St James is a place of great spiritual relevance. An ancient meridian energy line runs from the mountain behind Rodwell House directly through the property to the Hottentots Mountains beyond, over which today’s guests can appreciate fiery sunrise over the sparkling sea.

20 000 years ago isolated clans of cave dwellers inhabited the coastal area. They relied largely on the fish that they trapped in the tidal pool below. They gave thanks and blessing, for these rich harvests. At the turn of the 10th Century what are now the gardens and terraces were the communal lands of the nomadic Khoi herders. Later came the Dutch and English settlers, who enjoyed country outings under the ancient milkwood trees.

Rodwell House is an elegant and classically proportioned manor house, built in the 1930’s by Randlord billionaire JB Taylor, with fine terraced gardens. Hosting a stream of influential guests spanning decades, it has been the site of a number of significant political and economic decisions in South Africa’s past. It has now been extensively modernised and upgraded to world class standards of sophistication, adding further to its grace and charm.