Cape property agents and hospitality specialists promote Bantry Bay as the suburb with a micro-climate, where South Easterly winds do not blow for 290 days of the year, therefore making it one of the city’s perfect perching points.
Located on the western slopes of Lion’s Head where breathtaking sunsets can be seen almost daily, this small suburb owes its popularity to moderate weather conditions where temperature vary between 22 and 28 degrees in the summer months November to April, and little below 16 degrees between May and September.
Not to be mistaken for its Irish namesake also located on the Atlantic Coastline further North, Cape Town’s Bantry Bay is a prime investment area located between Sea Point and Clifton, within easy reach of Table Mountain and the cableway, with the V&A Waterfront no further than five minutes away. This area’s exclusivity is also evident in the high demand for holiday accommodation where luxury homes and apartments attract daily rentals from R30 000 to R70 000 during peak summer season, especially during the week between Christmas and New Year.
Overlooked by the majestic Lion's Head, an eroded core of an ancient volcano, there is a plaque on the seashore commemorating the observation by Charles Darwin, that during his visit to the Cape, this was noted as the site of a unique geological feature, being the intrusion of Basaltic volcanic rock into granitic rock.
Bantry Bay’s 75% market stock of Sectional Share properties dominate this location and offers residents a lock up and go lifestyle, where penthouse market values ranging between R10 to R70 million have continued to move upward over time. Lightstone shows average prices to have risen from R1.1 million in 2004 to R4.5 million in the first quarter of this year, while the number of sales of sectional share properties of 34 and 33 respectively were almost exactly the same in 2004 and 2010.
Although a scarcity in Bantry Bay, it has a limited number freehold properties with exquisite gardens overlooking the bay that are suited to young families. The shortage of vacant land has resulted in freehold properties being a rarity and average prices of R2.4 million in 2004 have reached its peak in the first quarter of this year at R13 million. Illustrating the high demand for freehold properties here is the suburb’s national freehold ranking at number five, with average values of R9 463 213 million.
Proud residents of this suburb who welcome positive development are also determined that the area retains its charm, and have over time been successful in a number of objections to new developments not in the overall interest of the community and property owners. In 2009 Bantry Bay residents bravely fought and won a battle in court against a property development company and architectural firm whose planned to erect an enormous block of flats in the heart of the suburb, in excess of 20 m in height and as a result would have been of an inappropriate nature.
While Bantry Bay does not have its own beach, convenient recreation is available at local clubs, neighbouring beaches and tidal pools. For young families with school going children the area offers a number of educational institutions in both Camps Bay, Sea Point and Green Point.