Straight to the Point
Not even an hour from the southern suburbs in Cape Town, Miller’s Point is one of the better municipal campsites close to home, says Kyle Kock.
We’ve been camping out of town as an extended family for a while, but for a recent weekend away, we decided to stay fairly close to home. Miller’s Point, just outside of Simons Town, proved to be a pleasant surprise. Myself, my partner, Stacey, and our boys, Kade and Kian, camped in our Mitsubishi L300 motorhome and were joined by my parents, Mark and Bonita, in their Hyundai H100 motorhome. My dad’s brothers also came along for the weekend. Uncle Vincent and aunt Tessa camps in a Volkswagen Microbus campervan, while uncle Hylton, his wife, Gail, and their daughter Maxine towed their Gypsey Caravette 4 with their Mitsubishi Outlander.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE THERE?
The road that runs through Miller’s Point Caravan Park is laid out in a vague horseshoe, with grass-covered stands on either side of the road. The campsite is spread over two terraces, with a grassy slope that demarcates the rear stands of the lower terrace from the front stands of the upper terrace.
Those right in front of the water are the smallest but still big enough for the maximum amount of two towing combinations per stand. There are shade trees throughout, but most of them are situated on the upper terrace, so if you’re camping on the lower level then you need to make sure your gazebo and awning are up to scratch.
Two stands share an electricity post. Some of them have four domestic sockets with two blue Fredlin sockets on either side of the boxes, where others only have two. Pack an extension cord to be on the safe side. There are built braais scattered throughout the campsite, though you have to bring your own grid. You’re free to bring your own portable braai, too.
Because of the on-going struggle with baboons, Miller’s Point management have decided to keep the bins in a pen behind the ablution block, which is a bit of an annoyance when disposing of your waste. There are rangers armed with air rifles who patrol the campsite to separate primates and humans from one another.
AND THE ABLUTION FACILITIES?
Even though the single ablution block isn’t very modern, it doesn’t raise any red flags. The facilities are clean and maintained. It had received a fresh lick of paint just before our visit, and it seemed as though the inside was even retiled.
The men’s facilities are on the left, with four toilet stalls and two shower stalls. The latter has a wet and dry section, with a concrete bench for you to sit on while getting dressed. It would be better if there was a shower curtain between them.
It’s kept clean throughout the day by diligent City of Cape Town staff. In the middle is a scullery with a large round bin, four sinks, and worktops for cleaning your dishes. The side on the right is reserved for the ladies.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO?
A set of stairs right across from the ablution block will lead your kids down to a wooden jungle gym, complete with swings, a slide, and wooden and tyre bridges. There, they can play for ages.
Just a little farther on, about 100 metres from the campsite, is a small beach, with a slipway for fishermen another 100 metres along. Miller’s Point tidal pool is slightly on from here, and, given that it’s quite far out of town, it’s likely to be quiet. Just above the beach is the Black Marlin restaurant with fresh seafood on the menu, if you’re not in the mood for making lunch over a fire.