Camps Bay

The area now known as Camps Bay was originally home to the San and Khoikhoi people before European settlers arrived in the 17th century. In 1700, the land was granted to Johan Lodewyk Wernich, but it remained a rugged and isolated outpost for several decades. The bay served as a quiet retreat far removed from the bustling center of the Cape Colony, characterized by its dramatic coastline and the towering presence of the Twelve Apostles mountain range. After Wernich passed away, his widow married a sailor named Friedrich von Kamptz, who arrived in the Cape in 1778. The area eventually became known as 'Die Baai van von Kamptz' or Kamptz's Bay, which later evolved into the English name Camps Bay. For much of the 19th century, it was used primarily for farming and fishing, with limited access from the main city until the construction of a more formal road network. The transformation of Camps Bay into a premier tourist destination began in the early 1900s with the introduction of a tramway system that linked the suburb to Cape Town. This accessibility led to a surge in residential development and the construction of tidal pools and beachfront amenities. Today, it is globally recognized as one of the most affluent and beautiful suburbs in South Africa, blending natural majesty with high-end cosmopolitan living.