
From the end of the nineteenth century till the 1960s, Muizenberg was South Africa’s premier seaside resort. Randlords built palatial mansions on the hillside and the seafront. Trains ran directly from Johannesburg without stopping in Cape Town. The town prospered and was architecturally very similar to many seaside towns on the south coast of England. At its height, there were about 50 hotels and guesthouses in the Muizenberg area.
From the 1970’s decline and urban decay set in. There were several reasons. The two most important were that; firstly, the hotel infrastructure was old and dated and secondly, the N3 motorway was built connecting Johannesburg and Durban in six hours. The lure of reaching your destination quickly to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean in modern accommodation proved too much for old Muizenberg. The nadir was the year 2000 when pimps, hookers and drug dealers ran riot through the streets (and those were the good days!)
The situation since then has been transformative. Slowly and one by one, problems buildings have been fixed, squatters evicted, slumlords have sold up, and fresh new investment has come in. Law-abiding and tax-paying citizens have reclaimed Muizenberg.
The town is now the surf kindergarten of South Africa. The beachfront is being populated by surf shops and schools and an increasing variety of upmarket restaurants and coffee shops. Incredibly, in this town, there are no vacant commercial buildings. The two large empty lots remaining on the beachfront will be developed during 2013, with more shops, eateries and residential accommodation becoming available. The charm of the “village” area has been augmented by responsible new owners renovating the beautiful rows of Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco houses.
Whereas the hotel stock is still limited, with only the upmarket boutique hotel Colona Castle available, an increasing number of guesthouses and backpacker lodges are opening. There is optimism and confidence in the air.
Uyaphi has been present in Muizenberg since 2008, and we are pleased to be associated with and be part of the upliftment of this charming seaside town.
We end the year on this good news story and wish you all, our customers and our suppliers, a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2013.
Muizenberg Beach Cape Town by Uyaphi.com
- Commodore HotelThe Commodore presents 236 elegantly furnished superior rooms in addition to suites. Every one of the rooms has air conditioning, tea and coffee making amenities, bathroom with lavatory and separate bathtub and shower.
- Ellerman HouseThe privately owned Ellerman House proudly stands high above Bantry Bay while offering guests probably one of the finest hotel experiences found anywhere in South Africa. All rooms and suites offer up spectacular ocean views.
- Waterfront VillageWaterfront Village with more than 80 properties that are within the V&A Waterfront have all been immaculately equipped into luxuriously appointed apartments in accordance with comprehensive visitor requirements.
- Camps Bay VillageThe Camps Bay Village collection consists of crash pads, seaside studios, garden studios and deluxe holiday villas; most properties are generally within easy reach of the seashore, restaurants, seaside cafes, bars and nightspots.
- The Victoria & Alfred HotelThere is no hotel in the Waterfront that is better positioned than the Victoria & Alfred. The hotel offers up value for money, a relaxed atmosphere with excellent service and all the shopping and restaurants on your doorstep that one could wish for.
- The Marly Camps BayThe Marly Boutique Hotel is positioned so close to the famed Camps Bay beach that all it takes is a short walk across the road and one is ankle beach in beach sand. Luxury and stunning vistas are what this establishment is all about.