David G.F. Smith
Less than a year after wildfires ravaged the Cape Peninsula, the waterfront Tintswalo Atlantic has reopened.
This March, swaths of the Cape Peninsula were ravaged by wildfires that evacuated hundreds of people and destroyed many properties—among them, one of our favorite Cape Town hotels, Tintswalo Atlantic. The collection of 12 cliffside cottages in Hout Bay had some of the best ocean views in Cape Town, and certainly the closest, thanks to its proximity to the water. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of a quick-thinking team, no staff or guests were hurt, though the property was devastated by the flames.
The owners, however, didn’t wallow in despair. Within a few days, plans to rebuild were announced, and sure enough, a mere eight months later, Tintswalo is gearing up for an eagerly awaited November 1 reopening. Each of the suites, which is named for a different island (Cousine, Sicily, Java) has been reconstructed and fitted with stunning new doors imported from Zanzibar and India.
While some of the interiors have been re-imagined beautifully—the dramatic headboards and massive bathtubs are just as we remember them—new additions like deck swings are perfect for enjoying the otherworldly sunsets. Hundreds of trees were replanted by former guests, while some of the burned 300-year-old milkwoods have been incorporated into the new furniture and bar.
It’s impressive to witness a property stage such a dramatic comeback from tragedy, and ahead of schedule at that. We can’t wait to be back on its magical deck for sundowners.
