I last visited Chapman’s Peak Caravan Farm over 20 years ago, and to my delight, I found that today it’s still a family enterprise, and still has a relaxed farm feel about it. It has, however, been renamed to Chapman’s Peak Cottages and Caravan Park.
The park is in Noordhoek, about 30 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, blends in with the serene mountain atmosphere, with it’s tree-lined campsites surrounded by woody backdrops. In winter the mountains are cloaked with ericas, fynbos and proteas.
The area is also endemic to the endangered Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos and the Cape Granite Fynbos species.
Lush lawns populated with “feathered friends” amplify the rustic farm-feel appeal. The well-fed farm dogs and fat felines are social animals so familiar with the daily concentration of campers that they have long since given up investigating the diverse credentials of every new arrival.
Just beyond the caravan park looms the 593 metre western wall of Chapman’s Peak, named after a ship captain’s mate, John Chapman.
Flanked between the Atlantic Ocean and Chapman’s Peak is one of the Capetonian’s fondest passes, affectionately known as “Chappies”.
Construction of the pass dates back to World War 1. The over 11 kilometre drive winds along 114 bends through a fascinating geological non-conformity of Cape Peninsula granite of over 550 million years old, and a 450-million-year-old Table Mountain sandstone group.
The sheer rock that surrounds the camping grounds is often veiled in mist, and also provides shelter from the prevailing wind. Peering up at the insurmountable cliff face from the campsite infuses one with energy and awe of its extravagant magnitude.
Near and yet seemingly so far from suburbia is what this countrified site encapsulates.
Not often enough do caravan parks offer ablution facilities with ample of everything – spacious baths, showers and laundry facilities. The campsites are large, with enough room for even the turkey and its brood of seven, the roaming black and white Ibises, a duck entourage and the snappy squirrels.
A decent-sized splash pool and kiddies playground enchants children, as does the farm animal experience, leaving nothing to the imagination. Every possible manageable farm species roams here, with the larger pets like pigs, ponies, peacocks and sheep being kept in a safe enclosure.
Given the strategic geological importance of Chapman’s Peak Drive with it’s immense engineering artistry, the complimentary serenity of the caravan farm does not detract from the close proximity to Cape Town’s acclaimed attractions.
Campers can revel within the campsite or shop in the city as we did, or simply hike to your heart’s content.
Nothing feels more magical than being on a farm at the foothills of a mega mountain.
Facilities and Activities
- Credit card facility – no
- Swimming pool
- Playground
- Wheel chair access
- Electric fencing, gated (remote)
Essential Info
- No. of Stands:46
- Cottages:2
- Braai Facilities:Freestanding braais (with wheels)
- Electricity:Yes
- Water:Shared taps
- Ablution:Yes
- Laundry Facilities:Washing & drying machines
- Pets:Not allowed
- Access Road:Tarred
- Tariffs:
- Normal rate: Site fee R90 + R80 per person per night
- High Season (5 Dec – 20 Jan & Easter Weekend): Site fee R140 + R90 per person per night
- A minimum stay of 10 nights is required over the December/January high season
- Caravan storage: R200 per month
- GPS:S34° 06′.025″ E18° 22′.814″