Marina da Gama, False Bay

Reminiscent of a Greek village, with its white homes and perpetually blue days, Marina da Gama is built on the eastern banks and the waterways of the quiet Zandvlei Lake - an inland salt water lake, connected to the sea.

Marina da Gama, built in the 1970s, is an enclosed residential area close to the popular beaches of False Bay to take advantage of the wonderful setting. Lying in the suburb of greater Muizenberg, in the shadow of the Muizenburg Mountain, Marina da Gama is practically self-sufficient. There are shopping centres just across the road from the development and the beaches of Muizenberg are within walking distance - providing some of the safest bathing in Cape Town. Rather like a mini Venice, it’s not unknown for residents to drop in on one another by boat at the marina development.

Views from Marina da Gama are beautiful and hours can be whiled away on the vlei’s banks, watching the bird life. If you must get away then there are many varied mountain walks and wild flowers to explore and the quaint little village of Kalk Bay is only a short drive away, where you can sample one of its many restaurants, trawl the antique and bookshops or buy fish at the harbour.

Cape Town’s city centre is about 25 minutes’ drive from Marina da Gama or you can alternatively catch the Simonstown train line. Visiting the Cape Point Nature Reserve involves a wonderful drive along the peninsula - the wild life and floral kingdom is worth the trip alone, and the beaches there are one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets