Set less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, the !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre has long been one of the most popular cultural day trips from Cape Town, offering unique insights into the history, heritage and culture of the indigenous San people of southern Africa.
Now the launch of two new luxurious accommodation options makes !Khwa ttu a must for an overnight escape from the city.
The heart of !Khwa ttu is the interpretive centre, where three museums and galleries focus on the origin stories of the San as Africa’s First People, the conflicts of colonisation, and the traditions and cultural memory of the San.
But set just a short walk from the exhibition spaces you’ll now also find the new Hilltop Huisies: six chic two-person units gazing out over the 850-hectare reserve. With the hilltop setting you’ll sit out on your private patio, a glass of West Coast wine in hand, as jackal buzzards and yellow-billed kites soar below you, and panoramic sunset views here come standard. Indoors, the space is decorated in a minimalist Scandi-chic style, with splashes of colour courtesy of authentic San artworks. Units are well-equipped for self-catering – hello air-fryer! – with a sheltered courtyard for enjoying a braai beneath the stars.
Not sure what’s for dinner? You can bring it all yourself, but !Khwa ttu also offers a choice of dinner baskets (pre-order essential) which range from generous braai packs to home-made lasagne, traditional sorghum salad with pickled cucumber, or a vegetarian casserole of traditional heerboon.
Down on the coastal plains, a five-minute drive away, the other new addition to !Khwa ttu comes in the six Fynbos Cabins, built of wood and stone to blend into the landscape of endemic fynbos. They share a similar aesthetic to the Hilltop Huisies, with well-equipped kitchens and indoor fireplaces, but with the notable addition of a wood-fired hot tub set just steps from your private deck. The perfect wintry escape!
Wherever you choose to stay, !Khwa ttu offers plenty of activities to fill your days. Aside from delving deep into San history and folklore in the museums and guided tours, nature drives into the reserve deliver close-up sightings of plains game and birdlife. There are no predators on the property, so you can also run and cycle on the trails at your leisure, with a pair of well-marked routes on offer.
They start and end at the reception area, where you’ll also find the excellent !Khwa ttu restaurant, and a menu of hyper-local dishes that celebrate the plates and producers of the West Coast.
Have you heard about this new artist residency and boutique hotel coming to Cape Town?