Cheval Vapeur
Based on 6 verified guest reviews
About the Host
Member since: 17 Dec. 2019
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Escape Corona. Cheval Vapeur Horse Farm is situated in the heart of Cape Town’s seasonal wetlands in the Philippi Horticultural Area – a rural area consisting of vegetable and other farms on the Cape Flats between Ottery and Mitchells Plain. It is a wonderfully tranquil oasis and nature haven. Cheval is away from all crowds & large numbers of people (re Corona Virus)..
It is safe, secluded, peaceful and quiet but surprisingly central to Cape Town’s many attractions. It is truly the best of both worlds. The Royal Cape Golf Club and Zeekoevlei bird sanctuary (internationally famous) are within 10 minutes by car. Wynberg, Kenilworth, Plumstead and Muizenberg are 15 to 20 minutes away. The Waterfront and the City Bowl within 25 to 30 minutes. Stellenbosch, Paarl and the wine routes are within 40 minutes and the Cape Point Nature Reserve is some 60km away.
Birds often seen nesting or on and around the farm include Moorhens, Cormorants, Egyptian Geese, Crakes, Sacred Ibis, Hadedas, Cootes, Malakite Kingfisher, Dabchicks, Darters, Hammerkop, White Faced Ducks, Yellow Billed Ducks, Cattle & Little Egrets, Black-headed and Grey Herons and many more…. There is also a substantial community of endangered Western Leopard Toads.
The Farm offers 5 levels of basic, self-catering accommodation at very affordable prices
First level: There are 8 open-plan, single-roomed wooden cottages (which South Africans call Wendy Houses) sleeping 2 to 5 people each. Cottages that sleep 2 people have a double bed, the others have bunk beds and other furniture. The cottages share two separate ablutions each fitted with a toilet, shower and basin – please note that depending on the cottage booked the distance varies to the nearest ablution but it is never more than 60m away. Each cottage has self-catering equipment: kettle, toaster, hotplates, microwave and small fridge - crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils are also provided. The names of these cottages are: Club, Gate, Dam, Jane, Downtown, Gibson, Colin & Johan.
Next Levels – these are the brick-walled Mews units:
• 6 units (Tack Room, Tuck Shop and NewUnits 1 to 4) share the third and fourth ablution facilities (shower, toilet, basin) and have the same self-catering equipment and furniture as the wooden cottages
• 1 unit (Beverley) has two bedrooms, a kitchen/lounge area and its own en-suite private shower and toilet. There is also running water in the kitchen area. It has the same self-catering equipment and furniture as the wooden cottages
• 1 unit (TopFlat) has three rooms, a kitchen and its own Toilet and bathroom. It also has a balcony with a wonderful view of the mountain and magnificent sunsets.
• Mews Apartment (1 unit) is the most luxurious with 2 bedrooms (each with a double brass bed) and en-suite bath, shower and toilet, a kitchen and a TV lounge with DStv (premium bouquet). It also has a small veranda. There is a sleeper couch in the TV lounge that can accommodate a fifth person.
All cottages and units have their own braai facility – guests should bring their own braai tools and grids.
Cheval Vapeur does not have credit card facilities and any outstanding amounts are payable in cash on arrival.
Map
Extra Info
| Property Type | Guest House, Self Catering |
| Check-in after | 02:00 PM |
| Check-out before | 10:00 AM |
| Cancellation Policy | No Refund |
| Can Be Used For | Film Location, Still Shoots, Wedding |
| For more info |
Reviews
Cheval Vapeur was my home away from home. pleasant staff, The rooms clean and tidy. My monthly cheap cheap home away from home.
Great host and team, the kids had a blast and so did our pet.
Thank the Almighty for the great weather too.
Very hospitable and accommodating. Wonderful service.
This is the place to be if you want to break free from the citi rush. The farm is nice and quiet so you can relax and enjoy your holiday getaway properly!!!
Very well established SELF-CATERING TOURISM business, with STRONG client base
Covid Compatible.
Cheval is open air, away from crowds & large numbers of people (re Corona Virus).
Cheval is +-20 min from CT (which does not have a beach). It is +-15 min from Muizenberg Beach.
Cosy Wooden Cottages and Brick Units: .
Guests want for nothing-Fully furnished and fitted for self-catering: Microwave, Mini oven, Kettle, Toaster, Fry Pans, Pots, Mugs, Plates, Bowls, Cutlery, Salt & Pepper, Coffee & Tea, Toilet paper, Soap, Heater, Table & chairs, mats, mirrors, bed linen.
Braai facilities are available at cottages.
Corona Virus Escape: Cheval Vapeur Horse Farm situated in the heart of Cape Town’s seasonal wetlands in the Philippi Horticultural Area – a rural area consisting of vegetable and other farms on the Cape Flats between Ottery and Mitchells Plai, is a Corona Virus Escape .
It is a wonderfully tranquil oasis and nature haven. Cheval is open air, away from all crowds with
several long-term guest.
COVID COMPATIBLE Cheval Vapeur horse farm is situated in the heart of Cape Town’s seasonal wetlands in the Philippi Horticultural Area,a rural area consisting of vegetable and other farms on the Cape Flats between Ottery and Mitchells Plain. It is a wonderfully tranquil oasis and nature haven.
The Farm offers self-catering accommodation at very affordable prices. Accommodation comprises 12 units and can accommodate 42 guests. Units are serviced daily, except Sundays and public holidays. Guests have access to braai facilities.
Cheval Vapeur is fully secured with 24-hour, armed response, electric fencing, night security guards, dogs and resident owners.
It is safe, secluded, peaceful and quiet but surprisingly central to Cape Town’s many attractions. The Royal Cape Golf Club and Zeekoevlei bird sanctuary are within 10 min by car. Wynberg, Kenilworth, Plumstead and Muizenberg are 15 to 20 min away. The Waterfront and the City Bowl within 25 to 30 min. Stellenbosch, Paarl and the wine routes are within 40 min and the Cape Point Nature Reserve is 60 km away.
There is a dam on the property and a but with the current drought, the dam is effectively empty.
Various bird species such as Moorhens, Cormorants, Egyptian Geese, Sacred Ibis, Hadedas, Cootes, Malachite Kingfisher, Dabchicks, Darters, White Faced and Yellow Billed Ducks and more reside on the property. There is also a substantial community of Western Leopard Toads.
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About the Host
Member since: 17 Dec. 2019
Response time: 6 hours
Response rate: 100%
Based on 6 verified guest reviews
About the Host
Member since: 17 Dec. 2019
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Cheval Vapeur
Cheval Vapeur Farm is situated in the seasonal wetlands of Agricultural Philippi, project objectives being Job Creation for the indigent, Wetland Restoration, Horse Rehabilitation/Rescue and Tourism. The small-holding, size 7.2 hectares, a derelict racing stable yard had previously been used as a rubbish-dump.
Job creation: The area is one of very low employment and mostly illiterate shack dwellers. There is an on-going desperate need for jobs & the lack of skills perpetuates the problems.
We have taken on workers and trained them as grooms or groundsmen or domestic workers for the self-catering cottages, as the demands on the property grow. Each employee in his/her own right, supports an extended family of several, who themselves are unemployed, elderly or disabled. The continuity and future plan for the farm is essential to ensure their job security.
Wetland restoration: The Seasonal Wetlands, of which Cheval forms a part (as does the Edith Stephens Nature Conservation Park very close to our farm), is an increasingly diminishing area due to on-going pressure and encroachment of industrial development and housing. This creates increasing & continuing threats to the precious Biodiversity and Bird life of these seasonal wetlands.
Cape Town is located within a CI Biodiversity hotspot. 19 different and distinct vegetation types are mostly restricted to unusually small areas, and several are completely endemic to the city – occurring nowhere else in the world.
Having cleared the site of all products of dumping – plastic, barbed wire, broken glass, tins, plastic string etc., we developed the grounds by installing boreholes, planting grass, trees, flowers and shrubs (with reference to advisors at Edith Stephens). We established a nursery and re-established the dam, clearing much of the invasive reeds therein (although, with the ongoing drought some of this needs to be done again). We have managed to attract the return and successful nesting of many of the wetland and other birds, in the last 5 years – there are now over 50 species of birds on the farm.
There is also a substantial community of endangered Western Leopard Toads on the farm.
Horse rescue/rehabilitation: To enable this we:
• Restored the run-down and dilapidated stables.
• Erected horse paddocks and shelters.
• Laid sub-bases & built a dressage arena, a jumping arena and something of a cross-country course.
• Erected storage facilities for feed & bedding & equipment
• Built a wooden barn for 10 more stables
• Rehabilitated several ex-race thorough-bred horses and some others
• Provided vehicles and other necessary working equipment
• Erected staff living quarters
• Set up joinery/woodwork workshop and sewing workroom (both fully equipped)
• We have taken on several ex-race and other horses, rehabilitated (physically & emotionally) and retrained (on-going, by means of the method of Natural Horsemanship/Monty Roberts) into the disciplines of Dressage and Jumping. These horses have come on beautifully and are now a pleasure to work with. We have used these horses in therapy for patients in addiction recovery, and have had phenomenal results. They are also leased out (to anyone willing to follow natural horsemanship methods).
• Selected staff are trained in these refined methods of horsemanship and are making good progress.
Tourism: Being in the heart of Cape Town’s seasonal wetlands, Cheval is now a wonderfully tranquil oasis and a nature haven for those who still need to be close to all Cape Town’s attractions. We aim to enable guests to experience the beauty of the wetlands, nature, bird and horse life at minimal cost. Eco- and Avi-tourism is significantly attractive in the tourist industry and Cheval has the added advantage of being very economical and central (10 minutes to the airport, 15 to 20 minutes to Royal Cape Golf Club, Muizenberg beach, Rondebosch, Newlands, Kenilworth, Wynberg and Plumstead, 20 to 30 minutes to Kirstenbosch, Groot Constantia and the Waterfront) BUT far from crowds and large groups.
The rustic wooden cottages that we have provided mainly overlook the dam with flourishing bird life alongside serene paddocked horses. The cottages can sleep between two and five people and are comprehensively & cosily equipped (each with a barbecue). Available at the very low charge of R120 to R140 per person per night, they have proved a niche market and have been enormously popular.
There is a more luxurious Mews Apartment for those needing greater luxury: DSTV, Antique Brass Beds, private bath & shower etc. and also fully equipped.
Cheval is fully secured with private 24 hour armed response, electric fencing, night security guards & dogs. We are members of Cape Town Tourism and are listed on several internet accommodation sites viewable on SafariNow, TravelGround, SleepingOut, RoomsforAfrica etc.
The food places all over.
Nearby Attractions & Landmarks
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Two Oceans Marathon, Langa Township, Heart of Cape Town Museum, Newlands Brewery, Newlands Stadium, Rhodes Memorial, Mzoli's, Cape Town International Airport