjacent the dam. Some will be in the row boat, paddling across the water to the little island. A kiddie’s picnic set up on their remote spot, beneath the tree. The courtyards definitely beckon an hour or two with a book and an evening tipple. The perfect place for those necessary moments of tranquility beside the fountain. The long dining tables will always be abuzz with banter, the best of yourselves coming out on display, like the colours of the Koi, as the next feasting ensues. Whether you’re in the palatial main ensuite with its lavish dressing room, or joining the cousins in the bunk room, the beds and their linen incite a dreamy night’s sleep. One last tipple at the bar before bed. The owls will let you know when it’s time to dim the lights and let the coals in the fireplace settle. So that you’re up in time to witness the early morning light, as it embraces every detail of this sublime suburban wilderness, in the beautiful valley of Constantia.

Koi fish adorn the dam with their magnificent dancing shapes of colour. Not only adding to the beautiful canvas of the property’s landscape, but the essence of its ecosystem too. The resident Blue Crane’s, the butterflies and the bees all add their signature to the whimsical narrative that’s embedded into the soil of The Old Manor House. There’s a slightly different tale being told with the interiors of this extraordinary hideaway. Six lavish suites scatter themselves around the home, opening out into courtyards with lemon orchards, bougainvillea vines, trickling fountains and languid seating areas. Or out onto balconies overlooking the gardens and orange trees, or leading across the lawns towards the dam, enraptured by the views of the mountain. The living, dining, cooking, reclining, reading and entertaining spaces are seamlessly stitched together like the beautiful tapestry of War and Peace that greets you in the entrance hall. Statement pieces of art and consciously considered furnishings have been placed with intent. There is an element of grandeur in the ambience of The Old Manor House, yet it is pacified by the integrity of the original homestead. As well as all of the water features and subtle echoes of a trickle coming from a fountain.

What you need to know…

What we love!

• The property is run off solar power, with an inverter as a power back-up system, so there will not be any interruptions to the power supply.

• Enjoying a slow start to the day, indulging in a delicious breakfast in bed, before dipping into the heated swimming pool, as the butterflies float around the garden.

• The house is vast with ample space, yet every room is used and ideal for large family gatherings. There is also a jungle gym and trampoline.

• Warm evenings spent beside the fire. Those special family moments of connecting over boardgames and snacks.

• The property sits within the idyllic suburb of Constantia - a mere 15-minute drive from Cape Town’s city centre.

• Taking a long bath in the copper bathtub - all doors open to the elements and the garden’s natural fragrance wafting through.

• Cape Town’s Constantia wine region - home to some of the country’s finest restaurants and wine estates - is a 5-minute drive away. Explore all that the region has to offer including Buitenverwachting, Beau Constantia (spectacular views of the valley), Steenberg Vineyards, and of course Silvermist Wine Estate where La Colombe’s kitchen cooks up the most iconic and internationally acclaimed menus in South Africa.

• With its impressive population of birdlife and small animals, days spent on the property are absolutely mesmerising and pacifying.