Our Story
Welcome to Mountain Manor, Cape Town.
“If you’re looking for a home away from home whilst enjoying all the wonders Cape Town has to offer, then Mountain Manor is the ideal choice for you.
Mountain Manor’s Stylish Guest House and Superior Executive Apartment Suites offer a variety of accommodation options to suit your budget and your requirements. Our “Hidden Gem” is an oasis of tranquillity and accessibility on the lower slopes of Table Mountain.
Our historic Cape Colonial Style Buildings have an interesting history and the properties echo a charm of the centuries.
Olof Bergh, an adventurer, born in Gothenburg in 1643, joined the Dutch East India Company. After being in Jakarta and in Ceylon he came to South Africa, the then Cape Colony, in 1676. He was recruited by Simon van der Stel, the Commander and the first Dutch governor of the Cape.
Olaf Bergh was one of the wealthiest men at the Cape in his time. He enjoyed a close relationship with Commander and later Governor Simon van der Stel. Bergh was a considerable landowner and was a leading figure in the Cape community, serving as member of the Political Council.
Olaf Bergh was the first owner of the farm De Hoop –an original Burgher of Table Valley. His original farmhouse stood where the Gardens Centre now stands today, and our houses were part of the farmlands.
In 1839 the old garden De Hoop Farm, between Mill Street and Vriende Street was laid out for building lots. The initial owners of the small houses built might have been those that came for the goldrush on Table Mountain Platteklip gorge in the early 1800’s. Thereafter, it is thought that those involved in the new wool industry in the 1850’s came and expanded these homes into the Mansions they are today. Gardens area became a very affluent area during this time.
Most of the new houses were for the first time distinctively English in character though local building practice and the addition of wooden-lattice-work verandas or balconies often imparted a strong colonial flavour. These late Georgian houses were simple and dignified. Their distinguishing features were low-pitched hipped slate roofs, large twelve-paned windows with thin glazing bars and internal shutters, and eight-panelled front doors with narrow sidelights and oval fanlights.
Our properties survived into the twentieth century to become a boarding house, then a nursing old age home and in 1996 was renovated into the Guest House, Mountain Manor, that is still in existence today, 26 years later. In 2008, we acquired the property next door and created our Harrow House, Executive self-catering suites and a small conference room.
Many of Cape Town’s major attractions, like Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Robben Island Museum, Clifton Beach and Camps Bay Beach are all no more than a five to ten minute drive away.
A variety of unique restaurants and pubs, as well as the Gardens Shopping Centre, are right on our doorstep.
Myself and the staff of Mountain Manor are always on hand to welcome you to your “home away from home” and will ensure that you enjoy every moment of your stay with us”
– Michelle Whitehead – Owner Mountain Manor.
