Villa St James Activities

Activities

Directly opposite Villa St James stretches St James beach. Dotting its shores are crayon colored changing huts, families, and children, playing in its vast tidal pool. Ideal for swimming at a splendid balmy 17-23 Celsius, the sea is what enticed the British to develop St James in the 1850’s before any other area in the Cape of Good Hope.

St James beach
Rock pools full of marine life and ice cream sellers offering refreshing delights create a bright ideal playground for children. Further lie pristine white sand beaches where surfers and whales can be seen past the beautiful bodies basking in the sun.

St James beach, tennis, a seaside walking and jogging path, surfing, and sea kayak launching are right outside the Villa's door.

There are a number of dining options in the area. Enjoy fresh seafood caught in Kalk Bay harbour at the Harbour House or Polana, have a drink at Portuguese restaurant Planata. Enjoy the Caribbean flavours of Cape to Cuba. The Café Olympia is one of South Africa's finest restaurants, featured recently in international style bible Wallpaper and the London Sunday Independent, from breakfast to dinner it is simply superb utilizing the freshest ingredients of the area. Try a morning swim at Dalebrook tidal pool before breakfast at Café Olympia.

The Main road offers a vast selection of stores full of antiques, rare books, bric a brac and fine arts and crafts from all over the world.

Historic St James offers several museums including the Cecil John Rhodes, Natale Labia Museums. And the oldest building on the False Bay coastline, Hit Posthuys, built in 1670.

Above Villa St James is the protected Silver Mine nature reserve, open to the public for recreation. Picturesque, energetic walks depart from just behind Villa St James and there are a series of explorable caves at the top. With spectacular views of all of False Bay reaching to Cape Point.

Each nearby beach offers something unique. St James beach has a large tidal pool and warm ocean lovely for swimming and rock pools that will keep kids and grownups exploring for hours. Muizenberg impresses with its long-breaking, slow waves ideal for learning how to surf as well as a waterslide for the kids. It is also a windsurfers paradise and other extreme watersports. Fishing is allowed.