Chelaya Country Lodge is your own private, fully staffed villa with breakfast included and the option to self cater for the rest of the day. And the price is right. No matter how many in your group (capacity 15 including optional Garden Suite) the entire house is yours for the duration of your holiday. This includes exclusive use of the leafy garden with tranquil lily ponds and infinity swimming pool over looking False Bay and the Cape Peninsula. Shaded spots under the trees for picnics and secret corners where you can take time out and enjoy the birdlife. Inside the house the lounge area, with stunning Oregon floors, has a huge fireplace for the cold winter evenings, a library with writing desk; a well stocked pub with corner fireplace and TV nook, and a spacious farm style kitchen. The bar is staffed during the day but becomes an honesty bar in the later hours. Light meals, picnics and poolside snacks are available throughout the day. A well trained and friendly group of staff are there to make up and turn down the rooms, do the washing up, clean the house, light the fires and to make sure you have everything you require. In the garden are discreet staff to maintain the pool and ensure umbrellas, towels and loungers are provided when the sun is shining. Chelaya offers first class English and Continental breakfasts as well as the opportunity to choose between a light lunch prepared for you or doing your own thing in the spacious farm kitchen. At night you may choose to self cater – perhaps with a traditional braai (barbeque) or by whistling up your own family favourite. You can, of course, dine at one of the many excellent restaurants in the area. An added bonus for families with children are the friendly farm animals – each with their own special personality - which they can interact with.

About the Area Situated between vineyards and white beaches and nestled between the Hottentots Holland and Helderberg Mountain ranges, the Helderberg basin is one of the most visually dramatic areas in the Cape. History of Somerset West In 1699, Willem Adriaan van der Stel took over from his farther as Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and in 1701 the farm Vergelegen was granted to him by the Dutch East Indian Company (VOC). Van der Stel was infamous for his greed and extravagance. He spent a large amount of the company’s resources and time on developing this estate. The fact that he was using his position to enrich himself caused a bitter conflict between Van der Stel and the Free Burghers. A petition was sent to the VOC and in April 1707, Van der Stel was dismissed and ordered back to the Netherlands. In 1817, the four farmers who owned Vergelegen asked the British governor, Lord Charles Somerset, for permission to build a church and a village. Their request was granted, and they named the village Somerset. In the 1830s, Sir Lowry's Pass, named after later governor Sir Lowry Cole, was constructed to link the town with outposts further east over the Hottentots-Holland mountains. In 1850 it was renamed Somerset West.

N2 - From Cape Town towards Sir Lowry's Pass. Turn Left into Mondeor road. and immediately right again follow the Chelaya signs until you reach the T - Junction at the Top you will see Guest Entrance on the left hand side. N2 - From Sir Lowry's Pass to Cape Town. Turn Right into Mondeor road. and immediately right again follow the Chelaya signs until you reach the T - Junction at the Top you will see Guest Entrance on the left hand side.