Wylde World: 18 on Hillwood, Cape Town
SECLUDED, LUXURY BOLTHOLE, OR SUPERBLY-LOCATED BASE FROM WHICH TO EXPLORE ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST EXCITING CITIES AND ITS SURROUNDINGS? THIS VILLA HAS IT ALL
Report and photographs by David Newton
Let’s cut to the chase: Cape Town is seriously hot right now... and I’m not just talking about the sublime weather. The sense that you are in a city abuzz with creativity, growth and possibility hits you at every turn and makes a trip here pretty much a necessity.
Need more reasons to get on that plane? How about: the long-haul flight produces zero jetlag and the amazingly kind exchange rate for Brits means it’s cheaper, on arrival, than a jaunt to Paris? And there can be no better base from which to enjoy this stunning country than the beautiful 18 on Hillwood; the jewel in the crown of owner Adrian Gardiner’s collection of his and others’ privately-owned luxury homes that go under the name of Mantis Owners Collection.
This sense of being in a home rather than a hotel comes about thanks to the feeling of freedom each guest experiences upon arrival. There is an ultra-discreet staff on hand who will make sure your stay is exactly to your liking. Need a chef to cook all your meals... at your choice of time? No problem. Or a driver to whisk you to one of Cape Town’s ever-growing number of world-class restaurants? It shall be done (and the restaurant will have been booked for you).
The villa boasts two swimming pools, a tennis court, strong WiFi and satellite TV, and did I mention the frankly jaw-dropping views of Table Mountain across the lawn?
So it might be tempting to stay put in this idyllic refuge. However, to seclude yourself in Cape Town’s equivalent of Beverly Hills would be to miss out on one of the world’s most thrilling cities and its heavenly surroundings. Again, a driver can transport you within 20 minutes from the villa to the heart of the city, and even take you on a personalised guided tour of the nearby countryside.
Our visit to several of the nation’s noted vineyards was a high point, as was the more extensive daytrip around the Cape Peninsula, taking in whale-sightings, and visits to an ostrich farm and the truly surreal Penguin Beach. This is villa life at its most relaxed and rewarding. Five-star hotel-style service without the rules and crowds... or bank-busting expense? Get on that plane!
