Feel the cool spray of Camps Bay Stream. This isn’t just any stream. It whispers tales of centuries past. From the San and Khoi people who first called this land home to the arrival of Jan van Riebeek and the Dutch East India Company. Camps Bay itself changed significantly. It went from a hunting ground for Lord Charles Somerset to the bustling hub it is today.
Imagine the Twelve Apostles mountains shrouded in forest. Lions leopards and antelope roamed freely. The Goringqhaique Khoi people grazed their animals here. Disease tragically decimated their numbers by 1713. Only an old kraal remained as a testament to their presence.
John Lodewyk Wernich received the land. His widow Anna Koekemoer later married Frederik Ernst von Kamptz. The area became known as “Die Baai van von Kamptz” eventually evolving into Camps Bay. For much of the 1800s Camps Bay remained largely undeveloped a tranquil contrast to its vibrant present.
The construction of Kloof Nek Road in 1848 and Victoria Road in 1887 transformed the area. Camps Bay became a popular picnic spot. The Camps Bay tramway arrived in 1901 bringing day-trippers and further development. The tidal pools the Rotunda (now the Bay Hotel) and a pavilion for concerts and shows were all built.
In 1913 Camps Bay officially became part of Cape Town. It transitioned from a recreational area to the affluent residential and tourist destination we see today. Camps Bay Stream itself continues its gentle flow. It serves as a quiet witness to this dramatic transformation a constant thread in the rich tapestry of Camps Bay history. Consider its enduring presence the next time you visit this breathtaking corner of Cape Town.