Lakeside, False Bay

Lakeside lies between the suburbs of West Lake and Muizenberg, with the rugged Steenberg, Mountain of stone, towering in the backdrop and the Zandvlei (sandy lake) in the foreground.

This is a highly sought after residential area and caters for a range of income levels, the upper end of which occupy homes along Bunker and Leicester Roads with superb views of the lakes, sea and the Hottentots-Holland Mountains in the distance. As you enter Lakeside, the Zandvlei trust has established a pavement garden that has not been without blooms since it was planted, and which indicates the edge of the wetlands. A quiet pathway passes a pond and there is a bench that overlooks the Nature Reserve.

Below Lakeside, the Zandvlei Lake offers a number of activities - yachting, windsurfing and canoeing - and there are glorious beaches within moments of Lakeside - Muizenberg and Boulders, home to one of Africa’s few land-based penguin colonies, provide some wonderful swimming opportunities - whilst Clifton, on the Atlantic side of the peninsular, offers wonderful people-watching opportunities when not swimming or sunbathing.

The Rondevlei Nature Reserve in Grassy Park is a wetland conservation area surrounded by coastal dunes, just minutes away, and there are great bird watching hides and various walks. You can even spot hippos and small wild animals in the reserve. And the M3 to the city centre is only moments away, offering a quick route into Cape Town where one can explore the avenues, bohemian stores and restaurants of Long Street, the V&A Waterfront, and trendy Kloof Street or take a guided walk or open-roof bus trip through the city.