Avian Leisure  Verified Listing

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A gorgeous, immaculate apartment with amazing views of the entire bay. Helpful and friendly hosts. Simonstown is a beautiful area

The hosts were very hospitable and our stay was very comfy.
The apartment was big enough for a family of 3 and it was great that we had access to an umbrella and beach chairs for our day trips to the beach.

Wonderful environment cultivated with love, and very friendly and helpful owners.
Link to birding experience and tours.

Very comfortable apartment in a great location with stunning views and very helpful and welcoming hosts.

Avian Leisure rents two apartments and we stayed for several nights in both. Both were very comfortable and well equipped and Marie-Louise and Patrick are attentive and welcoming. The smaller Watsonia apartment (sleeps 2) is very nice but the larger Shearwater (sleeps 4) is amazing with its huge rooms, picture windows and full-width verandah to encompass the view out over False Bay from high up on the hillside above Simon's Town. Great library that, as you'd expect, covers bird life but ranges beyond. Fine variety of local birds at the feeders in their big natural garden. A male whydah was a regular visitor to (his) verandah.

Shearwater was a memorable home away from home.

This property has a gorgeous fynbos garden where you can sit, watch the birds and view False Bay from on high. The apartment was very comfortable, and there is a heater about which we were happy because we were there when it was a tad chilly. The kitchen is stocked well with appliances and cutlery. The bed is comfortable. It's a good location from which to explore the Cape.

Avian Leisure is a beautiful, spacious apartment located in Simons Town and overlooks the ocean. Our host, Marie-Louise, was gracious, meeting us as we arrived, showing us the apartment and answering any questions we had. She provided lots of ideas about what to do and see in and around Simons Town. One of the highlights of our stay was watching 3 large porcupines eating the veggies and fruits Marie-Louise left out one night. We were mesmerized by them and sat watching for nearly an hour. What a treat! Another highlight were the birds! Oh my goodness. So many birds feeding at the feeders is a birder's delight.
If your travels send you to Simons Town, South Africa, be sure to book Avian Leisure. You will not be disappointed.

Beautifully designed, equipped and looked after. The apartment has everything you might need, and is perfectly situated within easy distance of the penguins and the museums. We watched humpback whales swimming through the bay, as well as lots of sea life. You can also hear the penguins at night - like a herd of donkeys. And the huge garden is magnificent, with lots of exotic birds. The most special thing happens after dark: porcupines! They come to a feeding bowl just below the balcony.

Marie-Louise is a wonderful host too!

I think Avian organise bird watching tours too, so worth doing if you have time.

Also worth doing when visiting: kayaking from Simon's Town (penguins, whales), the Lighthouse Cafe (great sea food), Simon's Town museum, Navy Museum, Boulder's Beach swimming with penguins.

We had three fantastic nights at Avian Leisure. A large, beautiful appartment with everything you need and the most astonishing view of False Bay and Simon's Town. The host is a knowledgable bird guide and bird photographer. He supplied us with all the information we needed for birding in the Western Cape area. There are several bird feeders in the garden, and every day we could enjoy local endemics, like Cape Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird. African Porcupine was seen at short range on two evenings. I would recommend this place for everybody who loves birds and/or other wildlife. However, the appartment is located on the top of a steep hill so a car might be useful... There is a five minutes drive to Boulders Beach and the restaurants in Simon's Town. About twenty minutes drive to the Cape of Good Hope.